Louis awakes at a piano keyboard, mid-way through a circle of fifths. He does not know how he knows what that is, or how he is playing it, and yet he knows both instinctively. He is both observer and participant. He is there and in control, but only insofar as he acquiesces to the instincts powering his actions. reaching the end of the circle, Louis holds the final chord, then stands, a feeling of satisfaction rising with him. He catches himself in the mirror and is surprised by a face he hasn't seen for a decade.
"We're pulling you out, Louis".
"Your vitals are all over the place".
"Is he ok?".
"Yeah, he just seems...healthier".
"And I feel it".
Louis sits up and rubs his eyes. Looking around he sees faces he knows, though again, he is not sure where he knows them from. The dream fades and he adjusts to this new paradigm, realising as he does that this is his life.
"Well, that was odd".
"It worked then?".
"Apparently at some point another me finally got round to learning the piano".
"Interesting, but not especially useful. Anything else?".
"He's about ten years younger than me. And felt happy".
"Ten years? Then it's worse than we thought".
"So what now?".
"Drink this - you're going back in. Let's see who else it out there".
