Ascension

It is said that one of the first things you become aware of when you awaken is whether you're in your own bed or not.

I was NOWHERE near my bed.

But the sunlight, from multiple angles, worked its way past my eyelids.

"Bwaa!" I said, finding the sun (well, A sun) in my eyes. I turned away, only to find another sun right there. "Merciful Gods!"

"Truer than you know, kid." Manajuwejet said.

"Awaah!" I said, having discovered suns three through five. "Where am I?"

"Yeah, um... so, I'm going to answer that. But if your appendix hasn't burst yet, we need to get you back to the mortal world." He scuttled a few steps closer to one of the suns.

"Ugh." I said. "We have to walk into that?"

"Well, running might be better. If you think you can do that?"

I failed to rise. "It feels like there's a lump of lead in my stomach."

"Kid." he said. "Get up anyway. That pain in your core?"

"Yeah?"