The Illusory Catharsis

There it was, not too far in the distance: the golden flag that I had been searching for. Sharp winds buffeted me from all sides as I stubbornly pushed forward, fiercely resolved to ignore the weight of fatigue wearing heavily upon my limbs. My goal could not have been more than 50 meters away. It was so close, I could almost feel the elation of finally capturing it. However, this feeling had been premature. The rocks beneath my feet suddenly gave away, and I before I knew it, I was falling. Falling, far down, into the darkest abyss...falling, endlessly...

I awoke in my room, seemingly only moments later. I blinked my eyes open a few times. Soft rays of sunshine streamed in through my partially open window, giving the room a pallid glow that made me feel all the more soporific as exhaustion took hold of my body. How long had I been unconscious for? I feel so very tired...

It was late afternoon when I awoke once more. I sat up in bed and decided that I would set out once again after a good meal. As I fried sausages on the stove, I retraced my steps of the previous day. The golden flag...it had been so close, and yet I could not grab hold of it. The day before had been the same way. There must be something holding me back, but what? If only death was the end...the continual striving and suffering that only ultimately ended in failure would be enough to wear out anyone. But for some reason or other, I can't die. Either that, or perhaps the game master had this written in the rules somewhere...that we, as players, are not ALLOWED to die...