I know what's next.
When a human dies, their soul remains tethered to the earth. When the time comes, for an animal is about to be born, they merge their souls with the little one and get to experience a new life again. And for a few moments, they remember. Their human memories. I have been seeing them all this time; a small girl being ecstatic about her new lioness mama, much more caring than her previous one. An old man, former flying instructor I think, confused because he expected to take to the skies before realizing he is, indeed, an ostrich. More recently, some hundred years ago, a woman bonded with a cat and funnily enough, they chose to stay with me. They have been my companion. I believe they also knew, somehow, what's next.
Because the souls can only merge with a life that's about to begin. And a thousand years ago, there were many, many animals a soul could bond with. Recently... not so many. Water has been scarse, you see, for the humans have made choices.
Lately, after a human opens their eyes to the world, they see it. I know, with deep sorrow, that they can finally understand it. My companion purrs next to my side, offering me the comfort I can no longer offer them. I hate seeing them suffer. I hate seeing them open their eyes in the form of the animals that are left in the world. The only ones that can survive it. Some are rats, some are cockaroaches- and all of them panic until their memories dissolve into nothing as they roam the reality they created.
I know what's next, and soon, they will know it too.
