Morpheus stands before me, serene in mystery behind impenetrable sunglasses. Offering two opportunities.
"The red or the blue?"
I stare at him, at his hands, dark calm, each holding a round shadow. I smile a little. He doesn't know.
"The red or the blue."
His voice is deep, echoing in the cave void. I stare into the glasses but can't see his eyes.
"The red or the blue."
For the first time I feel real panic, inexplicable but piercing. My heart beats slightly before the echoes, lending a ghostly drum to the low depth of his voice.
"The red or the blue."
They spin, two little worlds in his palms, passing grey farther and farther from me, the room closes in except for the sunglasses. Clear black sunglasses.
"The red or the blue."
I mouth the words I don't know, and the sunglasses understand. Morpheus turns, the spinning grey orbs falling out of sight with my relief.
Then it all goes sweetly dark, cool black, and this haze fades into another.
I am awake. The world is still black, white, and thousands of greys, as it always has been.
A bird peers at me through the side of his head. Lifts a wing.
Red or blue?