Have you ever had one of those dreams where you're falling in mid air and it seems like it takes forever to hit the ground?

And when you do hit the ground after feeling that existential terror of "Oh I'm going to die", you wake up safely in your bed and probably mutter to yourself how crazy that was.

Well, this isn't one of those experiences or at least I don't think it is. I can't remember the last thing I was doing or where I was or who I am actually. There are some vague memories but I'm too tired to cling to them.

I've been falling though. Falling for what feels like forever. Although, I don't feel scared. Just warm and distant like my soul is leaving my body but I can still feel the sensations like I'm in it.

What was I talking about again?

Oh right, falling until you hit the ground.

I looked around but there's nothing but a void. Darkness, like I shut my eyes and was just staring at the back of my eyelids, but I knew I wasn't. Or at least I felt I wasn't.

I think my eyes are open because I tried blinking but I don't know where my eyes are. Or where I am. Just that everything feels hazy and warm, and I'm so tired.

"Are you truly going to sleep like that?"

A voice cut through the haze, muffled and almost muted, like I had cotton stuffed in my ears. I tried to focus on it but the tiredness crept in.

"Haven't you slept long enough, Air?"

I opened my eyes or whatever eyes I had and tried to find the source of that voice. It was gentle, kind, almost like a mother's. I tried to speak but my mouth wouldn't move. Yet a voice echoed out into the void, soft and questioning but also empty. Like someone just waking up from sleep.

Who are you?

Is that my voice? How can I not recognize the sound of my own voice? 

I knew I should have been worried. Falling in an endless void accompanied by a disembodied voice, unable to speak or even recognize myself. Let alone my own memories.

Is Air my name? It sounds a little broad.

The voice laughed and I grimaced. Not sure that I said anything funny, but I'm certain that not having a body didn't help showing my feelings any. 

Can you answer my question? If not, I might fall asleep again.

It was a tempting solution. At least no one would make fun of my lack of knowledge in my dreams. Unless those dreams where you were in class in your underwear counted.

"What an interesting thought," the voice sighed and my heart skipped a beat.

You can hear my thoughts? 

"You aren't thinking, Air. You're speaking."

It's hard to speak without a mouth.

"But you do have a mouth."

I think we're seeing two different things here. I don't have a body which means no mouth. No mouth means I can't talk.

"Then how are we communicating?"

I don't even know who you are!

"Oh."

A moment of silence passed between us and from the way her voice trailed off, I'm assuming that she forgot something important to this little exchange. Her name. Or at least an explanation on where or when or what was going on. I would've sighed if I could but I couldn't bring myself to be mad at her. Although for the life of me, I couldn't figure out why not.

Did I even have a life?

I feel like I might have asked myself that question a lot even before I became a disembodied head in a void.

"Air," the voice called and it echoed as if it was surrounding me. "You are still the same carefree soul you were before, I am glad."

Before? Before what?

"There's so much for us to talk about, Air, and while I would love to chat there are other matters to attend to."

Wait a minute! You didn't even tell me your name or who I am. What is an Air?!

A pregnant pause follows.

"...Don't you know what air is?"

I don't even know who I am!

"Don't worry, where you are going, all your questions will be answered and more. Just promise me that you will stay awake, Air."

How can I promise anything when I don't even know your name?

"Oh, that's right."

Could she please keep on track for once?

In my irritation, I closed my eyes and when they opened, a wide blue sky surrounded me as wind rushed through my hair and clouds dispersed as I fell through them. 

Wait.

I'm falling through clouds.

"Hey!"

Good luck, Air.