The Fortress

I woke up in a room

No windows, only a hazy lamp, bright, but cold.

The room was not large

Perhaps the size of a study

But empty

A door, large with a brass knob, was the only exit

I tried it

Unlocked

I stepped out into a larger room

Also windowless, only a hazy lamp

The ceilings were tall

But not too tall

Nothing here except cold stone

Another door beckoned

I stepped into a room much larger than the ones before

The ceilings were cathedral-sized

The light from many lamps revealed

Nothing

But at least some of the lamps were different colors

That was nice

The door to the next room was as large as a drawbridge

But the room

Made the door seem tiny

The other side was visible

But only just

So many lamps

So many colors

So cold

Just stone

It took me a while to reach the other side

Nobody to keep me company except my footsteps

I tried whistling

The echoes made me feel more alone

I stopped whistling

Finally

The door was as tall as a skyscraper

I felt small

And alone

I tried the handle

It opened easily

If not for the stone floor extending forwards, you wouldn't know you were in a room

I couldn't see the other side

I couldn't see the ceiling

It just went on, maybe forever

The lamps were larger now

But seemed tiny in this space

The air didn't move

Nothing moved

Except me

Nothing better to do except go forwards

I never reached the other side.

It just kept going.

The room doesn't end.

Infinite space.

Infinitely empty.

Nothing except lamps and cold stone.

And me.

And I don't even particularly like me.