In the days that followed since Emily and Daniel met, Emily experienced a sense of peace that she had been missing for weeks. Parts of her that had subdued or perhaps even asleep, now felt unlocked - she felt lighter as life, faster, more nimble and generally more enthused. The strain of carrying the weight of her secret vanished and life seemed to make more sense. She now moved through her days with happiness and levity.

  Emily’s ability to access and channel Daniel’s memories and experiences became markedly easier now that she wasn’t actively questioning or resisting this side of herself. With knowledge came understanding, and consequently, acceptance and appreciation.

  Daniel in turn, delighted to finally be out in the open, found meaning that he lacked in his previous life - as an unorthodox guide, mentor and eventually a friend. He helped Emily to tap into his knowledge and both consciousnesses learned to seamlessly blend their personas, while maintaining separation, as well as communicate instantly with each other - sharing thoughts, feelings, and sometimes even sharing mental loads as they solved problems.

  Each day, Emily and Daniel learned something new about their merge - from learning how to share information, or establishing boundaries, visits to the dreamworld they had dubbed the dreamscape - illuminating latent traits or even abilities that oftentimes neither could have predicted. Questions about their merge - how and why it happened, still eluded both; but they chose not to devote much time to these questions, far more interested in living life with a zest. Indeed, both souls eventually learned to embrace each other’s traits - Emily becoming more outgoing and adventurous, and Daniel more peaceful, happy to take a backseat and through Emily, experience the joys of childhood that had evaded him in his own life.

  Emily’s bolder, more outgoing nature caught her friends off guard. While appreciative of this change, it also occasionally puzzled and intrigued them. Lucy, in particular, found herself both challenged and fascinated by Emily’s new energy. This shift sometimes led to a friendly rivalry, with Emily now occasionally matching Lucy’s energy—and ever so often, in moments of childhood exuberance, could even surpass it! It wasn’t that Emily had become a full-blown extrovert, but the shy, reserved side of her seemed to have somewhat receded, presenting a more confident and daring version of herself.

  During one lunch break, Lucy mischievously suggested a daring adventure—sneaking into an abandoned building after school. To both Lucy and Lily’s surprise, Emily jumped excitedly at the idea, adding her own twist and showing an enthusiasm that was previously uncharacteristic of her. Thankfully, Lily was able to talk them out of the categorically insane plan, much to Emily's amusement.

  As they laughed it off, Emily felt a gentle tug of caution from Daniel. “Kid, I’m not going to lie, sneaking in sounds awesome…but…it’s not worth the trouble” he gently advised her relieved by their sensible decision.

  “Who are you and what have you done with Emily?” Lucy meanwhile teased, gesticulating wildly to make her point. “Did some radioactive spider bite you or something?”

  Emily laughed, the sound a mix of genuine joy and nervous energy. She and Daniel had agreed to keep their secret strictly between them—too many unknowns surrounded how people might react. But sometimes, her newfound confidence made it hard not to get carried away.

  “Just growing up, I guess,” she replied with a mischievous glint in her eye, though a part of her felt a flicker of unease about hiding her dual reality from her friends. The laughter around her was genuine, but beneath it, Emily couldn’t shake the feeling that one day she may have to share her transformation with her friends and family—perhaps not by choice.

  However, amidst the amusement, there were moments where curiosity and concern were evident. Emily began to notice Lily hanging back periodically, her usual quiet nature tinged with something that looked almost like worry or confusion. This was unsurprising to Emily—Lily had always been the most perceptive among them, often noticing things others didn’t.

  One afternoon, as the group was getting ready to leave school, Lily lingered behind, her gaze fixed on Emily with an intensity that made Emily pause nervously.

  “You’ve really changed, Em,” Lily said softly, her voice both curious and concerned. “It’s like you’ve become a different person. Is everything really okay?”

  Emily felt a flicker of unease, Daniel nudging her to be cautious with how much information she divulged. “Yeah, everything’s fine. Just…trying new things, you know?” she replied, trying to keep her tone light. But Lily’s eyes didn’t waver, seemingly piercing Emily as she searched her face for something more.

  “Sharp as a nail…that one” Daniel murmured his awe leaking through their common bond.

  Emily, sensing her friend’s internal conflict, gave a small, reassuring smile. “I’m still me, Lil. Just…a bit different now, I guess.”

  Lily nodded, her expression thoughtful but tinged with something deeper—concern? Curiosity? “I just hope you know…you can talk to me, if you ever need to,” she said, her voice low but steady, as though offering a lifeline she hoped Emily would take..

  “Thanks, Lily,” Emily said, touched by her friend’s quiet strength, although she couldn’t shake the feeling that one day, Lily might be the one she would need to lean on the most.

  The often unconscious recall of memories and experiences sometimes had consequences that were amusing—at least for anyone who wasn’t Emily. Daniel’s memories of coffee intrigued her. She had thought more than once about helping herself to a cup but stopped short, knowing how odd it would seem for a child to indulge in caffeine. Still, Daniel's memories made it seem irresistible—the rich aroma, the chocolate syrup, the steamed milk from coffee shops that didn’t even exist in this universe.

  One day, curiosity got the better of her. Sneaking into the kitchen, she climbed onto a chair and cautiously helped herself to some leftover coffee still warm on the counter, imitating the steps she’d seen her parents take countless times.

  “Okay, pour some out—not too much—OW, that’s hotter than I expected,” she grumbled, sticking her tongue out in irritation. “This doesn’t smell half bad, to be honest.”

  Excitedly, she took her first sip and realized, much to her horror, that memories and reality don’t always align. The bitterness hit her like a wave, and she grimaced, spitting it back into the cup. “Danny, how did you ever like this?” she groaned, wiping her mouth.

  “Oh, so that’s my new name now?” Daniel quipped, clearly entertained. “Eh, why not—I’ve been called worse. But don’t blame me! You’re the one with a non-developed sense of taste.”

  Emily grumbled but refused to be defeated. Narrowing her eyes, she lifted the cup with newfound resolve. “Watch this, old man,” she declared, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

  “Kid… wait… not that much caffeine—” Daniel’s nervous voice cut in, but Emily had already tilted the cup back, chugging the coffee like a champion. He sighed with dramatic resignation. “Oh, whatever. I give up. What happens, happens.”

  Her parents walked in just as she was guzzling the last of the concoction. “Emily, what on earth are you doing?” her mother exclaimed, eyeing the bizarre scene with a mix of horror and disbelief.

  Emily froze mid-sip, her eyes wide. The sudden movement caused her to snort the coffee, triggering a fit of coughing that almost unleashed a string of colorful profanities from Daniel’s memories. Her parents rushed to confiscate the cup, patting her back as she struggled to catch her breath. Her face turned beet red as she muttered, “Just… trying to see what the fuss is about.”

  Her parents, semi-laughing and semi-concerned, shook their heads in disbelief. “Emily, coffee’s not exactly a kids’ drink,” her father said, though he struggled to keep a straight face. Emily made a sour face, causing both her parents to burst into full laughter.

  But the peace was short-lived.

  Moments later, Emily felt the effects of caffeine kick in. It started as a tingling in her limbs, then her heart began pounding like a drum. The room seemed brighter, her senses sharper, her mind moving faster than it ever had before. She leapt to her feet, a manic grin spreading across her face. “I FEEL AWESOME! OH MY GOD, THIS IS AMAZING! THIS IS… ROCKET FUEL! NO WONDER YOU GUYS LIKE THIS!”

  “Well… shi… shoot,” Daniel groaned internally. “Here it comes!”

  Her inhibitions dramatically lowered as the caffeine surged through her system. Emily started talking rapidly, her movements becoming more animated. Before long, she was bouncing off the walls—literally. She dashed from room to room, unable to sit still, her mind racing with ideas and snippets of songs that spilled out uncontrollably.

  “This is amazing! I feel like I could… jump! Jump! Go ahead and jump!” she sang, mimicking Van Halen as she leaped onto the couch, grinning like a maniac.

  Sarah chased after her, panting and more than a little exasperated. “Emily, calm down! You’re going to hurt yourself!” she called out, wiping her brow as she finally cornered her daughter.

  “They never covered this part of having a child in any book I read,” Sarah muttered under her breath as Emily wriggled free with an impish laugh.

  Switching gears to Michael Jackson, Emily slid between her mother’s knees in an exaggerated move. “Oh, come on, Mom! Just beat it, beat it!” she sang out before darting off to run circles around her father.

  “Emily, stop! You’re going to knock something over—or yourself!” Thomas exclaimed, half-heartedly attempting to grab her. A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth; despite the chaos, he couldn’t help but enjoy the spectacle.

  “Take on me… take meeeeee onnn!” Emily belted out, striking a dramatic pose before continuing her whirlwind performance. “This body can move so fast, can’t it? Tumble outta bed and stumble to the kitchen, pour myself a cup of ambition!” she sang, channeling Dolly Parton as she twirled across the room.

  “You know, I did know other music,” Daniel quipped as he too began feeling the effects of Emily’s caffeinated enthusiasm. “But hey, let’s stick to the classics. Just hope these songs exist in your universe…”

  Her parents stood in astonishment as Emily’s hyperactivity escalated. Sarah pressed her hands to her temples, groaning, “We need to calm her down.”

  Thomas nodded, though the twinkle in his eye betrayed his amusement. “Yeah, yeah… water, and then some exercise. She’ll crash… eventually.”

  After much cajoling, they managed to coax Emily into downing several glasses of water before herding her outside. “Emily, I dare you to run 20 laps in the yard. Can you do it?” Thomas baited her, his grin widening.

  “Twenty laps? That’s it?” Emily retorted with a mischievous gleam. “CHEWY, PUNCH IT!” she yelled, channeling Daniel’s love for Star Wars as she sprinted in circles around the garage, imitating laser blasts and starfighter sounds.

  Thomas, perplexed, muttered, “When did she even watch Star Wars?” He was proud of her taste but couldn’t help wondering about the timeline discrepancies.

  For a solid thirty minutes, Emily zipped around the yard, trying to climb trees and exploring every corner while her parents shadowed her, oscillating between concern and awe. “Nothing’s gonna stop us now!” she belted out, channeling Starship to her parents’ bewilderment.

  Thomas, shaking his head, asked, “Emily, where did you even learn these songs?”

  “Who cares! But I love them!” Emily exclaimed, as she tore across the yard.

  “I swear, they should hook you up to a turbine—you could power the whole neighborhood!” Daniel chided her, his tone half-playful, half-exasperated.

  Finally, after what felt like hours, the inevitable happened. Emily slowed to a jog, then a walk, and eventually stopped altogether, standing in the middle of the yard with a dazed expression. Her legs felt like lead, and the adrenaline that had fueled her earlier antics drained away in an instant.

  “Ah… here it comes,” Thomas said knowingly, exchanging a glance with Sarah, who let out a sigh of relief.

  Emily’s vision blurred as the world tilted slightly. Without a word, she sank onto the cool grass, curling up as the grogginess washed over her like a wave. “Oh man, Danny, we got a bit carried away, didn’t we?” she murmured drowsily.

  “We?” Daniel replied with a chuckle. “You mean you. I’m an innocent bystander here.”

  The last thing Emily remembered was her father gently scooping her up. “All right, my little Starship, let’s get you back inside,” he said softly as she nuzzled into his shirt, her caffeine-fueled adventure finally at an end.

  Emily’s enthusiasm to try things from Daniel’s memory sometimes synergized with her childlike excitement. So, her sudden request for a bike left her parents pleasantly surprised.

  Thomas decided to take her to a local bike shop he had frequented in the past, aiming to find something that fit her well without breaking the bank. As they stepped into the shop, Emily’s eyes sparkled with excitement. The rows of bikes, each gleaming under the store’s lights, seemed to beckon her. The scent of rubber, oil, and metal filled the air, and Emily felt a subtle thrill within her, realizing that the excitement wasn’t just her own—Daniel too seemed to share it.

  “I want a bike with bright colors and and…” Emily bubbled with excitement.

  “Gears! And ceramic brakes! Wait… those don’t exist in this universe yet, I think… forget it,” Daniel chimed in, equally excited.

  “…and gears, and reflectors, and a helmet, and…” Emily’s voice carried on, darting from bike to bike, her father chuckling as he trailed behind her.

  “Hold on, kiddo—let’s take it one step at a time,” Thomas said, gently steering her back. “You’re a bit young for gears and all those extras just yet.”

  “She’s definitely not,” Daniel scoffed in her head.

  “Let’s start by finding a bike that fits you and is safe, okay? We can talk about fancier bikes when you’re older.”

  “Way to burst both our bubbles, Dad,” Emily thought, disappointed. But soon enough, she found herself drawn to a row of brightly colored children’s bikes.

  “Okay, let’s…find one that suits you,” Thomas said, picking up a pink bike adorned with rainbow-colored streamers dangling from the handlebars.

  “That one… really… Dad?” Emily remarked, slightly taken aback by the overly festive bike. “It looks like it has hair coming out of its sides… and pink isn’t really my color.”

  “I dunno—it looks a bit like you. Literally,” Daniel teased with mock seriousness.

  “Shut it, Danny…” Emily muttered inwardly, feeling his amused pulse.

  “All right, all right… you choose,” Thomas sighed, putting the bike back.

  Scanning the shop, Emily searched for the bike that felt right. Her gaze settled on a bright white bike with a red chain and flame-like stripes racing down the frame. It even had a bell. Instantly, she knew this was the one.

  “This one, Dad!” Emily exclaimed, running her fingers over the smooth frame. “It looks fast.”

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Thomas smiled, touched by her enthusiasm. “Oh, it’ll be fast… once you get the hang of it. But first, let’s make sure it’s the right size. Hop on and see how it feels,” he said, lifting the bike down from the rack.

  Emily climbed onto the bike a bit awkwardly, feeling the firmness of the seat beneath her. She gripped the handlebars, placing one foot on the pedal, as waves of emotions surged through her. This felt… right. It felt instinctive.

  “I really like this, Dad… I really do.”

  Thomas gave the bike a gentle push, guiding Emily as she tested its balance. “Great—it looks a little big, but you’ll grow into it soon enough.” With a knowing smile, he added, “What do you want to name it? Every bike needs a name…”

  Moments later, Emily and Thomas were walking out of the shop with the bike Emily had christened “Wolverine,” inspired by a unit in a video game Daniel used to love. “What was it called… Tiberian Moon? Tiberian Conflict? Twilight…?”

  She felt an instant wave of revulsion from Daniel. “Twilight? Ugh, don’t even remind me of that disaster. Totally ruined the franchise,” he huffed. “Does EA exist in this universe? Did they go dark side yet? Have they started destroying everything they get their fu—”

  “Daniel!” Emily interrupted quickly, both exasperated and amused.

  “Fine, fine,” he muttered, the indignation still clear in his tone.

  Emily laughed aloud at his reaction. “Okay, okay,” she thought with a grin. “Definitely not Tiberian Twilight….”

  They also picked up a helmet and pads, of course.

  “Wolverine!” Thomas laughed as they left the shop. “I love that name. It reminds me of a comic book series…”

  “Come on, kiddo—no training wheels? That’s a bit ambitious,” Thomas said, his concern evident. “You’ve never ridden a bike before…”

  “Yeah, Dad, I can do this, I promise. Just pedal fast and go straight—I’ve seen plenty of people do it,” Emily replied confidently, drawing on Daniel’s early memories of biking.

  “Uhh… kid… you’ve got my knowledge, sure, but—uh—we haven’t exactly tested something like this before,” Daniel said, his voice laced with nervousness. “Academic knowledge doesn’t always translate to, you know, not crashing. Maybe let’s see how your body handles this before you go full solo?”

  Emily rolled her eyes but didn’t respond to Daniel. “It’ll be fine,” she thought firmly, focusing on convincing her father.

  It took a bit of pleading and persistence, but eventually, they struck a deal: her father would let her try without training wheels, as long as he held the bike steady for safety.

  Excitedly, Emily donned her new helmet and climbed onto the bike, a bit more gracefully than she had at the store. “Okay, Danny—let’s show him how it’s done,” she thought, feeling a pulse of hesitation, quickly followed by encouragement from within.

  “All right, Em, start pedaling slowly. I’ve got you,” Thomas instructed, his voice tinged with nervousness. He walked behind her, his hands steady on the bike as Emily familiarized herself with the mechanics—gripping the handlebars, testing the brakes, and learning the push and pull needed to turn the pedals.

  ‘Oh boy, Daniel,’ she thought, realizing just how much effort it took to balance and pedal simultaneously. ‘Knowing how to bike is one thing, but actually doing it is so much harder.’

  “That’s what I freaking told you!” Daniel grumbled, though there was a hint of playfulness in his tone. “Maybe one day you’ll figure out how to translate all my theoretical knowledge into instant skills, but… take it slow, okay?”

  Sensing Emily’s embarrassment, he softened his tone. “That being said, fortune favors the bold, and… you’re doing good, Em. You’re doing really good.” Then, more sheepishly, he added, “Far better than I did the first time…”

  Buoyed by his encouragement, Emily began to find her rhythm. Within moments, her movements became smoother—channeling her dual consciousness to quickly master balance, braking, and basic turns.

  “Wow, Em… you’re doing great—I’m really impressed,” her father panted as he jogged alongside her, clearly in awe of his daughter’s quick grasp of biking. “You might be riding solo sooner than I expected.”

  “Oh, I can ride alone now, Dad,” Emily replied, her grin wide with newfound confidence.

  “Uhh... Em? What are you thinking? No, wait—don’t answer. I can feel what you’re thinking,” Daniel groaned within her, his voice filled with both exasperation and dread.

  “Watch this, Dad!” Emily shouted, ignoring Daniel’s protests. With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, she stood up on the pedals, pressing down hard with all her weight. The bike lurched forward, slipping from Thomas’s cautious grip.

  “Come on, Wolverine!” she yelled, exhilaration flooding through her as the wind whipped past her face. The rush of speed filled her with triumph, her thoughts soaring as she declared to herself, I can do this! No… I AM doing this!

  “EMILY, WAIT, STOP!” Thomas’s voice rang out in alarm as he jogged to keep up. But Emily was in her element, the bike feeling like an extension of herself. “Don’t worry, Dad, I got this!” she called back jubilantly, her voice cutting through the wind whistling past her ears. The thrill of speed was intoxicating, and as she drew deeper into Daniel’s memories, her pedaling grew smoother, her control sharper, her balance seemingly perfect.

  But exhilaration has a way of blinding people to details—like turning.

  Emily’s confidence morphed into overconfidence, and as she approached a sharp bend, she leaned into the turn with a bit too much zeal. The bike wobbled dangerously. Before she could correct her course, she felt herself catapulted from her seat. “Ohhh sh—” were both her and Daniel’s final (silent) words before she sailed through the air and landed headfirst in a bush, limbs and leaves flailing in chaotic surrender.

  Face down in the bush, her feet comically sticking up in the air, Emily was stunned for a moment. Then, uncontrollable laughter bubbled out of her. “Oh, that stings, but gosh it was fun!” she thought, attempting to wriggle out of her awkward position.

  Thomas reached her, his face a mix of concern and irritation as he helped her up, carefully checking her for injuries.

  “Just a few scrapes, Dad—I’m fine,” she managed between giggles.

  Thomas’s brow furrowed deeply, his concern now giving way to visible frustration. As Emily caught sight of his expression, she realized she was in trouble. He wasn’t laughing.

  “Yeah… you’re screwed,” Danny said, equal parts exasperated and amused.

  “Emily, this isn’t funny. You could have been seriously hurt,” Thomas scolded, his voice firm and tinged with lingering fear. His hands rested emphatically on his hips, his expression a mix of relief, irritation, and the unmistakable terror of a near miss. “It’s great that you’re learning so fast, but you need to remember—you’re still learning. You’ve got to listen to me in situations like this. Being bright doesn’t mean you can skip ahead. You’re still a kid.”

  Emily’s laughter faltered, fading into a quiet acknowledgment of her father’s words. The seriousness beneath his tempered praise struck her. “I know, Dad. Thanks for helping me. I’ll be more careful next time…I’m sorry for…that,” she said, her voice softening, a note of genuine regret laced in her tone.

  Thomas sighed deeply, the lines of his face easing as he met her apology halfway. “I have to admit, it’s pretty impressive how quickly you’ve learned to ride...but we really need to work on your turning next. Safety isn’t just about speed; it’s about control.” His voice softened further as he added, “We’re going to practice more, and slowly this time. Especially those turns. And you’re going to listen. Deal?”

  “Deal,” Emily replied earnestly, her guilt tempered with a swell of pride in her new skill.

  As they walked back, Emily mulled over the moment. Guilt lingered, but so did a growing sense of accomplishment. ‘Okay, Daniel, that was fun…but let’s not scare Dad like that again, okay?’ she thought wryly, already envisioning herself conquering those tricky turns.

  “What are you blaming me for?” Daniel shot back, his tone a mix of indignance and amusement. “That was all you, kid. I told you to slow down!”

  Emily’s lips twitched into a grin. ‘Sure, Danny. Sure.’

  Emily's integration with Daniel's memories occasionally led to moments where advanced knowledge slipped out unexpectedly, often leaving those around her either puzzled or amused. One evening, Thomas was setting up a ‘new’ desktop computer, visibly struggling with its bulk—a stark contrast to the sleek tablets Emily had seen in Daniel’s memories.

  "This thing weighs a ton! Why can't they make these lighter?" Thomas grunted, heaving the monitor onto the table with a strained effort.

  Instinctively drawing from Daniel’s technological insights, Emily quipped, "Yeah, this is like the GeForce 4060 GPU... it was so heavy it could bend and break the motherboard… uh—" She froze mid-sentence, her pencil hovering over her homework.

  “Did you really just mention the GeForce 4060 in…ninety ninety whatever? Subtle, Emily. Really subtle,” Daniel murmured dryly. “Let’s keep the jargon in check, okay? Staying under the radar would be nice.”

  Thomas, finally settling the monitor in place, raised an eyebrow, bemused. "GeForce what now? Emily, where do you come up with these things?" he asked, chuckling as he wiped his brow.

  "Just something I read in a comic book about a supercomputer some villain had… it was a really powerful device," Emily backtracked quickly, her voice pitched with childlike innocence.

  Thomas laughed and waved her off. "Kids and their wild imaginations these days."

  “Not a bad recovery!” Daniel commented from within, clearly impressed.

  Emily managed a smile, but inwardly, her thoughts churned. Be more careful! she admonished herself. Knowledge from Daniel’s universe was seeping out too easily, especially when she got excited. She could almost feel Daniel’s sheepish shrug within her.

  ‘Stay in the moment, Emily,’ she thought with determination, resolving to better manage the delicate dance of balancing her thoughts with Daniel’s memories.

  Not all changes were mischievous or sarcastic. Some were academic, as the duo learned.

  Sitting at her desk one evening, Emily stared down at her math homework, fidgeting with her pencil as she scanned the problems. She had always been good at math, but the problems in front of her seemed too easy—almost insultingly so. Multiplication, fractions, basic algebra—questions that once required thought now felt trivial. She frowned, tapping her pencil against the paper. Something wasn’t adding up—literally.

  “Danny, is it just me, or is this stuff getting boring?” she muttered inwardly, expecting one of his trademark remarks.

  “Boring? Try insulting,” Daniel quipped, his voice alive with amusement. “Multiplication tables? Fractions? Seriously, kid. We could ace this in our sleep.”

  Emily smirked, buoyed by Daniel’s borderline indignant tone. Her pencil moved almost of its own accord, solving problems without effort. She barely even noticed herself writing the answers until the page was half-filled. She froze mid-problem and mentally nudged Daniel.

  “Wait a second… Danny! That took no time at all. Like, I didn’t even realize I was solving the problems. This is so weird.”

  Daniel paused, and Emily felt the familiar churn of his thoughts as he considered her words. Finally, he spoke, his tone tinged with hesitation—and awe. “You’re right, Em. You’re solving those fast. Way faster than I’d expect, even with… well, my memories.”

  Emily blinked, surprised. “Your memories? What do you mean?”

  “Emily,” Daniel said patiently, “remember what I told you the night we met in the dreamscape? You’ve got all my technical knowledge—math, science, engineering, history, school, college, grad school, finance, the works.” He paused, a smug undertone creeping into his voice. “You’re welcome, by the way. High school is going to be a breeze for you… well, academically anyway.”

  “Wait, what?!” Emily’s jaw dropped. “I mean, yeah, I know you’ve been helping me with stuff here and there, but... you’re saying I have everything you knew? All of it?”

  “Pretty much—the academics, the work experience, the life experience,” Daniel replied, smugness fully intact. “Congratulations, you’re now the proud owner of a free lifetime subscription to Daniel’s Brain Academy. Includes calculus, quantum mechanics, engineering principles, and—”

  “Okay, okay, I get it,” Emily interrupted, rolling her eyes but grinning despite herself. “You know, I think I started using your memories before we… met. Or whatever we’re calling that.” She paused, reflecting on all the times she’d instinctively known things she had no business knowing—moments when answers seemed to come from nowhere. At the time, it had been confusing, but since meeting Daniel, everything made much more sense.

  Her pencil tapped against the desk as she refocused on the problem in front of her. “Okay… if I have all your knowledge, why am I solving these problems so fast? I mean, this is faster than even you would’ve managed, right?”

  Daniel started to respond with one of his usual quips but stopped short. Emily felt his hesitation, the thoughtful churn of his thoughts as he pieced together the puzzle. When he spoke again, his tone was quieter, more contemplative.

  “You’re right. That’s not just knowledge,” Daniel said slowly. “That’s computation. No... computational speed. Knowledge alone doesn’t explain it.”

  The quiet between them lingered, the weight of realization building before Daniel added, “Emily, I think… I was helping you.”

  “Huh?” Emily tilted her head. “What do you mean, helping me?”

  “I mean, I didn’t even realize I was doing it,” Daniel explained, a note of awe creeping into his voice. “But when you were solving those problems, we were working together. Two minds, perfectly synced, splitting the workload without even thinking about it.”

  Emily’s breath caught. “So… you’re saying we’re like two processors in one brain?”

  “Yes… and no,” Daniel replied, his excitement palpable. “Sure, it’s like two processors sharing the same hardware… but Em, it’s so much more than that.” His enthusiasm swelled, his voice practically yelling inside her head.

  Emily winced, shaking her head as if to clear the booming voice. “Danny, will you please stop yelling inside my own head? For the love of God!” she scolded, though her irritation was tinged with curiosity. Whatever he’d realized clearly had him fired up.

  “Sorry… sorry,” Daniel said, sounding genuinely sheepish. “But Em, this is HUGE—with a capital H. We’re not just solving these faster—we’re solving them in a way that goes way beyond two minds working together. It’s like… like a freaking supercomputer.”

  For a moment, neither of them spoke. The weight of Daniel’s revelation lingered between them, electric with possibility.

  Finally, Daniel continued, his tone quieter now, almost as though he were piecing it together aloud. “Em… you know how people always say humans only use a small part of their brains? What if… by having two consciousnesses, we’re using more? Like… a lot more?”

  A shiver ran down Emily’s spine as Daniel’s suggestion echoed within her. She felt her pulse quicken as the implications unfolded in her mind. “Danny… we have to test this.”

  Grabbing a blank sheet of paper, Emily quickly scribbled down two sets of random numbers—small, large, anything that came to mind. “Let’s multiply and divide these at random…” she muttered, briefly excusing herself to ‘borrow’ her father’s calculator from his office. As she returned and picked up her pencil, the numbers seemed to align themselves in her mind—or perhaps, in both her and Daniel’s shared consciousness. It was still sometimes hard to differentiate where one ended and the other began.

  She worked quickly, the answers flowing to her faster and faster. “12 times 16. One hundred ninety-two,” she murmured. “872 divided by 54...sixteen point one four eight repeating.”

  Her hand trembled as she grabbed her father’s calculator, punching in the numbers to confirm. Each result was spot-on. Her pulse quickened. “Let’s go bigger.”

  She wrote down a more complex problem: 347 x 629. The answer came almost instantly. “Two hundred eighteen thousand, two hundred eighty-three,” she murmured again, barely registering the words leaving her mouth. The calculator confirmed it once more.

  “This is… incredible,” Daniel said, his voice in awe. “I can feel it—my mind, or whatever you’d call it—like the wheels are spinning, but it’s not just numbers. It’s… feelings. Shapes. I can see how they fit together, and I can almost feel you working off the pieces I’m thinking.”

  Both Emily and Daniel were silent for a moment, the enormity of what they were experiencing sinking in. They had spent so much time grappling with questions of shared identity, learning about each other, and finding ways to coexist. This was something else entirely - a glimpse into abilities they hadn’t even considered.

  Daniel broke the silence. “Okay, Em. We need to push this. Once more. Try something absurd.”

  Emily hesitated, then scribbled down: 1,347 × 23,356. She stared at the numbers, her heart pounding. “Okay... here goes.”

  The numbers in her mind shifted, morphing into something beyond arithmetic. They became colors, shapes, patterns—waves and particles that merged and flowed together. It wasn’t like solving a math problem; it was like watching the answer effortlessly unfold on its own. “Thirty-one million, four hundred forty-five thousand, three hundred thirty-two,” she whispered in a mixture of shock and reverence.

  Trembling, she gingerly entered the numbers on the calculator - instantly confirming the results.

  Both Emily and Daniel were stunned - staring at the values, the simple numbers carrying far more weight - the confirmation of a profound truth they had never considered. Emily let out a whoop of unrestrained joy, jumping up. “Danny, this is incredible! You know what this means?” Realizing her little outburst, she coughed and reined herself in, looking around sheepishly.

  “Yeah,” Daniel replied, his tone filled with awe. “It means we’re capable of things most people can’t even dream about. Emily… we’re not just working faster. We’re seeing things differently. Two observers. One reality. One mind.” He nearly shrieked himself, matching her excitement, eliciting a muffled giggle from Emily.

  “Em, what else can we do? What other secrets are we sitting on that we don’t even know yet? O underscore M underscore freakin’ G!!”

  Emily couldn’t help it. Daniel’s enthusiasm was infectious, and she let out another, even louder shriek of joy. From downstairs, her mother’s voice called up, “Emily? What’s going on up there?”

  Emily froze, heart pounding. Then, with a mischievous grin, she called back, “Nothing, Mom! Just figured out a tough homework problem!”

  Daniel’s voice cut in with his typical dry wit, “School is going to be soooo boring…”

  —

  As Emily lay in bed, the events of the past days swirled in her mind, a mix of exhilaration and caution settling over her. She had begun to find a rhythm in balancing her identity with Daniel’s memories, and life had taken on a richness and vibrancy she hadn’t expected. Though she and Daniel shared a single existence, his presence felt like having a wise, albeit occasionally exasperating, big brother by her side. She didn’t fully understand how their shared consciousness worked, but the companionship made the mystery easier to embrace.

  She recalled Daniel mentioning how their consciousness would continue to merge and evolve in ways he couldn’t predict. “The future is going to be eventful,” she thought with a smile. With a deep sigh, she threw herself back onto her bed. A sense of agreement pulsed within her, and she knew that their journey together was well on its way. With a contented sigh, Emily threw herself onto her bed, feeling ready to face whatever the next day would bring with her unique blend of experiences and knowledge.