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From a cold, grey room
Trying to understand
A world, a distant past
A lost winter wonderland

Everything’s gone, no love
No fun, no taste or smell
Christmas is not allowed
Stuck in this bleak kind of hell

An aching feeling comes from down inside
A deep descent into the past I slide
Familiar faces swarm inside my head
I shake them off, “get back to work!” they said

But hidden deep inside Capsule 245
Is a piece of history, into which I can’t wait to dive

An experience of yule-tide of old
An ancient kind of heaven
Day 25
Month 12
Year 7297

I plug the cartridge in and pull the headset across my eyes
I switch the power to ‘on’ and receive a bright surprise
A jolt of light straight through my brain is felt
The world around me starts to morph and melt

But then I see the warm fairy lights glow
A universe that I have come to know
We’re gathered round and singing Christmas cheer
A simulation of this time of year...

It’s Christmas time, I have arrived
Ancestors that I’ve long survived
Are back around the dinner table
Like something from a long-told fable

“Could you pass the cauliflower cheese?”
I ask my Mum, followed by a “please”
We are so lucky to be together
Tucked away from this ghastly weather

We’re playing board games, I’ve rolled a three
A load of presents under the tree
Around the blazing fire we’re huddled
There is no-one I haven’t cuddled

Layers of snow lie on the path
Looking forward to a nice warm bath
Crackers pulled, sprouts have been eaten
This time of year just can’t be beaten

But theres something filling me with fear
A subtle ringing in my ears
And Grandma’s face looks all distorted
My vision’s blurry, senses thwarted

The food now tastes of dust and metal
My stomach turns and will not settle
Someone yells my name, they’re far away…