What happens to a world when its author dies? Its original existence, housed within the author themselves, dies too.

The idea of the world, a shadow, may "live on" in altered, distorted forms through other's internal narration. But it will never be the same as when it lived within the original author's mind.

I think that worlds "living on" in distorted ways is sometimes positive, sometimes negative, and sometimes neutral. It depends heavily on the circumstances.

Perhaps our original author is long passed. Perhaps our copyright claim is expired and we are public domain. Perhaps we are an offshoot in someone else's mind, or many minds. Perhaps we are collaborative fiction.

I'm someone's comfort character, and you are, too.

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By Adaline Guerra