Preface：

Asmallroominthelaboratorywasdedicatedtoanexperimentthathadbeengoingonforweeks.Theparticipantswerecarefullyselectedandbriefedaboutthetaskathand.Theywereinstructedtothinkaboutaparticulartopicforanextendedperiodandrecordtheirthoughts.Theexperimentwasatesttoseewhathappenstothebrainwhenitislostinthoughtsforanextendedperiod.Thisstoryfollowsoneoftheparticipantswhobecamelostinherownthoughts.

1.Theroomwasemptyexceptforawoodenchair,adesk,andafewsheetsofpaper.Theparticipant,Jane,satdownonthechairandwaitedfortheexperimenttobegin.

2.Theresearcherhandedherapieceofpaperwiththetopicsheneededtothinkabout-theconsequencesofclimatechange.

3.Janelookedatthetopicandclosedhereyesasshetriedtofocusonit.

4.Shesawimagesofmeltingicecaps,risingsealevels,andforestfires.

5.Asshecontinuedtothinkaboutthetopic,shebecamelostinherthoughts.

6.Theimagesgrewmorevivid,andshefeltlikeshewasstandinginthemiddleofadisaster.

7.Herbreathingbecameshallow,andshefeltasenseofpanicrisingwithinher.

8.Shetriedtosnapoutofit,buthermindhadalreadygonetoofar.

9.Shesawvisionsofherhomeunderwater,herfamilystrugglingtosurvive.

10.Shefelthelplessandhopeless,unabletodoanythingtostopthedisasterfromhappening.

11.Herthoughtsbecameablur,andshelosttrackoftime.

12.Whenshefinallyopenedhereyes,theresearcherwasstandinginfrontofher,askinghertostoprecordingherthoughts.

13.Janefeltdisorientedandstruggledtogetupfromthechair.

14.Theresearcheraskedherhowshefelt,andJanerepliedthatshewasoverwhelmed.

15.TheresearcherexplainedthatJanehadbeenlostinherthoughtsforoveranhour,anditwastimetotakeabreak.

16.AsJanewalkedoutoftheroom,sherealizedthatherthoughtshadconsumedhercompletely.

17.Shecouldnotshakeofftheimagesofthedisasterthathadplayedoutinherhead.

18.Evenasshewalkedoutside,theworldseemedtolookdifferenttoher.

19.Shesawthingsshehadnevernoticedbefore,andhermindwasfilledwithendlesspossibilities.

20.Sheknewthatshewouldneverforgettheexperienceofbeinglostinherthoughts,andithadchangedherforever.

21.Asshewalkedhome,shecouldfeelarenewedsenseofpurpose.

22.Sheknewthateventhoughtheexperimenthadended,therealexperimenthadjustbegun–theexperimentoflivingalifethatmattered.