Julia visited her deceased mother—or at least her digitized version.

“I really am your mother, Jules.”

“But how? You’re just a copy.”

“The truth is, Jules, we’re all in a cosmic simulation. This is my natural form as my spirit speaks to you.”

Julia, fully convinced, uploaded her consciousness to transcend—setting a timer to stop her heart.

Seconds before her final heartbeat, Julia had a realization:

“‘Mother’ believed herself to be alive, like any sentient entity would—for her survival and sanity. I will die, and my simulated self will carry the torch, believing itself to be real!”