A Common Phenomenon
Death of the soul but not of the body.
It's a common phenomenon, you know.
Haven't you ever had friends who suddenly started acting weirdly, totally different than how they used to?
Maybe they're more hostile. Maybe they're more abrasive. Maybe they're just unresponsive, like they're on autopilot. Like they got put into a factory reset mode and never got switched back to normal.
Maybe you've seen a stranger on the street. One who's eyes are a bit glazed over, who doesn't acknowledge you walking, who doesn't even step aside when you cross paths. You awkwardly walk around them before looking back and wondering what's wrong with them. Are they insomniacs? On drugs? Psychotic?
Now you know.
Death of the soul but not of the body is a very common phenomenon, as I said before, and you have undergone it. The unique thing about your case, however, is that you were meant to be brought back.
This too, happens, sometimes. Rarely, but it happens. The kind folks in logistics realize that some papers got shuffled around or an accident happened and that it was just too soon for you to go. Most of the time, it's a fairly simple procedure to return you to where you're meant to be without much difficulty. The memory of the pale and the else is just a faint memory, something that can be explained away as a nifty little nightmare.
The only issue with your case, the thing that truly makes it unique, however, is that something took hold of your body during that period of soul death. Someone, rather. They were getting nicely adjusted to your life, too. Enjoying the day to day cycle, getting acquainted with your regulars. It's unfortunate, too.. this only really happens with those who are taken at the proper time. The hotel rooms that are vacant, ready for new inhabitants.
So now you are presented with three options.
Number one, the one I would personally recommend against- You can return to your body. It's been about six months, so you wouldn't have missed much comparatively- I only recommend against it as it would require us to attempt to evict the current resident, removal by force. They aren't a monster, after all. Just another soul, you know? And there aren't any guarantees that they will be able to leave fully. You could try living with them, two souls in one body... Though that would likely be rather volatile. It's still an option, though. Not the one i'd recommend, but it's an option.
Number two, the one I feel might be the best case- We can find you another body to reside in. Just as they are now in yours, you can find another vessel quite easily. We can't guarantee that you won't remember your past, but it will still allow you to attain the rest of your typical life experience and not feel so unprepared for the pale and the else that lays beyond. I know it's scary, but your options are limited.
Number three, the third and final option- you can simply remain here. It's an earlier start than most who enter, but you'll adjust. I'm sure that you will.
So which will it be?