The infinite space of the Universe

Could you explain how a photon could or would have a very limited lifespan. They appear to be the most traveled identified thing in the universe and probably of greatest quantity. Please explain a "pre-star light" as this is a new term I've never heard.I suggest that photons may be the oldest remnants from the history of the universe originating before atomic structures formed.

I am trying to understand how the first photons would have been reabsorbed. Your description of the early universe "extremely dense" and "no free space" would appear in my mind to describe a universe that was bound in a dense structure that extended to infinity. I might be missing something but my vision from your early universe appears to be a universe that is collapsing into comglomerates of matter (and space between) rather than expanding to fill space. It would appear that photons could only exist after "space" is created.The formation of protons as I understand are the result of decomposition of neutrons which produces protons and eletrons. I'm interested in knowing your interpretation. If you don't mind can you explain.I assume from your reply that regardless of my lack of understanding about how your model formed, the universe is boundless and that the first photons are still traveling which seems to correlate that the edge of the universe is wherever the furthest photon has traveled.

I'm aware of these and that's why I have focused on photons and not "light". Radiated energies exist in limitless frequencies and "light" is only one.But in trying to visualize a universe I don't find an answer to my original questions about where the first photon would be and what happens to photons that are released at the edge of expansion which I've defined as the edge of space. I can only assume that the edge of the universe if one exists is where the furtherest photon exists.

Spheres are man made. There is no such thing as a sphere in the natural universe. So why should the universe be a sphere? The only reason that I can think why people would visualize the universe as a sphere is that they can't accept the fact that the universe responds to chaotic interaction of matter and energies. When reality and theory collide, I bet on reality.