MEMORIES

Two

Two men stood in the ICU at the bedside of a teenage boy with light hair and pale skin. The curtains were closed, giving the room a gloomy sort of look. Life support machines made eerie noises from the shadows. The boy was barely visible amongst all of the IV's, tubes, and wires keeping him alive.

His face was a bit unusual, even so. His skin was as pale as would be a ghost's, so fair that the medical machines' blinking lights seemed to be reflecting off of it. His facial features; his nose, cheeks, lips, and forehead were soft and smooth, containing no birthmarks, scars, or other distinguishing marks at all.

"Quite an interesting child, isn't he, Andrew?" said Dr. Douglas Livi. At age 45, he had been working as a doctor for almost twenty-five years and in all of those twenty-five years, he had never had a case such as this boy's. No matter what he tried, he just wouldn't wake up and wouldn't breathe on his own. He feared the boy's heart was beginning to fail, and if that was the case, all hope would be lost. Dr. Livi had never lost a patient yet, and he prayed he wasn't about to start now, but at the sight of his current state in this moment, Dr. Livi was terrified that this boy would never open his eyes to see the light of day ever again.

"That he is," replied sheriff Andrew Palmer. At age 36, he had been working for the San Diego police department for nine years. In those nine years, he had become a hero. He had never failed. The canary always sang, the criminal was always put behind bars, and the mystery was always solved. Last week he had been asked to identify this boy and bring him safely back to his family. He had been working on this case for five days, and still no leads on who this boy was or where he belonged. He was beginning to believe his days as a hero were ending.

"Any sign of the parents yet?" Dr. Livi asked. Palmer shook his head, staring at this wonder of a boy. "Not a word," he said.

"Peculiar."

"Quite."

"No progress on the DNA test, either, Andrew?" said Dr. Livi. Palmer sighed. His shoulders drooped. "Absolutely none," he said. "Why is that?" Dr. Livi questioned. "The results that came up showed no relatives at all," Palmer explained. "No parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins. None ever." He looked up away from the boy's miserable face and at the doctor. "They are looking for damage in their equipment at this very moment."

"How unfortunate," said Dr. Livi with a frown. "Yes," Palmer muttered.

They stood in silence for a minute or two. A clock on the wall diligently ticked off the quiet seconds.

"No missing person reports?" Dr. Livi burst out. "None," said Palmer. "How odd," Dr. Livi cried. "How odd, indeed," Palmer agreed, looking down at the boy's face again.

"Do we know his name yet?" Dr. Livi said. "Douglas!" Palmer scolded. "He can't even breathe on his own, let alone speak!" "Apologies. I'm just a bit tired of calling him the boy," Dr. Livi muttered. "Understandable," Palmer said with a sigh.

There were another few moments of silence. The boy laid motionless under the bleaches sheets of the bed.

"So, we know absolutely nothing about him?" said Dr. Livi. "That is our current situation. Yes," replied Palmer. Dr. Livi gulped. "Perhaps it's time to hire a detective, Mr. Palmer," he whispered.

Palmer sighed and hung his head. What would that do to his reputation?

Suddenly he straightened up and clenched his fists. You're being selfish, Andrew, he told himself. This innocent boy's life is more important than your reputation.

"I agree, Doctor. I'll mention it to the Sargent."