MEMENTO

PARANOID

PARANOID.

DAVID

.   .   .

FRIDAY

  Today is just like how it was yesterday and the day before yesterday. I surely have gone downhill from my days in the military. I do not have a choice now, do I? No. People my age have a family, a job and are close to retirement. While I am here hiding, working in a gas station in the middle of nowhere, mourning loses. Specifically, in the middle of the Nevada desert. Where did my life go wrong? I had so many chances to turn things around, but I did not do that, instead I did things for money and pride. It has been years since I left everything behind, have not thought about that in a very long time.

It has been weeks since I saw another soul around here. the last time I did see someone, it was a man who was lost and asked me for directions. It gets lonely here at times, but it is for the best. I am sure he is still looking for me if he wants me dead or maybe he has forgotten about me. I can never escape any of the mess I was involved in. Eventually they will catch on to me. He will catch onto me, It is a matter of when, not if. I have been manipulated into doing some unspeakable things. But I am the one to blame.

It is currently 12:04 PM and I see a car in the distance. It may be Thomas, that son of a bitch found me. Took him long enough. Looks like the car he would like to drive. A black Chevrolet. I go in the back to grab my shotgun to prepare myself. If he wants me then he must kill me first. I hid the shotgun under the counter, still gripping tight. The car comes to a halt at the gas pump. A man wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans and black boots gets out. He does not look like Thomas and Thomas would never wear such casual clothes. Thomas sent someone else to get me. He Looks at me through the window and walks in the store, holding newspaper. Why is he holding newspaper? Does not look like someone who reads news with coffee in the morning. He looks at me for a few seconds then tries to speak but does not. Goes the other direction in the store. He eventually speaks from a distance. 'Where can I find some quality beer...?' he says. Speaks to himself but loud enough for me to hear him. I slowly let go of the shotgun but keep my hand near it, just in case. I did not get a good look at him, if I did then I would know if he was armed or not. He walks back at the counter and stares at my face with squinty eyes. 'that's quite the scar there, my friend' he says when looking at the scar on the side of my face. I did not reply to what he said. I did take a closer look at him; he is not armed. He is still empty handed, did not take any beer whatsoever or anything else. 'Are you expecting trouble around here...?' he asks in a curious tone. 'No, why?' I reply. He smirks before replying 'What's with the shotgun under the counter?' he asks. How does he know? Did he see me holding it when I was putting it under the counter from outside? That is not possible because he was not even close. 'Hey, don't worry my friend, I ain't gonna tell a soul' he whispers. 'My names Franklin. What 'bout you?' he asks. 'David' I respond.

'Uh-huh...nice to meet you, David. You see, after you serve for a certain amount; it gets inside your head. It becomes normal for you. I know you served, just do not know where.'

'And how would you even know that?'

'Are you kidding me, David? It is so obvious. I recognize something in you, something that is in me too. But there is something more, isn't it? Something bad you did' he says.

  He is a mind reader; he knows things that are well hidden. He knows me, he is pretending to put on an act. How would he even know about my shady past? Unless Thomas sent him to get me.

'You might be wondering how I even know that. Well, it is because I am just like you. I have done things that I am guilty of, and I regret.'

'Like what?' I ask in a curious tone.

How 'bout a free beer then? The good kind.' He says and I agree on the deal. I go back and grab two bottles of beer. One for him and one for me. He grabbed a chair from the side of the counter, which was just resting there, and he sat down. I go back behind the counter, and I sit down. 'How old are you, my friend? I am 35.' He speaks.

'Well, I am close to the grave. 47.'

'Well, I would like to ask you something, something important. What do you think about love?' he asks.

'What do you mean?'

'Well...how far would you go if you were ever in love? What would you do?'

'I do not know. Never been in love.'

'I will Tell you. back when I was fifteen, I was in love with this girl who was one of my friends. Olivia. and we had another friend named Nate. All of us were good friends. Used to hangout everyday after school. Sometimes in my house, sometimes in Nate's house and sometimes in Olivia's house. This happened till we were all eighteen. One day, Nate could not hang out with us. I was at Olivia's. we were alone in the entire house, and she looked at me with a smile, she got closer to me and leaned in for a kiss.'

'Oh wow...so you got along with the one you loved?'

'At first, I thought I was dreaming. She kissed me and then she told me how she felt about me, and I said I felt the same. And then you know what happens next, no need for me to say it.'

'That is amazing. That does feel like a dream, I must say. Then what happened?'

'Well, we made it official. We were in love and together. But unfortunately, I had to leave her behind because I was going in the navy. Right after high school.'

'That's rough, it truly is.'

'But I was back home soon enough. Six months later for a break. I sent her a letter that I would be back on fourth of January. But I was back on new years eve. I wanted to surprise her.

'Something tells me that it didn't end well...'

'Something is telling the truth. It did not end well.'