When Challenging Perceptions

Log #4

Attention: This is a Public Service Announcement from The Collective. The following tape is a privately recorded audio entry recovered from Individual #2245's dwellings. It is not to be redistributed by any means. Any illegal copies are to be turned over to our official offices immediately. Failure to do so will result in severe penalties, including but not limited to up to five years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $30,000. Thank you! 

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August 4, 2105, 9:30 AM

I wake up early in the morning; sleeping somewhat eluded me because of everything that happened the other day. The same dream I had before happened again: the boy outside his home with the suitcase, looking at the Facility. Only now, I saw my siblings all staring at me. The older ones showed no emotion on their faces. The ones closer to my age aren't as stoic. I can see their feelings swirling about in their countenance. "Why, why are you leaving us? How could you abandon us like this?"

Because I didn't have a choice, I told myself, even though I did. Stay with them, brave the storm together. But why, why dwell on this now after all this time? I doubt that they care anymore. For all I know, they are busy just going about their day. So, don't worry about it.

That still leaves the question of what really became of #7720. Did he pass away in silence? He was old—older than many of us. The fact he made it as far as he did is impressive. That shows how sophisticated The Collective's technology has become since then. To think, just a few decades ago we were still dying of diseases like cancer. However, even the best medicine cannot compete with the inevitability of old age. 

After showering, I wore a white polo with green stripes and khaki shorts. Here, I take time to look at myself in the mirror again. My hair is deep black with hardly any gray. As far as I know, I haven't lost any on my head. The worry lines have become more prominent but that's to be expected now. I feel like such a loser, fretting over such trifles. Growing older is a simple fact of life—something we must all learn to accept.

My self-evaluation ate up most of my time, given I don't head out until 10:05. It is Her Day today, so I guess I am free to do as I please. I take my leisurely time procuring breakfast. Jason does not seem to be in today, but Brian is. He is busy sponging up sausage gravy with a warm buttered roll.

Sitting down next to him, I can't help but notice that his hair seems to have grown back somewhat. It is black and somewhat coarse-looking—a good look for him nonetheless. "Hey, there."

Brian looks over at me and pats my back affectionately. "Hey there, Brother. Good to see you."

"Yeah, that's for sure. Where's Jason at?"

"Oh, not sure," Brian says, looking around. "Maybe he overslept or something. I mean, it is Her Day after all. Speaking of which, did you hear anything from those ladies you told us about?" The smug bastard winks at me as if I'd been planning for some sort of meet-up or something.

"No, we haven't talked at all," I say. "Besides, I don't even know them that well." The conversation halts for a minute when I see the bowl of sausage gravy rise through the table. Three slider-sized rolls and a platter of scrambled eggs accompany the gravy boat. We both eat for a while in silence.

"You plan on getting to know them?" Brian says between bites, "I mean, at least socialize with one of them."

"I will," I answer. "When I see her next Sunday, I intend to ask how she's doing."

"Oh, come on, do you really have to wait till then? Why not just call her up or such? It's not like it's illegal to at least chat with them from time to time."

"Well, for one because it is Her Day, which means they will be outside with their instructor. And, as I said, we do not have that kind of companionship. We only just met after all."