Gateway

Lost & Found

Looking back to what happened to me when I fell on a hole, which is like a black hole, a different universe from where I needed to be, was like a dream, a drawing, digital image of many worlds, in a form of clouds. Dark blue, purple and greyish clouds are everywhere and from there when you climb on top of it, you'll see a universe, where Ports in many sizes or lengths differ. I thought I won't be able to go back and see Marina and my daughter who I imagined in her teen age years. I was correct, Jessica is grown and a beautiful, responsible woman who took care of my love Rina when I was gone for about ten years or more. Here in the other world, time flies softly, slowly, that I am only the same age as I was when I left Tuscany. But when I came back to New York, everything is completely different. My colleagues who I worked with already passed or some retired and new doctors and scientists are now operating and managing Gateway Lab for Rina's sake. Jessica is with a man named Brian who is now heading the experiments and technicalities on punotao and AI inventions in the year 30000. I thought I went back earlier but not really. My human body on Earth is a punotao tree and I have lived a hundred and ten years now. Rina has passed on which made me sad and with this I decided to talk with my daughter Jessica to get to know her and all.

It's true I have a family in the other world, other earth and I am with Rina and our child named Lily there. But I left it to be with my real family in the world which I wanted to come home to for it doesn't feel like every one there is indeed real or human. Maybe I was just dreaming or maybe it's just a dream, a hologram, or simulation which I created on my own volition to feel the emptiness I felt when I lost everything falling to that pit or black hole. And it's a devastating experience, which I don't want to go back to ever again.

Jessica and Brian looked at each other when one scientist advised them about Dr. Jason Fort, her dad, who came back from the dead and now seated in the examination room. He had been questioned again and again it's a nauseating for Jason since he's been held captive for over 48 hours now. No one really believes that he is the same person who disappeared in the year 25000. Nobody wants to conclude that Jason is indeed alive and a little bit older from when he was with Dr. Marina then in Tuscany, Italy. He was in his 30's and as if he just aged five years and is still young though have a whitish blonde hair color from the brown he had before.

Who are you?, I heard a voice from the speakers inside the room made out of thick glass.

I already told you, I am Jason Fort and I am here to talk to my wife Marina who I learned is already gone. So I know that I left a child back in the year 25000, so I believe she is alive and grown now. I didn't know her name until I came across a name tag in one rooms in the Gateway lab, named Jessica Gates Fort. So, there I knew my daughter is Jessica. If it's you baby. Daddy is home and I'm here to tell you what happened to me in the other world, earth where I lived for many years. Jess, please, talk to me!, Jason added and since very tired, hungry from the interviews, collapsed while seated on his chair.

Ahh..help him, go and et the medics. This is over! Dad!! Daddy!, Jessica yelled and helped Jason up as the medical personnel took him to the Gateway clinic and gave him first aid. They injected serums and liquid drinks, vitamins and food to help him recover. Now a days, if one gets sick, we already have serums, tablets or liquefied medications or foods that can easily be taken, drank or received so if a patient couldn't swallow hard or huge slices of food, we can have alternatives that has the same measurements, portions to sustain a sick person's needs and wants to make them well and recover.

Dad, dad???, can you hear me? Please, wake up!, Jessica said while holding Jason's hands as she kissed them.

Jess!, yes, thank you, darling! Oh, I always wanted to do this.....Jason said and moved his body up and hugged his daughter. I missed you, especially your mother. Huhuhu!!!!

Dad, oh, dad, I missed you too!, Jessica cried and hugged her father tightly.

Brian just watched them outside the glass clinical room and thought of checking the true identity of Jason Fort, his wife is hugging at the moment. He is skeptical of the man since what if he is a robot or a decoy. There have news about impersonators hacking Gateway digital centers all over the world and its intergalactic branches. It is not impossible for other entities to use Dr. Fort as a spy and valuable asset for their ugly and evil schemes. Why? There have been many inclinations and news of humanoids that destroyed centers outside the universe and it's very critical this time and age when punotaos are really popular and many have been wanting to become one or the desire of wanting to be a human tree to live longer and age slower.

Dad, I want you to meet Brian, he is my partner in the lab and my husband. We have a son named Jason and we named him after you. Oh, dad, I wanted to be with you and say that I love you...I love you...I miss you so much, just like mom!, Jessica said and kept hugging Jason while Brian moved closely to check on the man and held his hand to shake it.

Nice to meet you sir! I heard a lot about you and your work is as amazing as you, since you survived the outer worlds and now here with us!, Brian said and smiled.