Artificial Tears

Chapter 14

I haven't been able to sleep all night and stare out of the window to see the cold winter sun slowly get up and shine its natural light into the world again. Unlike the lights of the city, this one seems much warmer and comforting. But as I think about it that this one will go down much faster, I shudder.

There is a knock at the door of my bedroom.

"Come in."

It's Jonathan, in his right hand he has a cup of something that might be either a cup of tea or coffee and in the other he holds a bowl of cereal.

"Oh, so you were up already."

"Couldn't sleep."

He looks outside while he hands me the objects he was holding.

"Another nightmare?"

Honestly I don't want to talk about it.

He gives me a short, sad laugh: "You don't have to say it, it's written all over your face."

He sits down next to me.

"Remember that time I got sick, back in college?"

I nod quietly.

"You went to visit me with this basket of fruit..."

Did I?

"But then we both found out it wasn't fruit at all."

I don't remember.

"What was it then?"

Jonathan slowly turns his face toward me, smiling with his eyes closed rather tightly.

"Candy of course!"

Candy? I can't recall making a mistake that big...

"Sorry, I can't say I really remember that."

He looks down with his eyes open. Does he not want to look me in the eye?

"That happens unfortunately, as I do not remember everything about school either."

Is he sad about something?

Is he sad that I don't remember?

Are all of our memories fucked? It's not just them?

Everyone has been acting strangely, maybe to them, I'm too.

All of a sudden he stands up: "Well, I will let you rest a bit more. If you need anything, it doesn't matter how small... You can ask." After a short nod he leaves the room, closing the door behind him.

At the same time as I hear the doorbell ring, I get a message on my phone showing who it is.

It's the detective I had called last night.

I wonder why he is here.

Has he found the clerk?

I can hear one of my friends open the door, unfortunately my phone doesn't show who.

"Hello sir, sorry but I don't think that Edith is ready for another conversation right now." It's Nova, I should have known.

I quickly get up ignoring the pain in my head and stumble a way out of my room.

"Please, it's urgent." I can hear the detective say.