Reconciled in the End

Chapter 6: Message Time

The next day, Thomas sat down with his Crown activated immediately upon entering his work office. He tapped his legs restlessly as he loaded and shifted the asylum files. He froze upon reading Siren’s virtual linking was canceled for the day. His insides looped as he immediately searched the records for a cause. He looked at the obituaries, the list made his hands quake, but finally, after checking twice, her name wasn’t there. The relief felt unreal!

He attempted to seek out the medical notes. The doctors at least gave one a day. He loaded the most current swiftly. His fingers were shaking with nervousness.

Subject actually attempted to access the library using wall interface. Medicines still in her system sedated her yet. It was good to cease medications at this time. Staff observed her pass out while attempting to access wall entertainment library, then slide self down unconscious. Uncertain of cause for such new responses. Staff guided patient to bed to sleep off medication safely. Very interested to monitor behaviors once less sedated. -T.H. PH.D-

Thomas gulped hard as he read the note. That was a huge change! He hacked to her patient cell, she rested in a peaceful position. He then reversed until he saw the event reported. Stumbling forward in a drunk haze similar to what he experienced lately, he murmured encouragement softly while watching her take each difficult step.

“Doing good, prove you want to live. C’mon…” he winced. It was hard being so far away and looking at the past.

She slid to the wall, resting her head on it like it swirled horribly. She hazily tried to tap it on, her fingers unbidden to her commands while flopping clumsily along. Finally, after a frustrating affair, her consciousness gave out as she slid down the wall to a crouched position that no longer moved.

He desperately wanted to scoop up the still form. Oh how much he wished to be there! They denied access to visitors for maximum security patients. He gripped her image floating in the empty air. It was all he had.

He slumped down with forehead to his desk as he pleaded desperately, “Please ‘God’ I do not know or understand, please heal her mind! Please, if I could just have her back again! I don’t know what you are or what I can offer, but I’d do anything. Anything!”

Silence filled the office, nothing but the sound of rain pattering on a window responded. He didn’t know if his plea had even been heard or if it could be acknowledged. Not sure what else to do with her case, he got to his work earlier that day. His normal routine of monitoring her status was complete, and he arrived at work early each day in order to do such before attending his office duties.

That night, Thomas took to staying at home to reprogram, configure, and set up his Crown. It was tedious, but kept his mind distracted enough. Messages darted with importance on his screen as he cringed at the constant barrage of notifications. It was an annoyance as he looked to the ceiling until the blasted machination had finished finally. He drifted his eyes to under the stairs. He smirked, wondering if maybe that dream memory might come true?

Placing the Crown on his head, he frowned unhappily as he sorted redundant messages to deletion. At least his AI had been backed up at home, so it retained all his configurations in perfect form. He was content with the replacement, in fact it was even a little more peppy. He sighed, content that he was back in order once again.  

Then he sank down lower as he observed several private messages pop up from a few days ago. He groaned as he observed Rachuel’s video message first, the least offensive of the two he was certain. Thomas crossed his arms defensively as he watched the face of his old friend replay carefully.