Laundromat
-Iori-
I am back here again. Wherever here is.
I winced as I slowly opened my eyes. It's so bright in here. I had to narrow my eyes as I looked around. It took a moment for my vision to adjust. The rumbling sound drew me back to my surroundings. A row of washing machines is going in front of me. They looked like came from the late seventies to early eighties. I think I have been here before. But that wasn't what I noticed.
But something's different this time.
I still know that I am me in here. I guess... I am physically here. My name is... My name is... My name is...
I frowned to myself.
Why can't I remember that part about myself? I tried to dig through my brain for anything else but it came up blank. Why don't I remember who I am when I am in here? This plastic chair that I am sitting in isn't comfortable. While I was here, I took a look around this place. There wasn't much of anything in this room. Just the washing machine going on forever, these yellow plastic chairs, dull beige walls, matching support beams, and me. I have no idea how long I have been here. I at least know that I am here and out there at the same time.
I can't help but wonder what I am doing out there right now. I have no idea what time it is right now. Maybe I'm asleep in my bed right now. Or maybe I'm in class. Or I could be having dinner with my family right now. That's when I noticed something. How was I able to tell the me in here and the me out there apart? Before they blended together. But now...
Huh?
I began to look out around me. I thought I heard something. Not the machines in front of me. I thought I heard something else. There's no way that anyone else can be here. I haven't seen a door anywhere. I tried to open my mouth.
Hello?
It only comes out in my head. I tried again but nothing came out. It's like my mouth is still forced shut. I still can't move anything else. Why do I have to be forced still like this? I can scream in my head all I want, but no sound will come out. No one is going to hear me in here.
Wait! There it is again. There's something in here with me. I looked around the room again. Where was it coming from? I looked to the left. Nothing there. I looked to the right. Nothing there either. My stomach turned.
I can't stay here.
But my body refuses to obey! I have to get out of here. I have to get home. But... Where is home? Not this again. I don't know where I was before I got here. I don't even know how I got here.
No, no, no, no! Don't think about that! Focus on trying to get out of here. I have to get out of here. I have to get up! I have to stand up!
Do you want to get out of here?
My eyes grew wide. What?
Do you want to get out of here?
My heart started racing in my chest. I tried to look behind me, but there was no one there. However, I knew that someone was there with me. I could feel a hand on my shoulder. Suddenly, I didn't feel afraid. Somehow, I knew...
I know how to get you out of here. They didn't have to say another word. I closed my eyes.
Take me! The grip tightened on my shoulder and then I vanished into thin air.
I came to with a jolt.
"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" my mom asked at the dinner table. I sat there blinking as my family stared at me. I didn't think about what I was going to say once I came back to myself.
"Sweetheart?" Mama asked as she tried to feel my forehead. I backed away from her, nearly falling out of my chair.
"I'm fine!" I blurted out. I turned and ran to my room.
"Iori-chan!" Mama yelled after me. I slammed the door once I got inside. I sank to the floor, panting. I don't know how much longer I can handle this. I thought I was going to lose it.
Suddenly, I calmed down as I heard the voices of the others in my head. That's right. I'm not alone anymore. I slowly stood up. I think I'm going to be fine now.
