Relaunch

New Life

I got a text message confirming the appointment for tonight. Magnus Thornhope was going to meet me personally after dinner in his private office, so the message said. I got back home from Marcia's and saw that I really had not many belongings. An old saxophone and some vinyl records, plus some books, portraits, and some old movies.

I didn't want to think about my meeting because my brain was about to explode. I was thinking in circles all about my dreams, my daughter, who else could be involved in that, what could have happened and if I really wanted to open the Pandora's Box of all pains and sorrows.

I watched Casablanca. I thought Rick did just that, his own relaunch. He left Paris and he started again, trying to forget her. One day she just appear and all his memories just came back. What did he do then? Face the truth, or maybe try to make it as his own wish. "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine".¨

The truth is and was always there. My report. It has everything written so I just have to read and know. Maybe I could get a copy for myself and take it with me.

The New Life building was empty except for the security guard in the reception desk. He told me that Mr. Thornhope was waiting for me and showed me the path to the elevators. 50th floor he said. The elevator brought me smoothly to the attic as I could see. The button was bolded with a blue light.

When the elevator door opened, I could see a glass wall with a printed logo of New Life Corp. Heart. Brain. The circle arrow. A glass door to the CEO's office.

When I got in the attic I could see it was diaphanous. No walls. Not many furniture. Only a clean desk with a laptop and great views of the city and some sofas spread along the office. It was a comfortable place, with soft light and good temperature. Yes, certainly it was a comfortable place. Magnus Thornhope was stand up, watching some documents. He faced at me and came to me with a smile and a warm welcome shaking my hands.

- Nice to meet you Mr. Smith.

- The same. Nice to meet you Mr. Thornhope. I am surprised you meet me with so much short wait time and personally. I thought you were a very busy man.

- Well, I am. But we want you to feel we treat you as if you were the only one.

- Thanks. I appreciate it. Please, let's go to the point.

- Mr. Smith, I will dedicate you all the time you need, and you should take also your time to think, feel and decide what you want to know or to happen next so, please, don't hurry up and relax.

- I need to know, Mr. Thornhope.

- You think you need to know, Mr. Smith. You also think you know some things, and you also mix what you think you know with what you guess. You are here to know your history report, and even it's quite easy to tell, believe me, it can get really difficult to understand. Let's set the basis: you always had, have and will have the right to read it all completely. Anytime.

- The time is now.

- Mr. Smith, at the age of 30 you broke your saving's pig and with two other partners you decide to build your own real state company. Your associates were Alisson Smith and Robert Patrickson. You are guessing right: Alisson was your wife, named Alisson Patrickson before your marriage 8 years ago, and you had a precious 5 years old girl called Amanda. Yes, you probably figure it out right: Patrick was your wife's brother, so you made a family business.

- Amanda? She is my daughter?

- We are talking about your past, please, don't mix events with present or future. It's not that simple.

- I have the feeling it will be a long talk, Mr. Thornhope.

- Yes. But as I told you, I have all the time in the world just for you, Mr. Smith. Here it comes the hard part, what made your life turn upside down. You probably guessed it right: your girl was kidnapped. Someone called John Preston. He had some accusations for stalking some girls after the school, but one day he just went too far. It was a rainy day, you were late picking up Amanda from school, and he raped her to death. You sought this man, because you knew who he was, and you bring him to a cabin you had in a forest and kill him brutally. You went to the police, so they arrested you, but they could see you were gone mental. Your wife commit suicide two months later and you were committed to an asylum. Your brother in law continued the business without you, waiting for your peace of mind to come back, but it didn't happened. He met your lawyers to request you for a relaunch treatment because there was no one left alive in this tragedy. John Preston didn't have any family. Your wife and daughter dead and you committed for life in this sanitarium. All authorities just agree with all the paperwork to give you the second chance of living without this tragedy. When we came to you, you tried to kill yourself two times before, so you accept it as a bless.

- My brother in law requested the relaunch?

- From your perspective maybe you don't appreciate that much what he did. First, the relaunch is not available for anyone. There is a lot of paperwork, requisites, evaluations and considerations. If there is no unanimity in all parts involving in the case, the relaunch is just denied. Robert spent years and (believe me) lots of money to save your mind from your insanity cage you were in. He loved you and so you loved and trust him. He was uncle Bob to your daughter, and so she loved him so much. He sacrificed being part of your new life. It was very hard for him too.

- Is he still alive? May I meet him?

- Of course not. He also had to remove all this memories from you in order not to interfere. It's part of the whole process. He doesn't remember you, his sister or his nephew. And he never will. It was impressive! He didn't really needed it because his life was full of good moments. His entire childhood, your wedding party, the day when Amanda was born. He sacrificed half of the memories of his life for you. You see, invisible unknown angel who saved your life.

- I don't remember him, I can't remember anything. It's so confusing. You are talking about a life I can't recognize in no sense. No details. Even I just feel nothing but a sense of confusion.

- It's completely normal. You also think why you should believe me. Maybe it's all a lie, but the thing is that it's not. Here is your report with all details. You can see your video recordings, the clinical process you were in with your medical report. Have a seat, let me show your past life.

It was true. Everything he said. I could see myself in the hospital, in the court. I saw one of many Robert's interviews for the relaunch appliance. He looked so sad. I understood he was going to sacrifice his memories as the only good thing he could do for us. His eyes were full of tears, bloody red, talking from the heart. He loved us. It was also a pain for him too. I see he didn't do this for himself. I understand everything and everything has sense in my mind. My memories, my missing emotions, the nightmares.

There was only one thing I didn't understand at all.

- Mr. Thornhope, please. Who is Amanda? Will I be able to see her again? I understand she works for New Life but, what will happen now her job is done? How can I go on with my life after now?

- Mr. Smith, this is the end of the road. Let me explain you why your life ends up just here.