NAMELESS

THE LAST DAY

I am colouring the picture in the table. None of the colours are right. I turn away in disgust. Why do they taunt me with this synthetic reality? Do they think this mere image will satisfy me?

Who are 'they'?

They are sitting at the tables. But they are not colouring. They are writing and sending commands. They promoted my table companions. Now my table companions are them. They give the orders.

I am running through the trees. These are not the real trees - I can't quite remember what those look like - these are the simplistic trees from the picture. They come to life. Now they are chasing me. I have to get away.

I have to get away.

I am falling. I hit the floor. I am awake. I am in my room. I am not in my bed. I push myself up off the ground.

I look at the cabinet. I think I'll change clothes today. Maybe there's some merit in clothing that only other people can see.

I look in the mirror. I trace my finger along my scar. I rearrange my hair to try and hide it.

I look at my friends in the pictures. They look so perfect. I'm not sure I'm wearing enough clothing.

What a strange thought.

I walk to my chair. I sit. I wait.

What am I waiting for? The first woman. She always greets me before I leave my room.

Oh. That's a silly thing to wait for. I don't even like her.

I push towards my door. It opens before I reach it. There goes my chance.

"Oh! You're looking nice and eager today!" The first woman exclaims, apparently delighted.

Okay. You can leave now lady. I have no need for you today. Come to think of it, I have no need for you ever, why are you here?

"Oh! How lovely! You changed your clothes!"

How can you tell? They look the same!!

Her face suddenly drops and she looks around her, moving closer to me.

"You need to get to the doctor's office, now." She says with an uncharacteristically hushed voice. Her facial expression is the most serious I've ever seen her wear.

There is a cracking sound. She yelps.

What's going on!?

"Just go!" She yells at me. Another cracking sound. She falls to her knees.

I push my wheelchair out of my room and towards the doctor's office.

The door is open. I urge my chair into the room. It is empty.

An image flickers behind the doctor's desk. It flickers again, then appears.

It is a man. I have never seen this man before.

"Ah! I have missed that beautiful face!" He exclaims. I hear that familiar cracking sound. "Youch! Thomas! What are you doing to me?" Another cracking sound.

"Sorry! I'm still getting used to these new generators." A voice calls from beyond my sight. "Okay, you should be good now."

"Can I...?" The man waits for a moment, expectantly, no crackling ensues. "Yes I can. Okay. Look, we don't have much time. The generator will start up again soon and, as you know, they hate it when you don't follow the script."

I shake my head, befuddled. What is happening? How is it happening?

He laughs."I've never seen you look so helpless!" His face drops. "Wait. Aurelia. Tell me you know who I am."