Our Manufactured Reality

Chapter 28: Win Some, Lose Some

"Harper? Is something bothering you?" Charlie prodded as we walked along the path to camp.

I hadn't told him.

Getting my memories back was supposed to be the defining moment of my life. The one thing that could bring Charlie and I back together in mutual understanding. Yet, once I woke up, astonished and overflowing with knowledge, I realized it didn't change anything. I was still me... Still Harper, just with a few more experiences, a few more hopes, and a few more regrets.

So why didn't I tell him? If it affected nothing, why didn't I?

Well, I'm not entirely sure. All I knew was that Charlie and I were starting to get back to knowing each other from a deeper level. An understanding separate from the past or future was all I wanted. I wanted to be accepted for me, and me alone. Not the me from before.

And sure, maybe it was childish of me to wave-off a crucial part of my life and say, "it's not important. I'll tell him when the time is right." I guess the truth was that I didn't to complicate things. If I calculated a whole other life into Charlie's persona, it would feel like I didn't really know him. It would feel like the time we'd spent together was nothing compared to a lifetime apart.

So I didn't tell him. I was saving that piece of information.

"Huh? Nope. Why do you ask?" He was going back into default caring mode.

"You just looked like something was weighing on you. I don't know. Maybe we're both just tired." He shrugged, wiping the sleep from his eyes.

"Yeah, fighting an enemy race of robots tends to do that for you." I laughed.

"True, true." He grinned to himself.

We joke and shove each other until we reach the R.E.P. camp. Or maybe we shouldn't even call it that anymore. The Robot Extinction Program was dead: the best news we'd had in-- well-- forever.

After walking through the cloaking device, everything seemed to be shrouded in a new light. The camp was no longer a safe haven away from danger, it was just a gathering place. There was no more danger, and I wondered if there would even be a use for the cloaking device anymore.

As for the team, everyone had gotten back earlier than us. It seemed like they hadn't slept a wink-- which was how I assumed they'd gotten back so quickly.

"Let's get to the hospital tent," I suggested, sensing mine and Charlie's wounds. It was exciting to think of seeing Alex after he'd been promoted-- even if it was under such tragic circumstances.

Once we settled into the familiar cots and chairs of medical attention, a nurse came to greet us and began examining Charlie's leg.

"Um, forgive me for asking, but where's Alex?" Charlie asked her, being an even better friend to Alex than I.

"Oh, I don't know. I'm sure he's very busy dealing with his new duties though. You know he took over Corey's job? Such a downer than we lost him, but Alex will do well." She disinfected and wrapped Charlie's limb.

"Yeah, I know. I saw it. I just-- I guess I just thought he'd be here still." Charlie and I made eye contact. I tried to convey my sympathy, he nodded softly in response.

"I know. It's weird. But I suppose that's for the best, isn't it?" She rubbed a salve onto my cuts, and continued. "It shows that we really did it. Things are really changing for the first time since 2087."

We both nodded, unsure of whether to rejoice or give in to the feeling of loss that threatened to consume everything.

"Alright. Well, that should be it." She clapped her hands together and we all stood.