Our Manufactured Reality

Epilogue

I could see Alex's face above the crowded camp as he briefed them about the new mission. He paused for moment and smiled at me. Even before I stepped into full view with Harper's hand in mine, he could tell it had gone well. Alex was the most supportive guy I'd ever met.

"So, I meant to tell you this earlier, but it never came up, I guess." I had told Harper about the note Alex had given me and the new mission, yet it seemed Harper still had more to share with me. "I got my memories back."

My eyebrows shot up and I stopped to look her in the eyes. "What? Really? When?"

"About a day ago. Last night actually." Harper beamed.

"That's great! See? Now do you understand? We don't change with our memories, only our past does." I smoothed her hand with my thumb.

"Yeah," she admitted.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" I asked.

"I don't know... It felt like we were finally getting back into the swing of things, but then Mia showed up and I just didn't get the chance."

"Right. Okay. Well I'm glad we're back to uh, being in the swing of things." I didn't really know what to say.

"Yeah." Harper chuckled and nudged me with her free hand. Warmth spread through me from the patch she'd touched.

I smiled and couldn't help but stare at her. Her gaze lingered on me as well. It wasn't an awkward stare though. We were both just happy to be close again-- physically and mentally.

~~~

[Harper's POV]

The sea of black and gray began to leave the old barn house. I fingered my own black garments and paused before getting up to find Alex. After the crowd parted some more, it wasn't hard to scope him out-- all I had to do was follow the people upstream.

"Hey, Alex." His head turned from ending a conversation with others.

"Oh hi, Harper. It's good to see you." His permanent smile was weak, but there.

"You too. It was a great funeral."

"I thought so too. I just hope that Corey can rest easy now. Along with the others we lost." Alex bowed his head and looked back at me.

"I sure they're happy to have fought for the cause. Your cause now." I hinted at his still-very-new role as R.E.P. leader.

"Ah, no. It's our cause. Everyone's."

"True. Thanks for leading it though."

"You're welcome." He nodded. "I'm doing pretty good then?"

"Are you kidding? You're amazing! The way you rallied us all together the other day? I believe we are gonna find Bryce because of what you said. This new mission, it's really going to work." I tried to emphasize his part in R.E.P.'s future.

"Yeah, I think so too. A day or so more of packing and we'll find out!" Alex beamed.

"I know! I'm ready!" I rolled on the balls of my feet with anticipation, and brought myself back to assuring him. "It's gonna be great, Alex."

He nodded, still thinking intensely, and I gave him a hug. Alex patted me on the back and when we broke apart his smile was fiercer.

"You're right. This is gonna work out." He spoke more to himself than me.

"Of course it is."

"Thanks, Harper. I'll see you and Charles tonight?"

"Count on it!" I smirked, and headed for the door of the barn while Alex turned to more R.E.P. members. Charlie and I had agreed to eat dinner with Alex tonight. Finally, we could hang out with a friend like before the robots. It was crazy to think how Charlie and I were from a different timeline. We fit in so well now that my old memories seemed to be a fantasy.

Once out of the barn, I returned to the cliffs to look out over the ledge. The rolling hills were breathtaking. They reminded me of where we would soon be headed.

"Hey." I felt someone sit down beside me. "Great view, huh?"

"Yeah." I took Charlie's hand and continued staring ahead.

"Alex did a great job at the funeral, don't you think?" Charlie asked.

"He did. Corey would be proud of his choice in successor." I felt the wind ripple through my hair. The lush, green landscape was framed by tall, bending trees that grazed the blue sky above. It was all there, like a memory of the former Earth poking through.

"Now what, Charlie? What do you think the survivor meant by 'find the rest' or this 'Bryce' guy?" I shifted the subject toward one that had been weighing on my mind.

"I don't know." He scooted toward me and reached his arm around my shoulder hesitantly. I leaned into Charlie, signaling that it was fine. He sighed. "Maybe he meant that there are other survivors out there. I don't know if it's true, I just feel like it is... Like it has to be."

"I feel it too." I nodded and glanced at him. Charlie smiled shyly and I rested my head on his shoulder. "Still-- if we're wrong-- I know Alex will decide what's best for the team."

"Yeah," Charlie continued, "We'll just keep doing what we've always done."

"What's that?" I inquired.

"Survive." He answered simply.

I breathed in and out, taking in the view before adding, "I'm glad you're here, Charlie. Even with all the terrible things we went through, I'm glad it brought us here." Me eyes locked with his.

"Me too." Charlie's gaze was filled with warmth. He returned to stare back out over the cliffs in reflection. "The past is funny that way... Always tying into the present and future..."

I found myself wondering what he was trying to convey before more words sprouted from his lips and flew out over the ledge with finality.

"Yet never changing what we believe."