The Amnesiac

Chapter Two

The following day Anatoly woke up early, just as the sun rose, and went out for a run. It was to be later that day that Ron's group would begin reading the book. All the time he ran his mind was tortured.

"Why should I inherit his life," he muttered to himself with a malignant smile, "That I should be expected to keep his promises, it's not fair. It's absurd. It's..."

Of course, the key to all of this dread was Eloise. She was the albatross about his neck.

He cringed at the thought of her. God damn, it's all gotten so twisted.

And the worst part was that it was all his fault. He'd entertained her delusion of love. He'd lead her to believe in something that was not. He hadn't had the strength to tell her the truth, that she loved a dead man.

"Not to blame," came a whisper in his head.

Residnikov froze, sweat dripping off of him in the morning sun. This time it was clear, the voice was speaking to him.

"Is... someone there," he thought.

He waited for ten seconds. Then ten more. And by thirty seconds, he felt a fool.

I'm losing it.

That was just my own voice, my conscience. How can I be to blame?

When he returned home Sophia Residnikov came out of the kitchen to greet him. "Look at you," she beamed, "You're running again! That's wonderful!"

"I like the fresh air."

Sophia smiled, "Yes yes, you always did!"

Anatoly furrowed his brow in irritation. "I went for me. Here and now. This was my choice, my decision."

The smile left Sophia's matronly face. She saw she was upsetting him and condemned herself for it. "Of course. I know that," she said. She bustled her way back to the kitchen and, presumably, whatever she'd been doing before he came in.

In truth, she was thinking on her feet, trying act fast to redirect his attention. The thought that one of the rare interactions she was afforded with her son might end on such a poor note was appalling to her.  "I made breakfast," she said, "come and eat!"

"I'm not hungry," Anatoly said, "and I've gotta shower anyway. I'm meeting with the book club in a couple hours." He began to take off his shirt, moving toward the bathroom,

Sophia was plainly hurt by his dismissal. "Oh, that's okay," she said. "The book club... good."

Anatoly sighed. He hadn't meant to hurt her. He couldn't help but feel guilty for the way he'd been treating poor Sophia Residnikov. After all she'd been trying so hard to win his affection. "On second thought, I'll eat," he said.

Sophia beamed once more. All had been set right in her eyes.

A few hours later, Anatoly sat at the table with Sophia, pretending to listen to her idle chatter as he waited for Ron to pick him up.

A knock came at the door. Alexander Residnikov rose out of his chair to answer it. "Are you this... Ron?"

"I am."

"Come in, come on in," Alexander said without stepping aside.

Anatoly stood up uneasily.

Sophia grabbed his arm. "He just wants to meet your new friend," She said in a tone she thought was soothing. Her words had the opposite effect. They annoyed Anatoly and made him all the more anxious about his father's intentions.