Ataxia

twelve

Sander

2064

My wedding day was the happiest day of my life. While I was in college, I met a young woman named Abigale Friend. She was the most beautiful and kindest person I ever met. She had long blonde hair and brown eyes and thin, rosy cheeks. Eventually, after what seemed like forever to wait, we were wed two weeks after we graduated. We moved into a small apartment near Pennsylvania University. After getting a much better job offer in Denver, we moved back there. Just after moving in and getting everything unpacked, I found out who my boss was.

It was Danique.

The entire time I was living the good life and graduating to become a scientist, my once-best-friend had a different identity as Jonathan Radcliffe and became the Experimenting President of Facility 01 and was a billionaire. What exactly happened while I was gone?

When I was just about to leave for my first day, I had my backpack around my shoulders and car keys in hand and extremely nervous. Gale turned me around and I was expecting a sweet and meek goodbye. But I saw something quite different.

"Sander, are you sure this is a good idea?" Gale asked, holding my hands, anticipation covering her once sweet and joyful brown eyes. Why was she as nervous as I was? "I know you're going to be fine, it's just ... I want you to be safe and happy."

"Gale," my hand graced her cheek, running my fingers through her hair. It felt like silk caressing my rough and sweaty fingers. "I'll be fine. This job that I'm getting is going to get us everything we want. With the money, we can travel to Europe like you've always wanted and eat gelato or something. Didn't you always want that?" When our relationship first started taking root, she told me she always wanted to travel the world. She wanted to see famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Niagara Falls, Egyptian Pyramids, Ol' Faithful, and plenty of other things I didn't even know existed.

"But Sander!" She said a little flustered and a bit worried at the same time. "I really don't think this is a good idea. I understand this may not be completely reliable ... but I have a feeling that Jonathan Radcliffe isn't who he says he is. And I think you should decline the offer."

I took a deep breath before my temper exploded. This was my wife for our love's sake, I had to be patient with her. But I just didn't understand her intentions. Why did she want me to decline? I accepted this job for her. "He was my best friend since I was four years old and throughout all those years, he's proven himself to be a good friend." I completely left out the part where he abandoned me at sixteen. "I'm pretty sure whatever you're feeling is just nervous, mixed-up feelings over my new job. I'll be fine."

"You haven't seen him in years," she replied quietly. "I've heard about this President Radcliffe on the news and I don't mean to judge, but he doesn't seem like a good person. And a person can change a lot in nine years. Last time you saw him, you were sixteen. Are you really sure you want to risk this?"

"Well, you trusted me when we first met and I was pretty jacked up, right?" I remarked in the calmest tone I could manage. Gale was silent and her breathing slowed. Hopefully that would convince her that I would be okay. "So I can trust him even if he is dangerous or messed up or whatever you want to call my best friend. That's what you taught me." It was true. She taught me so much just by trusting the weirdo kid who dropped out of the sky in Pennsylvania.

"Sander, that was different. Listen, I don't know why I'm looping on this so much, but --"

"Just be quiet, Abigale!" I shouted and I was sure our neighbors heard us. I didn't mean to explode at her like that because Gale was a sensitive being, but I couldn't take back my own words. I regretted yelling but that was probably the only way for her to get off my back. "Please, please, just trust my gut feelings, alright? You can't run my life for me. I am my own person and I don't have to take your advice."

I shut the door behind me, suddenly realizing the words I said. Why did I always mess these things up? Tears welled up in my eyes and I silently sobbed, realizing still how much a monster I was.

It's all Sander's fault. Everything's his fault. He's a monster!