Antiquated New

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This is it, I am... free. Free from the chains the restless pain and agony brought upon my accident, free from any and all physical affliction, and free from the white and dull walls of the hospital. I am now out in the open, with hopes for something new, reconnections, rekindling of my past, or maybe a new path, who knows. But one thing remains continuously in my head, a scratching, a sense of hollowness but free, like a mist in the dark that I just can't seem to ignore.

I got up from the wheelchair as nothing had happened. I put my feet down and a tingling sensation, like a cold breeze of air, entered my feet then immediately left. That was a relief, I guess.

I look over my shoulders. The pale-tinted glass reflects my body full of strength if you can even call being post hospitalized as strong like there was no accident at all.

"The hospital did well." I thought to myself.

"It doesn't even seem like I was even hurt. " I added.

But then I look around the streets, the parked cars, the restaurants, all the signs and windows, and I felt weirdly normal. I don't feel foreign, nor do I feel afraid. I asked Mr. Stephenson whether or not I was part of this community, he replied with a response that I was expecting.

"The hospital files showed that there was no other Ace in their records that was your age." He said.

I knew it, I am a new person in a new life in a new place. Whatever happened before, fate must have wanted me to get out of it badly. Well, better make the most of it than not doing anything at all.

But there was something off, something that was missing.

"Being sick does not automatically equate to numbness does it?" I asked myself.

Then at that moment, Mr. Stephenson gestured at me to come with him. I guess we were walking home but I wasn't really quite sure. As we walked for a solid minute, we saw a brown car, with a logo full of intertwined ellipses. Judging by the thin marks on its tires and the shiny doors, it was either old but was kept in a very mint condition, or was new and was used excessively.

We enter the car. The scent of coffee that Mr. Stephenson drinks filled my nostrils with its blazing heat and strong smell. Although, it did go away when Mr. Stephenson already started the car and the air conditioner turned on.

The car started to move. It exited the driveway and moved flawlessly despite the fact that the road was bumpy when I first looked at it from earlier. Speaking of earlier, I think it's time to address the elephant in my room.

"Mr. Alex, I feel so familiar with this place. Why do think that is?" I asked Mr. Stephenson.

"From what I was told, the anesthesia does not wear off until a couple of days. Anesthesia makes people not encumbered by fear or anxiety. Someone doesn't just survive a head injury without any repercussion." he said to me as he smiles knowing the fact that I am physically recovered.

How could I be so stupid! I did not think of that! I mean, I did survive a head injury as Mr. Stephenson said so that might explain why. Either way, I am not letting this new life get away without making the most of it. I just hope that this optimistic view was also something that past Ace had.

Not long after we left the hospital, we arrived at this house. A house that I believe is the same house in the picture on the dashboard of Mr. Stephenson's car. It had a wooden outside which was painted pale white and a roof that was surprisingly multicolored. The right side of the roof was red and the left side was light blue. It had a brown garage door where we slowly pulled and parked into.

We went out of the car and out in the driveway. As we were walking towards what I assume is the front door, Mr. Stephenson stopped me and asked me to slowly move backward. He asked me to look at the house. We just stood there, quietly, looking at the scenery of the house. After a few seconds, Mr. Stephenson told me something.

"We haven't really done a full investigation on your past yet, son. So in the meantime, you're staying with Emily and me." He said.

I was confused as well as ecstatic by what he said, but I'm not complaining. (rhetorically) I mean who would right?

I opened the door and was immediately greeted by Mrs. Stephenson's very lovely smile and hug. She is still as caring as she was in the hospital. Even had the same colored dress on when I last saw her. A light pink dress with a hot pink belt with a hard-knitted fabric. Gives off that tender but strong feeling which perfectly reflects her.

"Make yourself at home sonny. It's better to start off comfy than to continue being confused. Let your mind rest." Mr. Stephenson said.

By that point I followed what Mr. Stephenson said, I made myself at home on the sofa. I saw some snacks, some delicious looking tuna sandwich that Mrs. Stephenson made - what a delight it was. I soon continued eating to the point that I fell asleep. That was a grave mistake.

I saw darkness. Not the still kind, the one where the breeze of all sorts exists. I looked up and saw a post with a pretty dim light bulb shining over me. As I stand there perfectly baffled, I saw something, someone, a sort of entity lurking beyond the light I stand under. I could not see its full shape since its wardrobe matches that of the dark surrounding. What I did see was a face. No. A mask. A mask that had a small grin and unexpressive eyes but had an extreme sense of sadness surrounding it.

"Can this be a hint of the past?" I wondered.

"Was it the person that hurt me?" I continued.
-
"Wait a mask? Are you telling me you saw a mask, kid?"

"Yeah I saw a masked man, I'm gonna get back to the story now okay. You said to tell you what happened."
-
So anyway, this grim, dark persona just stood there like it was taunting me to go towards it, but I resisted the urge.

"This is just a nightmare!" I exclaimed.

At that point, I woke up.

As I opened my eyes, I saw this girl. A girl who looks about the same age as me but she's in uniform. She looked surprised that I awoke so aggressively but she ultimately looked glad to see me. She looked so nice and calm and overall happy. Why is she here?

Mr. Stephenson went through the front door and saw me and her in some sort of staring standoff both being filled with confused thoughts.

"That's Emma. My daughter." He said with a tired but excited voice.

"I'm pretty sure you'll get along just fine." He added.

Emily looked at her dad and smiled while nodding.

"I'll not be of any disturbance, don't worry. I'm here to help." She happily says to me.

Emma... a new person in my life.

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