Awaking Hope

By Emily Renee Cunningham

Citizens of Planet Earth, Welcome to the New World.

When an anonymous terrorist group announces they have crashed the world's financial institutions, ending life as we know it, Hope Taylor races home to be with her family - but never makes it there. Waking from a coma in an idyllic future, where money, governments, and crime no longer exist; she must learn to accept this new world or risk exile to the mysterious Outlands.

Hope will embark on a journey to discover if humanity has found its Utopia…

Or something else entirely.

On a dying planet, where our problems seem insurmountable, our future- bleak, could the answer be as simple as smarter system design? And do we already possess the knowledge necessary to save ourselves from extinction? Almost 50 years ago, Ernest Callenback's book Ecotopia inspired readers to imagine a different world. Awaking Hope picks up the baton and brings a new vision of what an ecologically and socially sustainable future looks like to the modern reader.

Inspired by the work of Peter Joseph, best known for his Zeitgeist documentary series and book The New Human Rights Movement, Awaking Hope is the author's debut novel and the first in a planned trilogy. It explores the life we could have if we utilized proven business and systems science methodologies to design society. And based on the current scientific understanding of ourselves and the environment, challenges what the reader believes is possible for humankind.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Feb 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9781667822167

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Copyright © 2021 by Emily Renee Cunningham

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the author, addressed Attention: Permissions at [e-mail].

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

The author would like to thank Peter Joseph for his inspiration and support. Quote reprinted by permission.

Book design by Bookbaby

Print ISBN: 978-1-66782-215-0

eBook ISBN: 978-1-66782-216-7

Printed in the United States of America on SFI Certified paper

First Paperback Edition: January 2022

www.emilyreneecunningham.com

For Peter, you are my light.

Make no mistake. The greatest destroyer of ecology.

The greatest source of waste, depletion and pollution. The greatest purveyor of violence, war, crime, poverty, animal abuse and inhumanity. The greatest generator of personal and social neurosis, mental disorders, depression, anxiety. Not to mention the greatest source of social paralysis, stopping us from moving into new methodologies for personal health, global sustainability and progress on this planet, is not some corrupt government or legislation. Not some rogue corporation or banking cartel. Not some flaw of human nature and not some secret cabal that controls the world.

It is the socioeconomic system itself at its very foundation.

Peter Joseph

Contents

A Hard Knock Life Indeed

While I Was Sleeping

Revelations

A Homecoming- Of Sorts

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Taking It on Faith

We’re All in The Same Gravy Boat Together

Transparency Is Not for The Weak

And I Guess That’s How Legends Are Made

The Greatness of Those That Came Before

I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead

Winners and Losers

Friends and Freedoms

The Graceful Art of Not Competing

Not Everyone Likes Kool-Aid

So Many Pleasant Diversions

EmbraceSpoil!Your Inner Child

The Future’s So Bright- I Gotta Wear Smart Glasses

The Last of The One Percent

The Many Roads Ahead

Perspective Is Everything

A Sour Cherry

Drama! Drama! Drama!

Scratching At the Surface

Fresh Starts and New Beginnings

A Snake in The Garden of Discontent

The Big Unknown

Acknowledgements

Chapter One

A Hard Knock Life Indeed

I have a love-hate relationship with morning. The cool, still darkness before the dawn is simultaneously the best and worst part of my day. Grateful for the time to ease into reality, I know the peace will be shattered all too soon by the constant struggle that is now my life. And its sugar glass shards dissolve bitterly slow.

So, I was unsure how I felt this morning when I didn’t have those few precious moments to myself. Making my way down the hallway to the closed bathroom door, I heard my little sister Faith banging around and turn on the shower.

I wondered what had gotten into her. She was a late sleeper typically, one of those people you almost had to push out of bed to wake up at this time of the morning. I paused by the door and she was singing softly to herself. Whatever the reason, it wasn’t something that needed my immediate attention.

I loved my quirky, happy-go-lucky, and sometimes lazy little sister. She was sure to have an entertaining story later to explain her unusual behavior.

The heavy, rich scent of strong coffee pulled me forward down the hallway. Wincing as my feet, sore from another hard-earned paycheck, complained about the threadbare carpet with each step. At least it was Friday.

As I headed down the stairs, deftly skipping the creaky second and sixth steps, I was relieved to find everything still dark and peaceful. Dad desperately needed his sleep as it was a rare occurrence for him to sleep through the night. We tried to be as quiet as possible in the morning, just in case.

Tensing, I placed a hand on the wall next to his closed door and leaned in to listen. Hearing nothing but my own shallow breathing I relaxed and rested my head on the door frame. Staring at the soundless door, I thought of my father’s worn tense face. He had been fairly handsome when he was young, grinning like a Cheshire cat, arm flung casually around my mother’s waist, in yellowing pictures around the house. He was always smiling when mom was alive, as if all he needed to be content in this world was her.

Mindful of the time, I hurried to retrieve my favorite cup from the kitchen dishrack. Still half asleep and distracted thinking about my parents, I almost spilled over the edge. Holding my hair back, I blew on the steaming black liquid, just enough to sip the top off.

Mmmm, escaped through my pursed lips. I hated being so addicted to coffee.

What are you gonna do...? I shrugged and defiantly clutched the comforting mug between my cold hands before heading back upstairs.

Faith had finished in the bathroom already, and the door stood ajar, letting the steam rush out into the cool house. I pushed the door open with my shoulder as I walked into the humid little room and set my coffee down.

Pulling my towel off the bar, I began wiping away the condensation on the mirror when a high-pitched, girlish voice startled me.

"Hope, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to, it was an accident…."

I looked over in surprise and was about to ask her what she was talking about when I noticed the empty clothes hanger on the back of the door. The numbing fingers of dread gripped my chest as I shut my eyes and took a breath.

What happened to my uniform Fae?

My precocious little sister stared at me with big, red eyes.

"It’s just I know how hard you’re working … so I washed it. I tried to get the spray out; I even looked on the internet and followed the directions exactly. I was up all night Hope, really!"

What did you do Fae? I asked again as calmly as I could, but my mind was racing now. The wealthy woman I worked for was very particular, and I doubted I would be allowed past the guarded gate if I wasn’t dressed well enough.

Faith’s serious little face looked even more contrite if that was possible.

It’s spirit week, and today is crazy hair day, so I was spraying streaks in… one hand fluttered up to touch her hair self-consciously. A big splotch of dark red, burgundy maybe, decorated her light brown hair. I didn’t know it would go everywhere like that….

I cut her off, Ok, ok. Where is it now? I asked impatiently. Looking over her shoulder, I checked the blue numbers shining from her messy bedroom. There was still time to figure this out, drop Fae at school, and make it to work.

Faith whispered, The dryer, as if something terrifying waited for us in there. I looked at my quickly cooling coffee with resignation before following her to the laundry room. As we got closer, Faith ran ahead and opened the machine door, stopping its slow-rolling shimmy. Delicate cycle, I noted with a nod. My sister might be many things, but inconsiderate would never be one of them. I stopped in the doorway and held out my hand for the wrinkled and now ruined powder gray outfit. Its previously white collar and white cuffed sleeves now more of a faded rust color.

Just give it to me, and get some breakfast. We leave for school same time as always.

Faith handed the poor mangled dress to me and started to apologize again, but I cut her off with a weary smile. It’ll be ok, go, eat. Faith nodded and walked past me without another word.

Closely inspecting it in the light, I shook my head, and my lips tensed.

Yep, it’s a goner.

A faint mist of droplets had caught the fabric right down the center front. Washing had only diluted the red dye, mixing with the water and coloring anything that had been white. I shut the dryer door with one hip, leaving the dress in a damp pile on top. I would deal with that later, I thought, right now I needed to find something to wear.

Standing in front of my half-empty closet, I resigned myself to the fact that today was not going to go well at all. I had two other uniforms that I rotated through; there had been five at one time, but each one cost almost sixty dollars. With money tight, it was easier to make due than find something to sacrifice. It was a decision I regretted now.

Normally I didn’t get that filthy working in the immaculate, mostly marble home, but this week had been unusual. Between unexpected guests, with their perpetually sticky children, and a last-minute journey into the bowels of the basement storage room, all three now needed professional cleaning. I glanced at my watch.

Well, nothing to be done about it now is there.

I selected a pair of khaki slacks and a white button-down shirt from the back of my closet. The last remaining garments from past jobs, they would be somewhat presentable and have to do. Pushing away the sinking feeling that I wouldn’t be working today, losing the much-needed money, I got dressed for work.

With Faith ready for school, I listened again outside my father’s door and heard him shifting around. With a light knock, I poked my head in, Dad, are you up?

My eyes took a minute to adjust to the gloom of what once had been the den, with its comfortable old couches, PlayStation, and big T.V., now a makeshift hospital room. The built-in bar, a relic of the swinging 1970s, was all that remained. Though even that was used for medicine and anything Dad needed during the day while we were out.

Despite many surgeries to correct his injury from a workplace accident a few years ago, chronic pain made it difficult for him to walk. And although there were treatments they could try, his insurance didn’t cover any of them. We had maxed out everything he was entitled to, and my once strong and smiling father would now spend the rest of his life in this bed, in this dark and shabby, cheesy 70s paneled room. I took a steadying breath and shoved all my bitterness down deep where I kept it. Far away from the warm and loving eyes of my father.

These brief morning moments were the best we would get most days. By the time I came dragging in with Faith later, he would be in a haze of pain meds. So, I focused all of my energy on making these minutes as perfect and meaningful as I could.

Today was a good morning, and bright clear eyes met me as I approached the bed. I smiled just as bright, hoping my face revealed even a fraction of the love I felt for him. I willed these silent exchanges to carry every happy memory we had with them: Summer days on the beach, laughing and running after Fae so we could hear the piercing squeals of joy she made, Winter trips to the mountains, walking in the deep snow behind him; My little legs stretching wide, trying to place tiny feet in his big footprints. A thousand hugs and kisses, and bedtime stories told with mom by his side doing the ‘girl parts.’ Dad teaching me to draw, and displaying each sketch proudly on any available surface. Some went to work and decorated his locker, only to reappear months later with notes from all his work friends on the back. Silly, wonderful little things, uniquely ours. A childhood full of love, and I would never let him think for one second that it wasn’t enough to live an entire lifetime on; since it would be all we would ever have.

Still, we had our mornings.

Hey, kiddo. His knowing eyes appraising my dated and poorly fitting outfit. This is an interesting get-up you got going on here….

Oh? I feigned innocence. You don’t like my retro look? I said wryly with a little laugh. There was a late-night, um… incident.

Uh oh, he said, waiting for me to entertain him with Faith’s latest misadventure.

Yes, well, apparently, my last clean uniform got on her bad side somehow and was taken down by a can of magenta temporary hair color. It’s very punk now; you’d love it. I explained, doing my best to be nonchalant and teasing.

He gave a sad smile and said thoughtfully, It’s completely ruined then?

I promptly brushed it off before it could infect the moment. "It’s fine, Dad. I think that one had a spot on it; I needed to replace it anyway.

You should’ve seen how hard she tried to fix it. I don’t think she slept at all last night. I said fondly, shaking my head. She really does make it impossible for you to get mad at her…she’s so… earnest about it. You know?"

He chuckled, Yeah, she’s a lot like you were at her age.

I feigned outrage and pretended to slap his arm, careful to not make contact.

Ok! Ok! Well, maybe you weren’t quite so prone to destruction of property.

We laughed good-naturedly together for a second before Faith bellowed from the other room, IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!!!! Her exasperated declaration made us laugh even harder.

My Dad slumped back on his pillow with a tired look that signaled the end of today’s moment.

I should get going. I’ll text you later; let me know if you need anything from the store. I love you, Dad. I touched his leg. Get some rest; we’ll be home before you know it.

Sounds good, he murmured, you have a good day, sweetheart.

With one last adoring look, I bent over and kissed his forehead, Bye.

Staring at a red traffic light a little while later, I willed it to change to green with every fiber of my body. It was one of those mornings when it felt like the universe was throwing every roadblock it could in my way. Like it doesn’t want me to make it to work... I muttered in frustration.

I had gotten us into the car on time, only to have Faith scream that she had to go back for her homework, lying forgotten on her desk. Arriving at school late, instead of dropping her off a block away as usual to avoid the line, I needed to deliver her to the front office.

Having done all I could at this point, it was time I admitted defeat and sent a text to my employer. Apologizing profusely, I briefly explained why I’d be late, and hit send as I merged onto the freeway. My thumb rubbed a small tear in the leather of the steering wheel, back and forth, until the skin was red and irritated. I glanced nervously at my phone every few seconds until I finally saw those little dots blinking. Instead of a reply, though, they went away.

Damn. Not a woman to mince words, this was not a good sign.

My perfect streak of bad luck continued, having to stop at every light between the freeway offramp and the exclusive community of Bel-Air Crest.

I was momentarily happy that the person in front of me was as impatient to move as I was. The honk went off a split second before the light turned green, ensuring that we were moving immediately. And I arrived at the guard house and greeted the stern, unsmiling James.

Even though he knew me, I went through the routine of telling him my name, the name of my employer, and my purpose there. However, unlike every other morning, he didn’t ask me to have a nice day and wave me through.

I’m sorry, I’ve been informed that you don’t have approval to enter. Ms. Abbot no longer employs you. He motioned for me to pull forward, turn around behind the guard shed, and leave.

My body went cold, and trembling slightly I nodded and did as he asked. My vision blurred and the stress knot in my stomach turned sour, making me nauseous.

Damn, damn, damn!

I thought of my father stuck in his bed and my little sister, oblivious and happily going through her morning at school. The resentment I kept locked away finally wouldn’t stay buried one more second. Out of sight from prying eyes and people I didn’t want to bother with my sadness, I let the tears flow as I drove.

I’m only nineteen. I’m supposed to be in college. I had plans!

All the grievances I kept to myself began running on their familiar loop in my mind.

It’s not fair!

I knew I shouldn’t let these thoughts loose, giving them free reign like this. A line from an old movie warning me, It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart. I smirked at the (probably true) wisdom there, then told it to shut up; I don’t care! There was no avoiding the long-ignored torrent of hurt from coming; all I could do was feel it.

It’s not my fault that mom died, that Dad needed to work all those extra shifts and got hurt, that I had to delay school… Oh, who am I kidding? I can’t go to college because Dad can’t look after himself, or Faith, or the house, and there was nobody else. WHY?! I’m still a kid, not a mom. I shouldn’t be driving carpool, and I shouldn’t lose my job because I’m a few minutes late for things that aren’t my fault!

I sunk lower into my unhappiness, feeling the crushing weight of it, and pounded on the steering wheel in frustration.

I just can’t do this! It’s too much. It’s just too much….

I could taste the salt on my lips, my throat ached and my eyes stung. I felt so tired and so old.

I shouldn’t feel old…I haven’t even started living yet.

As I stopped at another red light, I became aware of my surroundings again.

Stupid autopilot!

I had no idea where I was. Taking a slow breath, I gave myself permission to take the day off, just one day to rest. I couldn’t think straight, and I couldn’t cope with the problem of money in this state. Sunny as usual, cheerful light poured in through the windows, and I loathed it so much at that moment. I just wanted to crawl back into bed, back into the dark, and find that cocoon of sweet oblivion. But that meant going home and admitting I had lost my job. Not ready to face that yet, I decided to drive around for a while.

First, though, I needed to know where I was. The light turned green, and I pulled the car over to the side of the road. Needing to distract my mind for a while, I turned the radio on- searching for a channel that wasn’t playing commercials.

Stupid old car.

Over the years, things had started breaking down, first the CD player, then one speaker, and the A.C. only sporadically came on. But since the car still ran, I kept using it. It was paid for and reliable, which I was grateful for; still, I was jealous of my friends and their Bluetooth everything and heated seats. I stopped scanning as I came across an old 90s song I liked, and I let the opening guitar strums of Wonderwall soothe me.

I reached for my phone, the only new thing I owned. It was a rare justified expense because my employer had always been trying new Apps and expected me to use them. The additional bill seemed a small price to pay at the time to keep the well-paying position.

Still not ready to think about my dire situation, I forced my focus on the music and halfheartedly sang along. I tapped the Map icon to see where I was, still humming, when the song cut off mid-word, and the car went quiet.

What the…

A flat computerized voice answered my complaint.

An important announcement will begin soon.

Ugh, today absolutely SUCKS! I jabbed the scan button, but the voice was still there, so I tried again. Scanning through, I found nothing but the same strange message on repeat.

I looked back at my phone and it was there now too. Nothing I did would navigate away from the black screen with its white letters stating, An important announcement will begin soon.

Looking out my windows, things around me seemed normal. A few others were pulled over like I was, and I could hear horns blaring from somewhere close by, but nothing out of the ordinary for L.A.

The voice stopped as suddenly as it had begun, and I don’t know why, but I held my breath. On my phone, the words disappeared, leaving one curser line blinking, waiting.

And then it appeared.

Citizens of Planet Earth, Welcome to the New World.

Before I had time to form a thought, a different voice, heavily disguised in a distorted, low base, began speaking.

Citizens of planet earth, as of this moment, life as you know it has ended. We have destroyed the system that has enslaved humanity for twelve thousand years. All financial records, markets, and associated institutions have been erased.

Please, DO NOT PANIC.

For the past four years, activists, scientists, some of the brightest minds alive today have been busy creating a new framework for society. One that is based on logic and science. A system that works for all people and our world as a whole. The coming transition will be difficult to accept for many. But for most, it will mean an end to starvation and death, violence and misery.

As you know, we face unimaginable obstacles in the form of climate change, rising seas, and mass extinctions. The time to stop these from impacting us has unfortunately passed. However, there is still time to adapt to the coming disaster. Still time to work together to protect and salvage what is left of our environment. Still time to save civilization from its own mistakes.

It all starts today, together, taking a small step towards survival, and hopefully, more than that, a better world.

You will ask us why we have chosen to force this change. Some of you will despair.

For centuries people have endeavored to correct our course, and in recent decades the path forward has been clear. To a few. Everyone else is hopelessly lost, blinded and endlessly fighting over things of little consequence.

We have hijacked the world to liberate it. We see a path forward, and rather than do nothing and dying with the rest of you, we have taken action. We have attempted to rescue us all.

Every person with an email account has been sent a letter detailing what they should do effective immediately. Local agencies in areas without computer access or limited service will receive a directive for their region.

The plan we have put together is a scaffold only. This has been intentionally done, as each local area will have different challenges and needs. The new structure is flexible and will accommodate all. Rest assured, you will have the freedom to determine your future- In time.

As of this moment, Emergency measures have been implemented to ensure that all humans are fed, housed, clothed, and receive medical attention. From there, we will work together to build our future. A future where every creature upon this globe we call home is cared for and respected.

Good luck to us all, as we begin this journey forward, together.

End of message.

After a short pause, it began again. I reached out a shaky hand and turned off the radio, looking down at my phone in stunned silence.

Is this for real?

The map application was open, and I tapped home; the disembodied GPS voice began giving me directions. I looked around me again. Everything still looked surprisingly normal, the light behind me was red, and all I could think was that I needed to get home, get to Dad. I needed to sit with my father, watch the news, and try to make sense of what was happening. Another look behind me showed the right lanes open to merge back onto the road, and I slowly moved forward.

In one quick flash of movement, I was jolted to the side. My seatbelt, like a steel vice, cut off my air. The deafening sound of metal on metal, groaning and tearing, screaming in protest filled my ears; as smoke and the smell of burning rubber filled the car. Every one of my senses was assaulted so suddenly, my brain couldn’t formulate a thought, and then, I was weightless. For one split second, everything was a floating silence before I slammed into the darkness with a painful, searing crash.

Chapter Two

While I Was Sleeping

Later I would piece together that it took many weeks for me to wa ke up.

Weeks, before I could describe to people the terror of each incremental stage of consciousness, first the awareness of being, then of being human; of remembering myself, all while encased in a senseless, disembodied black world. Then, recovering sound and perceiving the world around me, until finally, my mind reconnected to my body, and I could feel.

Weeks, before I would remember the sun on my face and a light, crisp breeze from the outside world as it went on without me. So many weeks before I would recognize the sound of people attending to me -of strangers sitting with me to read or tell me an old story.

I felt content to stay like this, the world washing over me, people caring for me while I slept. Perhaps I would’ve stayed like that forever if it hadn’t been for one very persistent soul that refused to let me.

I was half-awake, as I had been many times before, just long enough to notice a few sounds or a fragment of conversation. This would soon exhaust me and drive me back into the comforting oblivion of sleep. It might have been the same today if not for a golden retriever named Max.

Sensing I was conscious, he proceeded to lick my face, which prevented me from slipping away again. I groaned and averted my head away from that wet, persistent tongue.

Ughck, I gurgled. Startling everyone in the room, including myself.

A girl’s voice cried out in her most adult-sounding scold, Maximillian, stop that!

A different person hurried to my bedside and excitedly directed the girl to go and call someone. Hope? Hope are you with us?

I felt her soft, warm hand on my arm. Good boy Max! Good boy, and I smiled at the idea of a dog in a hospital. Curious to see the sweet pup now bathing my left hand, I cracked one eye open.

Ungh, I grunted again and snapped the eye shut to block out the painful light.

Brigh... I tried again, Ligh ss brigh....

Luckily, the cheerful woman understood my slurred speech.

Of course, that light’s too bright, isn’t it?

Mmmhmm, I answered as she rustled around.

There, I dimmed the light. Can you try again?

Cautiously I opened the same eye again and found that it didn’t hurt to keep it open this time. As my other eye followed, I could just make out a couple of fuzzy shapes hovering in a doorway a few yards away.

Huh-low? I said, rolling my head fully in that direction. I blinked my eyes a few times, trying to focus on things around me. A backlit form handed something to another dark blob before calmly entering my room.

Well now, I heard a rumor that our own sleeping beauty was awake and talking. A soothing male voice said, I’m not sure I believe it!

My eyes were less blurry now, and with him so close, I could see teasing twinkling eyes peering at me from under bushy grey eyebrows. Like I was watching some kind of reality show, I just stared at him, silently waiting for him to say something else. His pleasant voice reminded me of kindly old men from childhood T.V. dramas. I half expected him to pull out a harmonica or launch into a story about days long gone.

He didn’t do any of that, of course. His smile faltered when I didn’t respond, and he looked questioningly at the older lady still by my side.

Oh yes, she’s awake, just a little disoriented. Isn’t that right, Hope? The motherly, silver-haired woman said with a doting smile.

Returning her smile, I nodded a little too vigorously. Ungh. Owww, and closed my eyes against the dull headache.

The doctor, upbeat once again, came to the rescue. Well, that’s to be expected now, isn’t it? How’s about I give you a little something for your head- nothing too strong though, don’t want you going right back to sleep again. He paused and then said, now, how’s that feel? Better?

Yes, but...?

Startled by how fast he had administered something, I searched for an explanation and noticed the IV in my arm.

The smiling woman tugged Max away, and with a little wave, she bustled toward the door. I guess I should get going; the kids will be wondering where Max is.

As I watched her leave, I noted that my vision was now much clearer. Glancing around the cozy room, I blurted out, surprised, Is all this stuff from my house?

Hmm? What, oh, he said, peering around as if he was the one seeing the room for the first time. Well, it sure does seem that way, but I’m not sure. He said frustratingly. I found his old-timey ‘aw shucks’ manner a little irritating and fought the urge to ask him, ‘what did he know?’ Instead, I didn’t say anything, following my mom’s old advice ‘if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.’ Thinking of my mom made my eyes prickle with a few hot tears, which surprised me, as she had been gone so many years.

The kindly doctor mistook my reaction as having to do with the furniture. Attempting to reassure me, he said, I’m sure someone around here knows, we’ll find out, don’t you worry.

Now! He said, with an efficiency at odds with his laid-back grandpa demeanor. Let’s do a proper check-up on you, shall we? He unwrapped a tongue depressor from his pocket. Say ahhhh.

Something about it seemed almost a little rehearsed, like we were performing a stage play, but I brushed it off. I was in the hospital, and judging by the lived-in feel of the room, I had been here for a long while. My brain was struggling to catch up, which would explain why things seemed a shade off from normal.

Everything looks good here, young lady; I think you just need a little time to acclimate. and you should feel back to your old self in no time. He said, putting his light back in his coat pocket.

Having thought about my mother had led to a flood of questions. Where am I? What happened? Is my family here? How long had I been here? Despite that, I only managed to ask What...? before the kind old doctor cut me off.

Right now, I need you to relax and take it slow, I’ve contacted your doctor, and she should be here soon.

My doctor? But I don’t go to a regular doctor.

Do I even have insurance? I couldn’t remember. In fact, the more I tried to recall details about my life, the more I realized I couldn’t quite remember a lot of things. Thoughts full of answers seemed to be playing hide-and-seek with me, slipping away around a corner, just out of reach. It made my head start to ache again.

Before the doctor could say anything else, a woman burst into the room. Stopping halfway in, she asked in a breathless voice, Tom? Searching his face intently she then turned her focus to me with a piercing look, before glancing back to Tom.

He greeted the woman with a big smile and said something like, no deficits. The woman relaxed and took a few tentative steps towards me. Cocking her head to the side, she regarded me a moment before a beaming smile lit her face.

Without breaking her gaze, she said, I got here as fast as I could. Thanks, Tom; I really appreciate you being here.

He walked over and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Her vitals are excellent; she’s alert... and just