Hall of Mirrors

Sam was tired of being tired. After waking in the morning, she was taking a nap an hour later. The doctor told her to be patient, she’s suffered a traumatic brain injury and sleep helps to heal. Sam didn’t want to sleep anymore. The dreams were so vivid and disturbing.

Having Steven next to her in bed helped. Life didn’t seem so daunting when she’d cradle the nape of her neck on his mountainous bicep. It was strange, the moment he walked into the room she could remember the feeling of comfort and his name popped into her head. Confused why the doctor had him and where he got him. Her mind was so jumbled, it frustrated her not being able to put pieces together. She didn’t know who the people were watching over her. She couldn’t remember this accident they kept saying she was in. All she knows is her body hurts, her arm especially hurts. But her head, her head felt like demons dancing around a bonfire screaming their chants of imprisonment while swinging their bone rippers.

Sam got out of the shower and toweled off. The fifteen minutes of standing in the shower wore her out. Walking out of the washroom, wrapped in a towel she looked for something to wear. She knew she wasn’t at her place because there wasn’t any women’s clothing in the bureau or the closet. Finding a grey London School of Economics t-shirt she slid it over her drowned red curls and crawled back into bed for the fourth time today. Sam tried to get comfortable but the only position that worked was resting her broken arm on top of Steven, laying her head on his chest and wrapping her leg over his.

“Steven,” she said through a yawn. “Who are you to me?”

“I am your human companion.” Steven answered in a serene tone.

“How long have you been my human companion?” Sam’s eyes were getting heavy.

“The amount of time we’ve actually been together is 23 days, 6 hours and 42 minutes.”

“Where were you before that?” Sam gave up trying to look him in the eyes. She was raised to believe it was rude to not look someone in the eyes as you conversed, but Steven wasn’t human. Rudeness doesn’t count with a robot…does it?

“I was in beta testing with my boss.”

“Who’s your boss?” She whispered.

“You, Sam, are my boss.” Steven’s tone matched hers. Soft tones as if telling her a bedtime story as she nodded off.

“No, who was your boss before me.” She could barely make the words audible enough to be heard.

“Richard was my boss. He programmed me to keep an eye on you.” Sam was asleep before Steven finished the sentence.

Sam was very familiar with this dream. The reoccurring dream has become the bane of her nightmares. She is standing in a dark tunnel lined on both sides with mirrors. She's been too scared to look in any of the mirrors because of the cacophony of sounds reverberating up the tunnel at her. She could make out some laughter, which was soothing. It was the screams of terror and the pain filled wailing that kept her cemented in place.

The tunnel was so long Sam couldn't see the end. Dancing shadows came from each mirror. Not unlike what you'd see standing outside someones house, looking in their window, as they watched TV. Some were fast moving shadows and others where slower. She couldn't tell which mirror was screeching at her and she didn't want to find out why. Each time she's had this dream she feels compelled to walk this tunnel. She feels the only way to quit having this dream is to find the end of the tunnel.

Breathing rapidly, Sam took a step towards the first mirror. Inside the gilded mirror she saw a giant box in the middle of a living room...and her opening the box. Sam smiled when she realized this is the moment she met Steven. Familiarity washed over her as she looked around and saw what must be her apartment. That wasn't so bad. Buoyed with a little more confidence she decided to turn around and see what scene is in the mirror behind her.

The bustle of an office appeared. She could see herself talking to people. It seems like she should recognize these people, but their faces seemed to have a blur over them. The she watched as a man walked past her quickly and went through a door. She looked like she was chasing after him trying to get his attention. The scene followed her into the oversized office with two men talking. One bent down and kissed her hand and a wave of disgust washed over her. Oh, that's coming back to me, she thought. I remember he's a douche, but what's his name. Sam panned to the other man in the room. His face was familiar but she could not think of his name. Starring at his handsome face and well maintained body she felt a burning sensation in her chest that reverberated throughout her body.

These mirrors must be my memories. All I have to do is look in each one and I'll remember everything and hopefully everyone in my life, that's simple enough. Sam hurried to the next mirror. She couldn't quite make out what she was seeing. She could see herself laying in bed. She looked down at her London School of Economics shirt and back at herself lying there in the same shirt. She realized it wasn't covering as much as she thought it was when she was laying in bed. With her leg wrapped around Steven the shirt covered half her pantyless ass.

She looked over at the door, the doctor was standing there watching her sleep. She looked closer and realized he is the same man as the big office, well dressed man in the last mirror. The same burning in her chest came back but she still couldn't remember his name. What was it? She racked her brain. Why was he standing there watching me sleep? She thought. Time and awareness slammed into each other as she realized this is happening right now. Sam jolted back to consciousness and sat straight up in bed staring directly into Steven's eyes.