Free Alone by Sean-Paul Thomas Page A

remained hovering over beside the bedroom doorway as the man sat himself down upon my bed, right beside Anna who was still lying on her front side, sleeping peacefully. He began to shake her softly, trying to stir her awake. I continued to watch from the doorway as Anna gradually and wearily broke out of her sleep. She stretched and yawned out and I couldn't help but think how pretty she looked. Finally Anna turned to face who she thought was me, but looked completely horrified to find the figure of another bearded man sitting next to her, watching her, touching her. Anna screamed and quickly scrambled up onto her backside and towards the other side of the bed, cradling herself in the corner like a frightened animal and trying her best to hide her naked breasts and genitals from the strange man's view. He backed off a little though, clearly shocked and bewildered by her actions.
    'Anna... it's me.' The man said softly. Anna screamed for him to get away from her. 'For Christ sake its me. It's Mark.' Said the man as he reached out to touch Anna once more, but again she screamed for him to get away.
    'It's me baby, it's me! Your husband, Mark. Don't you know me? Don't you remember me baby?'
    Suddenly Anna noticed me hovering over by the doorway and turned desperately to face me. She looked a little calmer now at seeing me.
    'What's going on David? What's happening? Who is this man?' Said Anna anxiously. There wasn't anything beautiful or sexy about her now in this panicky state.
    'It's okay Anna. He came out from one of the other sleeping pods that we came from. He says he knows us...'
    'Anna!' The man interrupted me. 'I think both you and your brother are suffering from a severe form of memory loss due to your hibernation sleep, so I need for you... for both of you...'
    And that was it! My mind finally clicked. My deep and dark hidden thoughts of wrongfulness finally surfaced... Brother... Sister... Wife! I was completely frozen in shock, but didn't have time to process my thoughts any further as Anna began shaking her head wildly and in a disillusioned state. We were both in a horrendous state of shock, but I choose to deal with it internally and silently. Anna on the other hand couldn't restrain herself from exploding.
    'What did you say?' Anna raged. 'What did you just say?' She snarled and snapped out with venom to Mark. 'Whose brother... What brother are you talking about? ...Whose brother?' Anna had lost all control of her emotions now as she spat that last sentence out. She started shaking all over. All I could do was remain calm by the doorway and watch, but inside I felt sick, utterly and physically sick. My insides were decaying with filth. Anna glanced desperately up at me, looking for me to say something. To give her an answer or a reason for this madness, but I felt so dirty and ashamed I couldn't meet her stare and glanced quickly away. What would become of us now? How would this situation ever right itself?
    'I don't...' Said Anna, whimpering out. 'I don't have... I don't have a brother. I DON'T REMEMBER ANY BROTHER.' Anna was quiet again for a brief moment, but I felt this was only the quiet calmness before the vile storm, as she too lowered her gaze downwards. Mark spoke again and how I wished he would just shut up and leave us be and not utter another single damn word, but he was more confused than any of us about what was happening here.
    'David is your brother Anna. I am your husband.' He continued. 'Look, I'm not getting into your family history right now if it's just going to confuse and upset you even further. But I do need to get you into the medical bay and have a look at you.' Mark paused for a brief second and smiled out. 'Now unlike you I'm no Doctor Anna, but you did teach me a thing or two over the years, so hopefully if we can just go over some basic checks and routines, it might help you to at least remember some things.'
    'I... I'm a doctor?' Whispered Anna, still trying to come to terms with