Free The Rasner Effect by Mark Rosendorf

Arnold does, too, even if he is too young to remember her. He was only an infant when she died.”
    Obenchain gave what seemed like a bitter glance. As Rick wondered what caused such a reaction, the doctor caught himself and returned to his joyful smile. “Let’s begin.”
    Rick set the picture on the corner of the desk and took a seat on the couch. Dr. Obenchain picked up a clipboard and pen from the desk, then sat in the easy chair.
    “I often wonder about my life before the accident. Recently, I’ve been doing that a lot more than usual.”
    “Why do you think that is?” Obenchain asked, ready to take notes.
    “I’m not sure.” Rick sat back, folding his hands together and tipping his head back in thought. “I’ve just been doing a lot of wondering. Who were my friends? Was I married? Was I going to get married? I know the records didn’t show I was married, and I know we haven’t come across anything to suggest it during hypnosis. Still, there’s so much that’s a blank.”
    “I’m sure, in time, those memories will return. You were only twenty-six years old when we found you in the debris on the bridge. You had no personal residence. The only family we could find were your parents and sibling. Chances are you weren’t married, Rick.”
    “Sometimes I feel like I remember someone.” He felt a frown creasing his brow. “It’s like I can see her out of the corner of my eye, but not directly.”
    “We have discussed this in the past. Despite our attempts to find out who she was through your hypnosis sessions, we’ve drawn a blank. She may not be real at all. Then again, she may be a relative or someone you remember seeing somewhere, and the image stuck with you. She could be just a residual memory and not a particularly important one.”
    “But how do we know? For that matter, how do we even know any of these memories are real?”
    Obenchain tapped his clipboard with the nib of the pen. Rick felt the doctor’s eyes observing him, but didn’t look up to confirm.
    “Why would you think otherwise?” the doctor asked.
    “I don’t know. The memories are coming back, but I don’t truly remember living them. It’s like I can see them, but I don’t feel them.” He lifted his head from the cushion and looked at the Doctor, feeling embarrassed. “Does that make sense? I’m not sure it does.”
    “If that is how you feel, then it makes sense. But let’s go with this. What do you think those memories could be if they’re not your memories?”
    “I’m not sure.” Rick turned so he could lie across the couch, placing his head against the armrest. “Fantasies, perhaps? Memories I wish were real?”
    “Or perhaps you did live in that big house with the picket fence you remember. But, what do I always tell you?”
    “To focus on the moment which I can control as opposed to the past, which I can’t.”
    “Exactly.” Obenchain grinned. “So let’s shift to current events. How was your first day on the job?”
    “Interesting,” was the only word he could think of to describe his new work environment.
    “I figured you would do well there. Katherine Miller is a long-time acquaintance of mine. She lives in Brookhill as well.”
    Rick did not answer but Obenchain saw his silence as a direct response. “She’s not leaving you with a favorable impression?” the doctor joshed.
    “I was told I’d know I was accepted once Miss Miller started yelling at me. Well, she did, almost immediately. So I guess I’m part of the team.”
    “I didn’t know she was a yeller.” Obenchain laughed then realized his reaction had only made Rick uncomfortable. “You have to understand, I see her in a different environment. I see her mostly during community functions and in an official capacity. I serve as a member of the Board of Directors for the facility, you know.”
    “I guess maybe she’s a nicer person away from the job,” Rick suggested, although he didn’t believe it for a second.
    “She runs a