Security Breach

“Mark… I think he knows. He has been watching me more closely lately. I don’t think I can see you for a while… I know, I know. But it has to be this way… Who knows what he will do if he ever figured it out.”

“Who the hell are you talking to?!?... Hello, Mark, this is Paul. How stupid do you think I am?”

“…”

“You have a lot of nerve. Never talk to my wife again or I will wring your neck. And you, Catherine, you are going to tell me everything. Right now!”

“I… I can’t… I’m sorry Paul, I—”

“Like hell you can’t! When did this start? What the fuck is happening!?”

“I—No, don’t hurt me! I’m sorry! Listen to me. It’s not at all what you think.”

“What is it then?”

“He was helping me… with you.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Even if I told you, you wouldn’t believe me.”

“I am barely holding it together as it is! Are you cheating on me?! After everything?... Cat, please... What is going on?”

“Ok… ok. I will try to explain. Do you remember your sixth birthday?”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“I am trying to explain. Please… just let me try to explain.”

“I guess I do. Well, sort of… it was at my grandma’s house.”

“Which grandmother?”

“Why does that matter? What does that have to do with Mark?”

“Just tell me. It’s the only way this will make sense.”

“Fine. It was my mom’s mom.”

“And what did you call her?”

“Grandma Stoll. How is this relevant to anything?”

“Now, remember your eighteenth birthday?”

“Cat, I am running out of patience.”

“I am trying to take it slow. But, if you are so damn curious, I will spell it out.”

“You haven’t explained anything!”

“Paul, your memory is failing. I’m not a doctor, so I’ll spare you an attempt at getting the medical terminology right. Your brain doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to.”

“What do you mean? How would I not know that?”

“You don’t remember! You don’t remember anything about the last five years! You don’t remember that we got divorced. How old do you think you are?”

“This is ridiculous… I’m not playing this game. What the hell does Mark have to do with any of this?”

“Mark is your doctor, Paul. Your job isn’t real. Your life has been set up to monitor you while you undergo the clinical trial.”

“That—that doesn’t make sense. That isn’t true. Why are you doing this?”

“I am trying to help you. You kept asking where I was until the doctors brought me here. You don’t know how many times we’ve had some version of this conversation.”

“So… my life isn’t real?”

“No, Paul, you are real and I deeply care about you. I didn’t know this was going to happen… We are trying to help you get better.”

“What does any of that have to do with my birthday?”

“It’s all about your memory. What you retain, what you don’t retain, what you knew yesterday that now you don’t remember. We have done this test a million times… How old do you think you are?”

“I—I’m thirty-two.”

“Paul… you’re forty.”

“Oh my god. I don’t—I don’t know if I can believe this.”

“Do you remember me as a liar? Someone who would try to trick you about something like this?”

“I… I don’t know… Ok. I guess a memory test couldn’t hurt. What’s the next question?

“Do you remember your eighteenth birthday?”

“Yes.”

“What about it?”

“It was right before the school year started; I got my first car. My mother was furious about some mess my friends made.”

“What kind of car was it?”

“A blue Buick. It was an ugly as hell looking back. I don’t think they even make that model anymore.”

“The model is important Paul.”

“It was a Century, Jesus, calm down.”

“Do you remember your first dog?”

“I never had a dog.”

“Are you sure?”

“I never had a dog! What do you mean am I sure?”

“Paul… remember what we just talked about? The whole point is I’m testing your memory. I’m not trying to make you mad.”

“Fine… I get it. But there was no dog.”

“A cat?”

“Cheetah. My little sister named him that for his spots.”

“Cheetah was your first pet?”

“The only one I’ve ever had… as far as I know.”

“Where were you born?”

“Missouri.”

“What city?”

“St. Joseph. I feel like half of this is just my driver’s license.”

“This is the final question. After that we will give you your medicine and I promise this will all feel good as new in the morning. I’m sorry about all of this… What is your father’s middle name?”

“Alexander? Fuck. I don’t know.”

“Think carefully.”

“I think it’s… uh… Andrew! It’s Andrew.”

“Ok. Paul. I’m sorry this is happening. I can’t imagine how confusing and stressful it all is. Let’s go upstairs, I’ll help with the medicine and you can sleep.”

…

“Take this, it will help with everything. Most importantly, you will rest.”

“Alright Cat, I’m sorry about… everything. Everything I know. Everything I don’t know. What happened between us? I can’t believe it’s all over, and I didn’t even know. I loved you; I still love you. I’m sorry. I don’t usually get emotional like this.”

“It was nothing you did Paul. And it’s okay. We just… grew apart. Go to sleep. Tomorrow it will feel like this never happened… for better or worse.”

…

“Hello, Mark. He believed it. Every word.”

“…”

“I knew he was losing it, but I had no idea he would ever believe something like this.”

“…”

“I know, I know… Well, are you ready?”

“…”

“Mother’s maiden name is Stoll.”

“…”

“A Buick Century.”

“…”

“Cheetah.”

“…”

“You’re in?”

“…”

“Perfect! Drain the accounts. Transfer all of it to the bank we talked about. I am going to pack right now.”

“…”

“No, he won’t wake up for hours. I drugged him pretty good.”

“…”

“He’ll be fine. He took it all willingly. He thought it was medicine.”

“…”

“I’ll meet you at the hotel in 3 hours. Bye Mark. I love you.”

“…”