1 Hour

I'd arrived about 15 minutes earlier. I sat there, waiting, while my leg was jumping up and down like trying to tell me it wanted to go for a walk, or maybe a run. First, I wanted to ignore it, but seeing it jump in front of me was so distracting, so I tried to shush it, like that would make it understand that we had to keep it down. Suddenly I got a call from my son, Adam. 

“Hey, bud! What’s going on?”

“Nothing dad. Just wondering hoy you’re doing. Are you coming home soon? Mom wants to eat out before packing.”

“Oh…yeah, sure! I’m just picking up some things I needed and then I’ll head back home”, I said a little too excited. It had been days since we had gone out and done something together as a family. Katya and I worked really hard every day, so it was nice when we could experience activities with Adam as a family. 

Katya and I met when I started working in a bookshop downtown. Her parents owned several places there and the bookshop was one of them. The moment I saw her, I thought she was gorgeous, but something was off with her. She seemed like her eyes were always empty, absorbing everything she saw but never fully consuming it. I thought that was beautiful. 

We started hanging out and eventually became really good friends. Totally different backgrounds and nothing in common, but we hit it off. We spent time talking about what our lives would have been like if things had not happened the way they did. I knew everything about her life and her upbringing. She knew everything about how I had my parents killed by silent killers. 

Even though she had a pretty decent life, she always expressed to me that she felt empty. Like a void just latched in between her chest and slowly kept feeding on her dreams and fears. I listened carefully and attentively every time she expressed that to me. I could not do anything else because I didn’t know what she was talking about, but I was glad I could be her support. 

On a fall afternoon, after my shift, we had planned to meet in a bench on a nearby park where we always hung out. It was a cold evening and I remember I had forgotten my jacket at the store. So, I returned to grab it and headed back to the park. I waited around 3 hours but no one got there. I still remember how I felt anxious because I had no way to reach her and she was never late…

—

“Mr. Thromberg? Your results will be in shortly. I’m sorry for the long wait, but I appreciate your patience”, said the receptionist. 

“Yeah, no problem”, I said while trying to see her name on the badge. It was a little blurry like it had a smudge, but I think it started with a “K”.

It was now 3:30 on the clock on the wall. I noticed the walls were plain white, with no windows nor pictures or drawings anywhere. It was a bit depressing, actually, but I had nothing to be depressed for. I had a beautiful family, I’ve had a great life and a great job. Everything was going really well for me. I knew that everything I did had paid off. Now I knew it…

—

When Adam was born, I felt the happiest man in the world. It was a dream come true, ever since I was a small orphan kid, watching parents holding their kids’ hands and playing with them in the park. I knew that I would be a great father. I always thought how I would always play with them, feed them, talk to them, hug them, kiss them, and support them no matter what. Because that is what fathers should do. My father was never like that, but I understood. He was always dealing with things that wanted to hurt him and mom. So I understood they could not take care of me the best way they could.  

With Adam I knew everything was going to be different. Katya and I were really invested in having the perfect family, and though sometimes we have our issues, we know we still love and care for each other a lot. I would do anything for them. We also had a beautiful home and great friends. Who would have thought that the poor little boy from 30 years ago was going to be so happy? I was now thankful I lived the life I had. 

—

“Mr. Thromberg? Your results are in. But first I need you to sign some paperwork Dr. Hasan wanted me to give you. Please sign here.” She showed me a document, about 3 pages long. It said something about privacy and healthcare information, but I really did not care. I was too excited to see what my results had been that I just signed the papers she was saying needed to be signed. I signed on the top line, then in a middle line, and then at the end. After I was done, she had to make sure everything was in order and typed into the computer. 

“Mr. Thromberg, your analysis came back negative, meaning you are not fertile and cannot have any children. I am so sorry”, she said with a weird expression on her face, like she was pitying me. 

“That’s impossible. I have a son. Everything has to be normal”, I exclaimed while not trying to laugh. I thought they were pranking me right now. I knew the doctor was a goofball and loved pranks. 

“I really am sorry sir, but Dr. Hasan has been treating you for years now, due to your condition. He agreed to let you get tested only because he thought it would help you get a better understanding of your situation.”

“My situation? Of course, I understand my situation. I have a family and I want to go back to them. Now!” 

I could not believe it. This woman here had the audacity to tell me that I have a condition and that my family is not real. I was infuriated and just thought of hitting her with the stapler that was in front of me, on the counter. Instead of letting my thoughts run wild, I tried to reach my phone, but something weird happened. I suddenly noticed I had a white ensemble on. I don’t remember wearing these clothes today. 

“What’s happening? Where am I and why am I wearing this? Where’s my phone?”, I started screaming and kicking while the security guards entered the room to help poor Karen. Then the nurses came in and grabbed my face, trying to open my mouth. They gave me something sweet that I immediately swallowed before I could understand what was happening. 

“Adam, you will feel better now. We’ll take you to your room now so you can rest and then you can speak to Dr. Hasan”, one of the nurses spoke. 

And I just stared at her, thinking how her eyes reminded me of someone, but I couldn’t quite put a finger on it. It was 4:15 now.