Façade
While he may not know who he is, he has a clue.
Carlin. His name was Carlin. Carlin who? What nationality was he? What was a nationality? Why did he care? What did it matter? There was also another name; Daniel. Who was Daniel?
Carlin sighed as he continued shoveling coal into the furnace. He hated how his mind never stopped. Ideas and questions always plagued him during the slow work hours. His mind seemed to never stop asking him questions, how it never stopped to give him a moment's peace.
"Hey. What's your name?" A dark haired lady asked him.
"I'm Carlin." The name seemed alien to him. It felt like he was lying. She smiled.
"It's nice to meet you. Were you transferred from the mines?"
Carlin couldn't remember where he was from. Or how old he was. Or even when his birthday was.
'Birthday?' His mind questioned.
"Yes. I was." He answered more confident then before.
'I am Carlin. I was transferred from the mines.' He mentally repeated, reminding himself of the lies he had told.
'Lies?! It had been the truth. Hadn't it? Did it matter? If so, to whom? Daniel.'
That was the third time that name had entered his mind.
'Who was Daniel and why was he so important. Why, every time he remembered Daniel, did he feel depressed? Was Daniel a friend? An enemy? Did he have enemies? Was he a bully; a tormentor? A supervisor? Was Daniel depressed? Was Daniel here?
"Um, excuse me. You didn't tell me your name."
"I'm Kegan."
"Kegan, do you know if there's a Daniel here?"
She paused thoughtfully before answering.
"There's a Dirk in Sector eight. But no; No Daniels. Why do you ask?"
Now it was Carlin's turn to think.
"He was a friend of mine from the mines. I was just wondering if he was transferred here."
"No. I guess he was transferred somewhere else. Sorry."
"Oh well. Thanks anyways."
And back in his mind, the name repeated itself over and over;
'Daniel.'
Story ID# 026