September 2012
It had been twelve years and Jackson still had no idea who he was. But he had accepted that fact. The longer he went the less and less he figured he would ever regain his memory so he adapted. He left the hospital and began living in a halfway house. He got a job working as a clerk in a comic book store. His life was not what anyone would say was perfect but it worked for him. Right after he left the hospital he had taken up boxing, he was pretty good at it and it was a great way to work out his aggression.
He had found that with the more time that passed the more frustrated he became which usually left his so angry. It had been on of his doctors that had suggested taking up boxing. He found he was pretty good at it. He couldn't help but wonder if this was something he enjoyed doing in his other life. That is what he referred to it as, his other life.
He wiped the sweat off of his forehead with a towel. His arms and legs were a little sore but otherwise he felt pretty good about himself. He had gone ten rounds with his sparring partner only to take him in the last round.
"Good fight man." he helped the younger kid up.
"You too Jax." They shook hands before Jackson left the ring. He wanted to get maybe a half hour in with the punching bag before he headed back to the halfway house. He cracked his neck as he walked and it was in that instant that something hit him. He stood there stunned, his eyes wide. He could not really explain it. It wasn't a flash or a memory, but it was more like a feeling. Chicago, he needed to go to Chicago.
He had no idea why he felt that way but it was almost like something was pulling him there. He had no idea if he had ever been to The Windy City. But something was telling him that he needed to go and he needed to go now.
He grabbed his gym bag and left without another thought. The councilors at the house all said hi to him but he breezed right past them into his room. They watched him go with mild concern but since he wasn't like the usual people they had there they left him alone. After changing his clothes he headed to the common room to use the computer. He was pretty shitty with anything electronic but he managed to be able to learn how to use the internet.
At first he just typed the word Chicago into Google. He had no idea where to start or why that one particular city in Illinois was important. But he knew that he had to get there no matter what. So before he could even truly realize what he was doing he had purchased a ticket on a greyhound bus. It would be a grueling almost eighteen hour bus ride but he needed to do it. He knew himself well enough to know that he would not be able to rest until he found out why Chicago was important.
He went to bed that night feeling slightly hopeful. Maybe there was something about Illinois that would trigger something. Maybe that was where he was from. Maybe Chicago was the key to figuring out who he truly was. All he knew was that he needed to find out.