Chapter nine.

I was so glad to be home. I was so tired and exhausted. I laid down on my bed hoping to get lost in the soft comfort that my feather blankets provided, but I couldn't get comfortable. My mind kept racing over the events of the day. I kept thinking about the therapy session and the things that I had learned about my relationship with Todd. It was clear to me that Todd had blamed himself for what his father had supposedly done to Michelle-me. I wondered if Peter Manning had really stabbed me or if he was just messing with his son. Either scenario was a possibility with Peter. I couldn't help but think about how differently Todd's and my life would have been if we had ran away together when we were kids.

I closed my eyes and eventually I drifted off to sleep. I had strange dreams, maybe memories, flashes of a possible reality in another lifetime that I had shared with Tom. I could see a much younger version of myself standing by a little boy. He was the same boy from my memories, I was with Tom. "It's okay Michelle. There's nothing to be afraid of," Tom said as I tried the door.

It was no longer locked but I was afraid to go in by myself. "Are you coming?" I asked hoping that the fear and isolation would disappear if he was by my side. He grabbed my hand and we walked into the house together.

There was a long hallway with several shut doors on both sides. I tried each door but they were all locked. I was frustrated and I felt trapped. I didn't want to go in, but I felt as if I couldn't leave until I had explored the rooms. I sat down against the wall.

"What's wrong?" Tom asked as he came up to me.

"They're all locked. This is a waste of our time."

"Not necessarily."

"What do you mean?"

"Try this," Tom said as he pulled a chain up over his head. At the end of the chain was a key.

I grabbed the key and tried the door that was closest to me but it didn't work. I tried several more doors and was about to give up when I turned the key on one more door and it opened.

"Lets go in." Tom said as he grabbed my hand. We walked into the now open room. I saw a little girl who couldn't be any older than five or six and she was sitting on the couch. There was an older man who was sitting next to her.

"They can't see us. We are just here to observe," Tom stated to me.

"Observe what?"

"Your memories of course."

"Is that little girl me?"

"Of course. Now be quiet so we can listen."

"Why am I here?" I heard the little girl ask.

"Because you were too much of a burden for somebody like your aunt Kiki. I don't want you to worry about her. She didn't deserve you and I promise that I will take very good care of you," the man explained.

"Why? Did you know my parents?"

"I knew you mother very well. Now listen to me this is very important. You know how to make believe right?"

"Yes."

"While you're staying with me, I need you to pretend that your name is Michelle and that you're my niece."

"Why?"

"Because if anyone ever finds out what your real name is they will take you away and place you in an orphanage. You'll be all alone and there will be no one there to love you."

"I don't want to be all alone."

"Okay then you'll have to agree to be my Michelle and no one can ever know your real name."

"Okay. I won't say anything. I promise."

"Okay, grab your bags and I'll show you where your new room is."

The little girl grabbed the packed bags that were in the corner of the room and walked out of the room holding the man's hand.

I felt sickened and frustrated. It was obvious that the little girl had been manipulated into agreeing to lie about her identity.

"Come on let's go there's nothing left to see here." Tom said as he grabbed my hand. Todd and I left the room and shut the door behind us.

When the door shut behind us I woke up sweating. I felt panicked, nervous and scared. More than anything I felt complete isolation as I realized that Tom was no longer with me and that he had disappeared along with my dream or memory or whatever the hell it was. I picked up the phone and began to dial.

Todd answered the phone and I told him that I needed to see him as soon as he could get to my place.