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Chapter 1: The meeting of two Sheldons.
Young Sheldon opened his eyes. The boy genius from Texas couldn't comprehend where he was. Blackness all around him.
"Hello," said the young teenager. "Is someone there?" No answer. "Missy, if this is your idea of a prank then it's not funny. Honestly," said Sheldon with a scowl on his face.
Did his sister somehow manage to drug him and put him in a container of some kind?
"She so will get grounded when I say this to Mom."
Sheldon frowned sadly when he thought about his mother. It has already been two weeks since Dad died. Mom looked to be okay physically. But her mannerisms had changed completely. It worried Sheldon a bit. She was his mother after all. And she meant the world to him. But every time he asked her if she was alright. She just smiled and nodded. I'm fine Shelly. No need to worry.
Sheldon frowned. He wasn't sure if his mother was telling the truth. Telling how a person feels just by looking at them was always difficult for the young genius. Things like sarcasm, anger, and sadness were especially hard. If only he was as good at it as Missy or Georgi. They may be dumb as rocks. But their social skill were way beyond his. Even though he didn't like to admit it.
"This is just great. I'm supposed to leave for college next week. How am supposed to leave this blasted confinement?"
"I can help you with that, Sheldon."
The genius's eyes widened by the unfamiliar voice. He quickly spun around. And who he saw made him confused. It was himself. Or what looked to be a resemblance of himself.
"Who in the Einstein's way are you?"
The person chuckled. "Why Shelly, can't you tell? I am you."
Sheldon gained an annoyed look on his face. Nobody except his mother and family can call him by that name. "First of all. Don't call me that. Second, how can you be me? There is only one me and he's standing right here."
"Well, to make it easier to understand. I am your suppressed self. You see, from a young age, you began to see the world in a scientific view. You discarded your empathy and started to defy things only by logic."
Sheldon snorted. "That's preposterous. It's true I use mostly my brain to solve difficult equations. But I still feel pain, joy, anger, and sadness. I have not discarded my emotions whatsoever."
Neo Sheldon sighed. "I never said you lost your emotions, Sheldon. I said you lost your empathy. The skill to understand the emotions of others. The skill that most people use to socialize with each other."
Sheldon frowned. "Really? I don't understand. How is that even possible? How can someone just discard their empathy like that?"
Neo Sheldon frowned sadly. "It must have happened the day when our father and mother took you to the park when you were 2. Do you remember that day, Sheldon?"
The young genius nodded. "Yes, February 4 1982. It was exactly 12:34 am. Meemaw was visiting the Zoo with Georgie and Missy. And because I was sick the day before. Mom didn't want me to go with them. Because she was afraid I would make them also sick."
Neo Sheldon nodded. "Correct."
"Why do ask me that anyway? If you are my other self you should know that I have photographic memory."
"Yes, I know, Sheldon. But do you know what happened at exactly 13:00 am?"
Sheldon frowned. "Well, I…. Wait, that's strange. How come I don't remember what happened that day?" Sheldon began to panic. "I have a perfect memory. How come I don't remember what happened?"
"Because your brain made you forget that memory. You had an accident that day that nearly cost your life. Our parents never told you about it. Because they were afraid it may cause you more trauma."
Sheldon's eyes widened in shock. "Is that really what happened?"
Neo Sheldon nodded.
"But, what kind of accident? What could be so terrible that it made my brain not only forget it? But made me lose my empathy as well. What connection have those two in common?"
Neo Sheldon sighed. "Do you remember the man that used to play with you? The one your parents knew from their school days?"
Sheldon frowned as he began to think. "Yeah, I think I do. Wasn't he the one who used that strong earthy cologne?"
Neo Sheldon sweatdropped. "Yeah, that he did Sheldon."
Sheldon nodded in remembrance. "I knew it was him. I believe his name was Connor. He was also the one who watched me, Missy, and Georgie when my parents and Meemaw were busy. He was a very friendly person," said Sheldon with a smile.
Neo Sheldon frowned. "Yes, at least we thought he was."
Sheldon looked confused. "Wait, what? What do you mean by that?"
Neo Sheldon turned away. "It's what I just said. We thought he was nice. Until that day he showed his true colors."
"True colors?"
Neo Sheldon sighed. "Apparently, Connor had a crush on our mother. Long before our parents started dating. But when Mom chooses to be with Dad. Connor didn't take it very well. He held a big grudge towards our father. And he hid it. For all those years. He played the friendly schoolmate. Helpful neighbor. Until finally that fateful day. When he couldn't hold it back anymore. When Connor arrived at the playground and grabbed his gun."
Sheldon's eyes widened. His head suddenly began to hurt very badly. So bad that he fell on his knees. It was unbearable.
"Aww, it hurts." Sheldon looked at his other self. "What is happening?"
Neo Sheldon frowned. "Your brain is trying to stop you from remembering that moment. It must be trying to protect you from that horrible memory."
"Please…. Continue. I need to know what truly happened," said Sheldon through the pain.
Neo Sheldon nodded. "Very well. Connor threatened to kill Dad if Mom didn't come with him. Mom was in tears. And tried to reason with Connor. But Connor didn't want to listen. He told our Mom that he had feelings for her long before George did. And that he had enough of keeping his feelings hidden for so long. He couldn't see them together like that for any longer. Because the longer they were happy, the more miserable he was feeling. Mom told him she felt sorry for him. But she also told him that she didn't regret loving Dad. And all those years before she met George, Connor never told her about how he felt. So it was his own fault."
The memories came slowly back to Sheldon. He remembered what Mom said afterward.
"Don't blame this on George, Conner. He, unlike you asked me out. If you had feelings for me back then you should have told me like a man."
Connor frowned. "I know I should have told you. But don't worry," said Connor with a sickening grin. "I have the solution for our predicament." Connor took his gun from his pocket and pointed it at George. "I just have to kill this bastard. With him out of the way, we can both be happy together."
"Are you insane," said Mary with a scared look. "If you do that I will hate you for the rest of my life."
"Don't be stupid, Conner," said George while he was trying to calm his son he had in his arms. "If you do this, you'll be sentenced to prison. Maybe even to death. Put the gun down, buddy."
Connor glared at George. "Don't you dare call me buddy, you fat piece of shit. We never have been friends. And yes, they may sentence me to Prison. Might even kill me. But knowing you are dead will make my conscious feel so much better. You won't be with Mary anymore. And in the end," said Connor with a smirk. "That's all that matters."
Mary's eyes widened when Connor pulled the trigger. Her body moved on its own as she selflessly guarded her husband and baby boy from the shot.
"NO, MARY!"
Sheldon awoke from those memories with a terrible headache.
Neo Sheldon frowned. "So, you remember now?"
Sheldon slowly stood up and nodded sadly. Tears began to fall from his eyes.
"Mom protected both me and Dad. The bullet went through Mom's shoulder and grazed my cheek. I almost died that day. When Connor saw what had happened he dropped the gun in shock. Mom was lying on the floor…. Blood was beginning to form beneath her. Dad quickly put me in the stroller. And in rage, punched Connor. He was knocked out. After that. Dad immediately called 991. Mom survived that ordeal. I don't know the details about it. Because Dad called Meemaw. And told her what happened. Meemaw came with Missy and Georgie and took me with them while Dad took a ride in the Ambulance. I think then it started. I wanted to forget that terrible scene. So my brain must have automatically closed off that memory. And since Connor was a man who we thought to be our friend. The betrayal we saw must have really put a strain on our emotions. It was then in order to protect me. My brain did the unthinkable. It forced those emotions out."
Neo Sheldon frowned. "Yes. It did. But not your emotions. Your brain closed off your perception of emotions. How to understand them and how to react to them. As long as you were safe. That was its primary objective."
"What happens now? Is there a way to get my empathy, I mean you back?"
Neo Sheldon smiled. "There is. But, it will not come without consequences."
"Like what," asked Sheldon curiously.
"If you accept me and regain your empathy. You won't be you anymore."
"Wait, what? Do you mean I become someone else?"
Neo Sheldon chuckled. "Let me rephrase that. No, you still will be Sheldon Cooper. And you will still have your intellect. In fact, it might get a boost."
Sheldon smiled. "That's a relief. And what do I lose?"
"Well, what you definitely will lose is your quirks of making rude comments to other people. Which isn't a downside if you ask me," said Neo Sheldon with a grin.
Sheldon snorted. "I so do not make rude comments at people. I can't help that other people's thinking is completely wrong."
Neo Sheldon frowned. "Everyone can have their own opinion about something Sheldon. It doesn't make it wrong. It would be the same if somebody said to you that trains are boring and for weird kids. You wouldn't like that if someone said that to you, right?"
Sheldon frowned and slowly nodded. "I suppose not."
Neo Sheldon chuckled. "Or if someone said that gravity isn't a thing. Or that Einstein's theory of relativity doesn't exist. You would get a temper tantrum."
"Of course, I would. I will correct them and say they are completely wrong. Morons. To even think that one of the world's brilliant scientist's theories isn't real. Blasphemy it is."
Neo Sheldon sighed. "As I said, Sheldon. Your way of acting and thinking may hurt people. Can't there be people in the world who have their own thoughts and opinions? They might be wrong in a scientific view. But sometimes, people believe in stuff because it gives them hope. Just like Mom believes in God." Neo Sheldon chuckled. "And Georgie. Believing that having sex with a woman who's twelve years older than him is fine because it's cool and she is hot."
Sheldon couldn't help but snort at the last part.
"It's time to make a choice Sheldon. What will it be? Resume your current life without me. Or," said Neo Sheldon with a smile. "Be whole again. And show the world what Sheldon Cooper is really made out of."
Sheldon thought for a bit. But he eventually smiled sadly. "All my life I hated being unable to tell what people want or feel like. I hated being so socially awkward. And I hate hurting people who mean the world to me without even knowing it."
Neo Sheldon nodded. "Anything else?"
Sheldon nodded. "Yes. I love being right. I love being smarter than anyone else. And love correcting people. Those are things I excel at." Sheldon frowned. "But, I already had 14 twelve years of living like that. And not many good things have happened. My sister hates me. My brother may not hate me but he certainly doesn't love me. His wife Mandy thinks I'm weird. But the worst thing that happened. I can't even say for sure if my Dad loved me. I should have talked to him more before died. I should have learned more about him. But I was unable to because I was too preoccupied with my own needs."
Sheldon took a deep breath. "I, I regret it. I regret not being able to bond with Dad. I regret making fun of Missy and Georgie for being dumb. I regret giving my teachers in school such a hard time. But mostly," said Sheldon with tears in his eyes. "I regret not being able to comfort Mom when she needed me the most. I love my Mother. She is the most important person in my life. Not being able to comfort her. It hurts more than everything else that ever happened to me."
Neo Sheldon nodded with a sad smile. "I know. You are me after all. So, what path do you choose?"
Sheldon frowned. "All the recognition, all the scientific breakthroughs I had. All the perfect grades I scored. What do all those things matter if I can't even cheer up the most important person in my life? I might as well have nothing." Sheldon smiled as gave his other self his hand. "It has been a good run. But I obviously can't make Mom happy on my own. Will you help me?"
Neo Sheldon chuckled. "Do you even need to ask?" He grabbed Sheldon's outstretched hand in a tight grip. "I'll gladly help. Leave it up to me."
A golden light began to engulf the two Sheldons.
"One last thing," asked Sheldon.
"Yes," said Neo Sheldon curious.
"Between you and me. What are your honest opinions about biology and engineers?"
Neo Sheldon snorted. "Biology sucks. And Engineers…. I guess they are alright. Just as long it involves trains," said Neo Sheldon with a grin.
Sheldon chuckled. "I guess you really are me. See you on the other side, Sheldon."
The other Sheldon nodded with a smile. "See you soon, my other self."
As the golden light began to turn brighter. Both Sheldon's began to disappear. Their final thoughts were exactly the same.
"Let's start anew."
End Chapter One.