Shane Revisited.

A small neat house stood before me on a quite street where the cab driver had deposited me a few moments ago. There were a few bushes along the path that bordered a small lawn and lead to the front door.

The small set of keys felt oddly heavy as I walked the short distance to the front door. I took a deep breath and slid one of the small brass keys into the lock, though I hesitated to turn it. This was the address that was on the licence that they had given me, and looking into the mirror of the tiny hospital bathroom, I could at least tell that it was my own face that was smiling out of the ID card. They had kept me in the hospital a few more days after I had woken up; partly to make sure that I was alright and partly to see if I would regain my memories. Finally though they had released me.

A small click sounded as the key turned smoothly in the lock and I pushed the door open. The interior was dim in the late afternoon light, dust motes stirring in the air as I passed by a window.

The inside of the house was as neat as the outside had suggested, nothing seemed to be out of place. I laughed as this thought crossed my mind. How would I know if anything was out of place, I didn't recognize anything at all. I could have been in anyone's home.

A flashing red light on the phone caught my attention.

Beep... A man's voice came from the recorder, "hey Shane, it's me. You up for a pick-up game tonight? Give me a call."

Beep... A sultry woman's voice came next, "Shane, don't forget that you promised to go to that party with me."

Beep... "Shane. Man, where are you?"

Beep... "Shane, I'm getting worried, and so is Mom."

Beep... "Shane, did you forget to tell us you were going out of town or something?"

Beep... "Mr. Briarwood. This is a reminder..."

Beep... "Shane."
Beep... "Shane."
Beep... "Mr. Briarwood."

My hand hit the delete button, stilling the flood of voices. I could feel a headache coming on. I walked down the hall to the kitchen and opened the fridge, realizing that my stomach was growling. It felt awkward though, as if I was reaching into someone else's fridge without permission, without them even knowing that I was here.
I shook my head and pulled out a few things. It would take a while before it felt normal to be here.

I was just cleaning up when the phone rang, causing me to jump. I only hesitated a moment before picking it up. It could be someone that I knew, someone that could help me remember. Someone that could tell me who I was.

"Hello?" I said.

"Shane!" came the relieved voice over the phone, a woman's voice, "I've been so worried about you. Where have you been? Are you alright?"

I didn't recognize the voice. "I'm not sure if I'm alright," I said.

"What do you mean you don't know if you are alright?" she asked.

I sighed and quickly explained what had happened. "So you see," I concluded, "I don't even recognize your voice. I don't know who you are."

There was silence on the other end of the line. "Hello?" I asked.

"Shane," she breathed in shock, "I'm coming right over," she said, "don't go anywhere. I'll be there in half an hour."

"Alright," I said and hung up the phone.

"Hopefully in half an hour I'll start to have some questions answered," I said to myself.