Chapter 2

His eyes snapped open, adrenaline surging through his veins. Fight or flight activated, heart racing, he shot up off of the couch with a speed he didn’t know he could muster. Muscles taut and tense, his senses taking in all available input. But as he looked around, he noticed something very peculiar. Nothing was out of place. Nothing seemed off, and even odder still, no one else was there with him. The house remained silent .

”Hello!?” he called out, maybe a bit more aggressively than he intended.

“I know I heard you. Show yourself…” he trailed off, less sure of himself now.

“Well now, that’s going to be a bit difficult to do.” the voice taunted with a chuckle.

“Oh? And why the hell is that?” he fired back, annoyed that the voice seemed to be mocking him.

“Well, because I am you.” the voice told him matter of factly. “Though I suppose if you really did want to see me, you could go take a look in the mirror”.

He ran to the bathroom with a sense of nervousness and anticipation, dreading what he would see in the mirror. Yet at the same time, hoping beyond hope he would see someone else, someone who could help him explain why this was happening to him. Those hopes were dashed when he flicked on the bathroom lights and saw only his own reflection staring anxiously back at him.

Great he thought to himself, not only am I going insane, my own mind is mocking me.

“Now that’s a bit harsh.” the voice replied with a soothing yet wounded tone “I am certainly not mocking you in fact, I am here to help you. I want to figure this thing out as much as you do. Since you know, if you go nuts, then, well, I’ll go nuts too seeing as we are one and the same.”

“Maybe you’re right.” he sighed, deflating a bit.

He couldn’t figure this out on his own. He was tired, and any help, even from himself, was welcome. He really didn’t have anyone else he could bring this particular problem to.

“Alright,” he said aloud. “This feels a bit ridiculous, but if you can help me put whatever these desires are to bed, then I’m all in.”

“Wonderful!” the voice exclaimed. “Now let’s go back to the beginning, shall we?”