#3 The Kid (English Version)

(For the Spanish version see below)

When Olivier arrived to his place, he did not realize that she was still there. He went into his bedroom and threw all his belongings on his desk. He should not have helped that guy. The silver object was now broken. He needed to find a way to fix it, as he would be facing new issues soon.

“Olivier, are you OK? What’s wrong with you? You told me you were going to leave just 5 minutes and it looks like it had been passed ages since last time I saw you.”

He turned back and saw her. He did not remember that she was still there, in his place. Although it was normal, for her, only 10 minutes had passed, for him, much more…

“Hey, Claire! Have you missed me a lot?”

She stared at him with her blue eyes. He was a completely idiot, but she was in love with him.

“I sometimes don’t really get you… You tell me that you will be back in 5 minutes, then you arrive and you just ignore me. Are you stupid?”

Olivier scanned her and he told himself that he should be more cautious next time. He decided to go with the flow and acted completely normal.

“No, I am not. It just was… I was trying to find you something.”

“What were you seeking?”

“This…” Olivier made appear a red rose from his sleeve and offered her. “Happy birthday Claire!”

She remained silent. She did not expect that. Bit by bit, she approached him, took the rose and smelled it before looking into his eyes. Olivier smiled. He started to think that he really liked that girl: she had a blond hair with blue eyes, good height and a perfect body.

“You’re just and idiot…”

“Oh yes? Then I should keep that flower…”

“You are an idiot, but you are my idiot!”

She pulled him closer, grabbed his back and started to kiss him. A faint light entered through the window that made it all more magical. She pushed him away onto his bed and she got on him kissing his neck. Olivier loved the way she kissed. Maybe she was the girl he had always been waiting for.

He replied her with emphasis. A flash light from that silver object made him remember the truth. He knew he was facing a new issue, but he was completely sure he could handle it and keep on going. He forgot it all and surrendered to Claire’s charms.

Nevertheless, the small object was still shining on his desk. It had 4 buttons and 2 led screens, one of them so cracked that it was not possible read the date on it.

***

Thomas was sitting in front of the Seine River near the Liberty statue. The Eiffel tower was on the distance as magnificent as usual. The weather was good and despite of being in the middle of the autumn, it was not cold at all. People went outside with their families and friends, enjoying one of the sunniest days of the season.

“Thomas, I knew I’ve asked you plenty of times but, are you sure you remember anything about those last 6 years?”

Thomas heard his mother but he was not paying much attention. A few weeks had been passed since that horrible night when he appeared in front of his parents’ door. Following the initial shock and the great impact that his reappearance made them, they explained him all they went through after he went missing.

Since that 21^st of November, nobody could find any hints about Thomas’ whereabouts. After a few days without going to his job and answering his girlfriend and friends’ calls, his parents decided to report to the police his vanishing in order to put them to investigate. The following weeks were confusing and all they could find was that Thomas had witnessed the accident of a truck that fell down in the Saint-Martin canal. Thomas had apparently been there in that moment as they found his mobile phone into the bottom of the canal and several of witness reported him as the guy that helped another one in a fight. However, there were no fatalities as no corpses were found. Thomas literally vanished that day and nobody had seen him until 6 years later when he knocked on his girlfriend’s house.

“No mum. I already explained you plenty of time that I’m not able to remember all what I’ve done those last 6 years...”

He was unable to put into words how he felt. He tried to explain that time had not passed at all: that he was with Chloé the same night and that the truck crash in the canal never happened… but it was completely impossible.

The accident took place that day (he even googled it on Internet) and everything had changed. People had move on: cell phones were different and better than the 2010 ones, songs in the radio were not the same and even his parents look older. Time had flowed for everyone except him.

He wanted to cry, but he could not. He was empty and nothing could fill that enormous hole which was growing up inside him. Feelings started to crowd around in his mind and he started to think he would become crazy. Sadness and anger begin to take his control: he had vanished, leaving his girlfriend, friends and family alone for 6 long years and for any reason he could not tell them why. Was he amnesic? He did not even know that. All that he knew was that he purging his sins.

“I think that you should visit Chloé again…”

With only hearing the word “Chloé” he began to cry and his mind was completely paralyzed. He did not dare to see her again: Chloé was living with another boy and he should accept that fact despite of it was consuming him. His mother realized and tried to fix her error.

“Thomas, you haven’t wanted to see your friends since you came back. You are like gone... I understand that you lived a traumatic experience. We all lived it! But you must remain strong and keep going. You will soon know what happened that day and you will recover your memories. I’m sure!”

Thomas look at his mum: her green eyes and silver hair were shining of joy. She was very happy to have him back: 6 years ago someone stole his kid, now he was given back.

“You’re right mum… But, it is that feeling of helplessness that it’s killing me inside. I don’t have memories and I cannot explain what happened! I can’t show up to my friends and tell them: hey, I’m back in town! I just can’t!”

“You should go to visit Mathieu, he will help you. He has always been at your side. You will be surprised.”

“Ok, mum. I guess it’s useless to argue with you. I will go today. Maybe, he could help me…”

Mathieu was his best friend. They were inseparable companions since childhood, like two peas in a pot. They had grown up and did their studies together: secrets did not exist for them. After all, if one person could know what happened after the incident, it had to be Mathieu. Maybe he went to explain him something and made him promise not to tell anyone. Definitely, he had to visit him.

His mum give him the new address of him friend. Mathieu had moved some time ago and Thomas went to his new house there and knocked the door. While he was waiting, he took a look to the surroundings. His old friend lived in a small nice house near Porte d’Auteil, not so far from the Roland Garros courts. He remembered that Mathieu’s girlfriend, Camille, used to live in that neighborhood. Perhaps they were living together? He started to think about how the four used to go to dinner together. That thought made him feel even worse.

After a few seconds, the door opened and his old friend appeared. Mathieu had short hair and baldness was starting to appear on his head: physically was not the same as he remembered. He did not tell him anything and just hugged him. Thomas could feel how Mathieu was crying.

“Thomas… your mum told me, but I needed to see you with my own eyes. I didn’t believe it.”

“I’m sorry Mathieu, that’s all I can say…”

“Don’t you worry Thomas. Come on, let’s go inside to talk. I’m sure you have plenty of things to tell me!”

For a moment, Thomas felt peace inside him. Maybe doing some effort he could regain his old life. He still remembered all the good moments that they spent together.

“Mathieu, just a question: Why are you living here now? I knew that Camille used to live near that street, but this house, it’s too big for you…”

Suddenly, something grabbed his leg. He looked down and saw a little kid with sparkling blue eyes that was staring at him. He should be 2 years old as he could not even stand up.

“Mathieu, who’s that kid? Is he another of your cousins and your uncle asked you to take care of?”

Mathieu smiled and took the kid into his arms.

“No Thomas. Not this time.”

Thomas stared at him, disbelieving of what Mathieu said.

“And, who is him?

“Haven’t you realized yet?”

“No, I haven’t. I’m not joking…”

“It’s my son Thomas.”

Thomas turned pale. He could not conceive that his friend was already a dad when 2 weeks ago they were drinking and going out together. The kid took a lock of his hair to bring him to reality.

“His name’s Thomas… We named him in your honor.”