He saw me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was no doubt about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His eyes pinned me down\u2014not with surprise\u2026 but with something else. Something that made my stomach churn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But not the kind you expect from someone seeing his wife again after five months of being \u201cdead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was colder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Calculating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He didn\u2019t call out my name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He didn\u2019t run to embrace me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He just\u2026 watched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For a few seconds, the world around us went silent. No cars. No people. Just that look between the two of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, he slowly pulled the door open further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And without taking his eyes off mine, he said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t be here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was his voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But there was no warmth in it. No love. Just a hard, almost mechanical tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My throat went dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cHow\u2026 how are you alive?\u201d I finally managed to get out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He didn\u2019t answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead, he tilted his head slightly, as if he were studying me. Like someone trying to solve a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then he sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cCome inside.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everything in me screamed to run away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But my feet wouldn\u2019t listen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I stepped closer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Until I was at the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The smell inside was strange. Sharp. Like medicine mixed with dampness and something\u2026 metallic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He closed the door behind me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The click of the lock sounded like a sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cTalk to me,\u201d I said, my voice trembling. \u2014\u201cTell me what\u2019s going on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He walked slowly to the center of the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The light was dim. Just one flickering lamp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As my eyes adjusted\u2026 my heart nearly stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was someone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Or rather\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another \u201chim.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I stumbled back a step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On a simple bed, hooked up to machines\u2026 lay a man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Motionless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With closed eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And his face\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exactly the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cNo\u2026\u201d I whispered. \u2014\u201cNo, it\u2019s not possible\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My head began to spin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cWhat is this?!\u201d I shrieked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The man beside me\u2014the one who was standing\u2014finally spoke:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cThat is the original.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My blood turned cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cWhat\u2026 are you saying?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looked at me. This time, there was a trace of something\u2026 almost like pity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cYour husband didn\u2019t die the way you think he did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I shook my head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cI buried him\u2026 I saw him\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cYou saw a body,\u201d he interrupted. \u2014\u201cBut not necessarily his.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My legs went weak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cExplain everything. Now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He paused for a moment, as if deciding how much to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then he began:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cYour husband ended up in the hospital five months ago. Not just with an illness\u2026 but as part of something bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cWhat \u2018something\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He narrowed his eyes slightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cA project.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That word felt like poison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cThey used people. People without power. Without protection.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My heart started racing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looked at the body on the bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cTo make copies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I laughed. A hysterical, broken laugh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cThat\u2019s impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cYou\u2019re looking at it,\u201d he said simply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My breath hitched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cYou\u2026 are a copy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He didn\u2019t deny it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cI am what\u2019s left.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cAnd him?\u201d I pointed to the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cHe didn\u2019t survive the procedure. At least\u2026 not entirely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The room began to spin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cSo you\u2026 you took over his life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He slowly shook his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He came closer to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cI have his memories. His habits. His voice. Everything that makes him\u2026 him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He placed his hand lightly against his chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cBut I am not him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A tear rolled down my cheek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cThen who are you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looked at me for a long time before answering:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cI am the reason you are still in danger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My stomach cramped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He suddenly became tense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cThey know I\u2019m gone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cWho?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footsteps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than one person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He immediately walked to the light and switched it off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The room was plunged into darkness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cThey saw you when you followed me,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My heart hammered in my throat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cWhat is going to happen?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He grabbed my hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Warm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Familiar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But still\u2026 strange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cIf they find you\u2026 you will never disappear like I did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The doorknob moved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Twice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then\u2014a loud knock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cOpen up!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I almost screamed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He pulled me closer, his voice barely audible:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cListen carefully.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I nodded, even though he couldn\u2019t see it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cYou have to choose.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cChoose\u2026 what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cThe truth\u2026 or the life you had.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lock began to crack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cIf you come with me, there is no turning back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another knock. Louder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cAnd if I stay?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He went silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then he whispered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u201cThen you die\u2026 but slowly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My world broke at that moment\u2026 for the third time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I looked at the bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the man who might have been my real husband.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then at the one holding my hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The one who remembers me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The one who is living now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The door began to burst open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Light cut through the crack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I closed my eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I chose.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
He saw me. There was no doubt about it. His eyes pinned me down\u2014not with surprise\u2026 but with something else. Something that made my stomach churn. Recognition…. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4015","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanh.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4015","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanh.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanh.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanh.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanh.top\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4015"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/myanh.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4015\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4018,"href":"https:\/\/myanh.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4015\/revisions\/4018"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanh.top\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4015"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanh.top\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4015"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanh.top\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4015"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}