1 — THE INTERVIEW

“How are you feeling? Do you remember anything?” An angular hand slides a glass of water across a small wooden table. “Here, in case you’re thirsty.”

Jack reaches for the glass like it’s his last drink. He clumsily sets it down on the edge but miraculously catches it as it falls. It would be better placed closer to the center but his head spins in the blinding light. The outline of a figure is barely distinguishable. Jack squirms from left to right, desperately looking for a comfortable position. The sound of hard plastic bending and scraping against the concrete floor adds to his nausea. He finally crosses his legs and leans to the right to reflect. Why do I have to put up with this crap again? Another day of this whack job tryin’ to conjure up alternate personalities that don’t exist, just to validate his stupid theoretical mumbo jumbo. Jack frowns, furrowing his brow. Having multiple personalities vying for control is not the issue. Jack knows there is only one Jack, he is certain of it. Then again, how could he explain the voices in his head or those memories that are not his own?

“So, you simply left? Where did you say, an inner world, was it? I believe you described it as the planet being hollow with gardens in… in something like middle earth.” Hmmm, sounds a bit like Tolkien, to me. Dr. Worskovey peers up from his continuous note-scribbling. “What do you think it all means?”

The doctor is hidden on the dark side of the light, waiting for an answer too long in coming. Jack imagines what the doctor must look like: clear blue eyes study Jack through thick-rimmed black glasses perched on a wrinkled-up analytical nose; tufted gray hairs climb out from over the arch of his ears and a couple of wild brows are sprouted with anticipation; pens stick out from his white lab coat pocket; mouth slightly open waiting for Jack’s answer.

After a prolonged silence, the doctor states, “I can tell you what I think…Would you like to hear what I think?” He is direct whereas Jack feels aloof, with exasperated nerves, exposed. “No, I-I really don’t!  I don’t know what I’m doin’ here sayin’ the same things over and over. Look, I went through absolute hell before gettin’ here, and this? This isn’t any better! In fact, I think it’s worse!” A loud forced sigh emphasizes his obvious frustration.

“Could you start from the beginning?”

“Really? How many damn times do I have to tell you this?” The doctor’s silence answers for him. He regains some control. “…I was thrown up onto the surface, as if expelled or something… from a… like a psychedelic sanctuary…, or ah…, more like a strange garden that was alive, you know. Look doc, my head’s gonna explode.”

“You have quite an intriguing story, Jack, which I feel you require more time to process. You have certainly been through quite a significant episode.” The doctor dims the blinding light and jots down yet more notes. Jack can make out some minor details: the shape of his posture, and the contour of his pen on the notebook when he put his fist to his mouth to catch a cough.

Jack continues, “I don´t know where I was, or what any of this means! Then I… I can hear what people are thinkin’ all around me…invadin’ my mind, my thoughts. It’s crazy! Frickin’ crazy!” Jack looks around frantically as his leg starts shaking uncontrollably and he lets out a faint moan.

“Relax, Jack. Breathe in slowly… There you go. Let it out…Relax…One more time…Are you able to hear my thoughts right now?” Jack perceives Dr. Worskovey leaning forward in his chair with anticipation.

“Nooo! It’s not like that! It’s mostly when I’m outside, but not always. Sometimes, I can hear people everywhere. It’s overwhelming!” Tears well up in his eyes, and his head drops into his hands, “Oh my God.” He groans softly.

“Hmm…alright. Well, take another deep breath…relax… At present, I am more interested in what you remember of your experience in this inner world. Do you recall where it was you emerged from while in this…state?”

Jack lifts his head, tears welling up in his eyes. “What?!? What difference does that make? This is my reality right here, right now. How should I know what that dream meant? You’re the one with the degree! You should be tellin’ me!” Light suddenly floods a dark corner at the other end of what seems to be a long room lending a sudden sense of space to this interrogation.

“Please, Jack, what do you remember?”

““How many times…? LOOK at your notes!” …countless seconds of silence pass, “Fine… Just give me a minute.”

“Take your time, I will be right back.” The doctor’s silhouette is mystic as it flickers quickly off toward the light. He appears to speak to someone until suddenly, the door slams. From the other side, Jack hears a faint female voice, “oops, sorry.” The room floods back to black. The spotlight returns intensified. The theatrics of interrogation are harsh, though the doctor insists they’re beneficial. Yeah, maybe for Moth Man! Jack can’t think of what to say. Dr. Worskovey seems to know a lot more about the story than he does. He probably sat there and wrote it all down while I was out cold, recorded it or somethin’. Yeah, that’s it! They frickin’ recorded it. They were probably followin’ me for weeks. Jack remembers signing something about it when he got here or…

“How are we doing, Jack? Would you like a bit more time?” With the door abruptly shut, complete darkness returns except for the blinding sphere of light exposing Jack to scrutiny for truth. The doctor’s shape drifts into view again, morphing from the dark corner of the room. 

“My apologies for the interruption, please continue.”

“So, there was a vast open space…, a cold place. I was lyin’ curled up under a tree that was there, with nothin’ else for as far as the eye could see…it was empty, beautiful yet chaotic, an untamed desolate landscape.” Jack’s mind drifts across the barren memory of this other world. Traces of whatever the doctor gave him earlier are still affecting him.

After moments of near-silent scribbling, Dr. Worskovey looks up, “Alright, we can return to that later.” Dr. Worskovey tries his best to make Jack feel comfortable. “Now then, you mentioned a woman you loved in the other realm. Who were you referring to? Is that person no longer with you?” Dr. Worskovey ponders to himself, unaware of Jack’s acute cynicism:

He is experiencing the convergence of multiple realities intertwining with one another. Being able to distinguish them would be quite useful. Come on Jack, WHO is your true self? The doctor, realizing the irony and impossibility of a forthcoming answer, chuckles lightly under his breath.

“Hello?” Jack loses his patience and hits the table with his fist. “Doc! What are you goin’ on about? You wanna know what I think? Maybe all this isn’t such a good idea.”

“Please remain calm, Jack. I was merely asking about the woman you love. When you were within your dream, you mentioned a beloved. I might have even felt a presence in the room. I made a note of it.”

“Are you tryin’ to gaslight me? I swear to God…” Jack’s eyes squint in the faint glow trying to discern the doctor’s expression, “This conversation’s goin’ nowhere.”

“Jack, you’re not being very cooperative.” The sound of his voice is making Jack’s ears bleed, but the doctor remains cool and continues, “Tell me, who is this love, this other you dreamed of? Where do you remember her from?”

“What? No! Noo! I have no idea who that woman is; she’s not even real. I can’t figure this out, and you’re not helpin’ me at all!! These dreams…th-they’re more like incomplete memories that aren’t mine, and then this insomnia! It’s gonna be the end of me! I can’t give you any more answers!”

“I understand. Sometimes, our personal lives, the authentic reality, have a way of projecting in curious ways. I wonder, have you discussed any of this with Mary?”

“What are you talking about? Wait a minute! H-how do you know Mary? You say that like… like you know her.” He looks suspiciously towards the doctor with eyes ablaze.

“Well, according to your chart, we have her listed as your emergency contact, and she signed you in earlier.”

The room spins and Jack shuts his eyes to stop it. He reopens them. The bright light has been turned off, and the overhead lights are half-lit. Dr. Worskovey is fully visible now and seems quite different from Jack’s impression of him. “Would you like to answer the question, Jack?”

He blurts out, “What question? How did you do that with the lights?”

“I asked about the medication you take for your condition.”

“No, you didn’t.”

Dr. Worskovey glances at his intake sheet. “Perhaps you were not listening. Well, anyway, do you think it is working for you?” Dr. Worskovey begins tapping on the inner flap of his notebook and it seems to get louder and louder.

“I don´t know what’s going on here. I don´t understand anything!” What if the doctor is right… what if I am dealing with some weird personality disorder?  Like a projector streaming shards of shattered memories, he can’t comprehend. His mind rips through scenes from his life interjected with those of another life, some other world with unknown faces. Jack starts moving from side to side in his chair becoming increasingly agitated, and disoriented.

“We may attempt a different approach. Given the fact you will be with us for a while, would you like to hear wha…”

“Wh-what do you mean, I-I’m not going anywhere?” Panic swells and Jack hyperventilates. He knows he is not right. Jack grasps the sides of his chair white-knuckled, slightly rocking, “I just wanna go home.”

“Ah, but Jack, you have just arrived. We are in the middle of your initial interview. I believe your wife made a wise decision to bring you here. If I can be honest, you are in no condition to leave these facilities, just yet. This is a good place to stop for today. We can proceed tomorrow after you have had some much-needed rest. Breakfast is served at 7 AM. Ruby is the finest Nursebot we have and will be here to take over for me.”

Jack leans back in the cold unfeeling chair beyond confused, and exhausted, his thoughts but a mumble: What, …I just got here? But how’s that even possible? I´ve been here for days… His head drops into his right hand.

“Please relax and hold still. Then I will show you to your room.” Ruby is precise, methodical.

“I don’t wanna go to my room. I wanna go home.”

As Dr. Worskovey walks away, he looks over his shoulder, “I understand Jack, the cleansing takes time. Trust me, you will be fine. Ruby, level two, please.” She releases Jack’s arm and remains motionless for a nanosecond, resetting to the Doctor’s command.

Jack’s eyes widen, “Please, don’t hurt me.”

“Jack, I have already told you that I am incapable of causing you harm. Calm yourself and please relax, you will notice a marked improvement in your migraine.” Her hands glow pale blue and she holds them to Jack’s head infusing him with her calming energy. Jack’s shoulders slump, and after some minutes he opens his eyes. He is much calmer. “I really don’t know what you just did, but my headache’s gone.”

“Follow me please.” Ruby is so lifelike except her elegant mannerisms are more than human, a reminder of the separation from AI systems. Ruby leads him through the double doors at the other end. He trails behind staring blankly at the endless hallway of identical, unnumbered rooms that look more like prison cells.

“You are here.” Ruby sweeps her open palm toward his room with a slight bow

---