New Orbit Magazine: Issue 04, October 2018

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Arnie took a deep breath and kept his eyes
closed. The room smelled different.
Instead of the familiar odor of antiseptics,
he smelled flowers with a faint hint of ozone
as if an afternoon rain shower had recently
passed. When he opened his eyes, he was in
a white room with soft lighting and a large
window. He heard birds singing outside.
Had he died? His oldest son had lean over
his hospital bed and hurriedly attached
wires to Arnie’s head. His other two
children had stood in the background.
“Mr. Greensway?” A soft voice came from
everywhere. “Please remain where you are.
A counselor is on his way.”
Where did they expect him to go? He’d
been bedridden for years. But, for the first
time in a long time, he didn’t hurt
anywhere. Had they done something to him
to numb his disintegrating nerves?
“Mr. Greensway?” A young man entered
the room. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you
awoke. It’s been so long since you had your
last happy first day, we weren’t prepared.
We want you to be as comfortable as
possible during your time here.”
The androgynous young man, hairless and
dressed in a white tunic and pants, seemed
part of the room.
“Where am I?” Arnie asked. He gestured
at the large elliptical window. It wasn’t a
window at all, but a large doorway leading
to an outside balcony. This was unlike any
hospital he’d ever seen.
The young man smiled. “You’re in the
Atrium. It’s a place where returnees adjust
to their new lives. I’m Jazon. I’m here to
help you.”
“Tell it to me straight, Jazon. Am I dead?”