The World of Myth Magazine

Helen led me down a corridor. Once we reached the door at the end, she told me to go inside and get what I needed; after all, I wouldn't be released into the public dressed in a convict's jumpsuit. So, I opened the door and walked inside. As I went in, I saw row upon row of clothes. It reminded me of the clothing supply store back in Palace City, but for one exception, it resembled a high-class department store where the one back in Nevada had a thrift store appearance.

Helen explained that I would be allowed one shirt, a pair of pants, socks, and shoes without being charged against my credit. I took my time as I picked what I wanted. After all, it was free, so I wanted to get the best.

Sometime later, Helen told me to finish; we needed to be going. There were still a few things we needed to finish before I could receive my citizenship of Haven.

Eventually, I was released and allowed to leave the Babylon Tower as a free man! As I stepped outside, and I was welcomed by the comforting warmth of the sun. I stood in the direct sunlight for a while, and I took in all that was happening around me. It had been fifteen long years since I had seen a busy street or, for that matter, the sight of people in general. I watched as they traveled up and down the crowded sidewalk. It was as if the world had rewound time to the days before the Sickness.

Overwhelmed by emotion, I fell to my knees and began to weep with joy, realizing that our journey had finally come to an end. With all the deaths, pain, and grief, it all became justified at that moment. Eventually, I gathered my composure and wiped away the tears. A small group of people had formed around me, and I apologized for making a scene and quickly made my way down the sidewalk.

As I came to an intersection, I saw a taxicab pulling to the curb ahead. Quickly I crossed the street and made my way to it. Once inside, I handed the driver a small piece of paper that Helen had given to me earlier, with the address to where I am supposed to live.

A short time later, we came to a small urban neighborhood. The way it was designed reminded me of something from the nineteen fifties. Each house was placed in the center of a squared grassy lot. Trees were in front and met where the sidewalk began. It was quite cozy and comforting.

As we continued down a road, I thought I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I told the driver to stop but keep the motor running. I got out of the cab and began to walk down the road we had just driven up. I came to a moving van it was parked in front of one of the houses. I walked around to the other side of the vehicle, and my heart dropped at what I saw.

It was my son Michael and Francine! I ran up to the fence that bordered the front yard and called out to my boy. He stopped dead in his tracks at the sound of my voice. Slowly he turned around to face me without regard to what was in his hand. Mike dropped everything and ran over to where I stood.

My son gave me a tight hug.

Mike was stunned to see me and asked how long I had been out? The last anyone had heard was that I was still in the hospital. I explained everything that happened. Michael had an odd look when I explained that after I was strong enough to be out of the hospital, some angry dudes took me to meet the administrator.

Eventually, he asked if I had spoken with his mom? I nodded in reply and told him that she was the one who released me. About that time, Fran walked up and greeted me with a hug. Both invited me inside their home, but I declined. I told them that I needed to find my place first.

Plus, I had the taxi waiting with the meter running. It felt so odd to say those words after all this time. Michael nodded and asked where mom placed me but had no clue as to where it was. The only thing I had was an address that his mom gave him.

Michael took the paper from me and stared at it for a moment. Then, finally, he said it was only five or six houses down from where we were now. He had asked me to follow him as to a modest two-story house. It was challenging to wrap my mind around the fact that a house (a nice one at that) was simply just given to me. Michael opened the front gate that led into the front yard and gestured for me to go in first.

As I walked up the driveway, I looked over the front yard. The first thing I noticed was the freshly cut grass. It was the first time I had seen anything green in many years, as I had lived in the desert for so long.

As we went inside, a comforting scent was the thing I caught right away. It was the smell of fresh paint accompanied along with new appliances. I asked my son and Fran, had this house been remodeled or was it brand new? Fran was the one to explain that all the houses were constructed for new citizens. The house was built for someone else, but the administrator reassigned it to me instead.

The three of us continued to look around a while longer before I thought about my sister Rose. I stopped in mid-step and asked my son if he knew her whereabouts. He told me that she got a job in the Babylon Towers as the director of Media Restoration. She spends most of her time there trying to bring back a version of Hollywood. I was surprised that Helen would assign Rose to the Tower as a director. But then again, if anyone could get the job done, it would be her.

For a moment, I felt somewhat lost about everything that was happening. After all, it was only fourteen hours earlier that I was in some sort of hospital on a ventilator.

Thinking about jobs, I asked Michael what was he assigned to? He explained that his mom made him a member of Computer Programming and Development. I had to laugh. I always knew back when he was a little boy he would work in that field.

Mike was a little computer nerd and was so sad the day we lost electricity in our town. Thankfully though, he was just as passionate about reading. But Michael had always talked about what he would do when the day came where he could work on a computer again.

Fran said that she was one of the researchers for the Cure and heard that I had agreed to work with her to find it. Also, that some compound affixed to my "White Blood Cells" was the target key that caused the adverse effect of the Sickness, and everyone at the lab was excited to research the compound.

I thought that I wished that I could join in with their excitement, but I was the lab rat. After a few moments of Fran's deep thoughts on the subject, I decided to change the topic altogether. I asked them about their relationship, which caught them off guard by the expression on each of their faces.

Michael sat forward and placed his hands on his knees; I knew my son was about to drop something heavy from his body language. I guess some things never change. When he was younger, and he was made to tell me something he much rather keep to himself, Mike would take that same pose.

Mike started with how I had been in the hospital for almost four months, and many things had happened during that time. I realized he was going to tell me something serious as the color drained from his face. I didn't want the poor kid to suffer more than he had to, so I asked him point-blank to come out and say what he had to say.

There was a brief pause as Michael looked over at Fran before he turned to face me. He said that they sincerely loved each other and decided they were going to get married. Again, there was a short pause as they waited for my reaction, which was one of any father. Then, finally, I stood up and hugged my boy and congratulated them.

Both of them quickly smiled at my response. Then, I asked when the wedding was, and Michael answered that it was next week. I couldn't believe it. My boy was getting married!

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