If they had come to Earth to study creatures native to the planet, then there was probably a dolphin or some other ocean-dwelling creature in that tank. I wondered what kind of twisted experiments they’ve performed on the poor fish.

I floated there while time passed. I don’t know how much. It could’ve been hours, weeks or days for all I knew. I was unable to move, sleep or eat while floating in this cylinder. I can’t even guess at how they keep me alive. Still, they’re madly consistent about running the wall screen, which continues to endlessly re-playing the crimes of my life.

Eventually, the light in the room grows brighter. I assume the illumination is for my benefit. I glance over in the corner and peer inside the aquarium. For the first time, I realize what’s in it.

It’s me. That is to say it’s an exact duplicate of my body. The aliens cloned me and have grown another body in that tank. What reason could they have for…?

Earlier I thought I was being punished for my crimes. But I was wrong. Instead, the aliens intend to give me a second chance at my life. They probably have some advanced technology that will transfer my brain patterns from this old body into the new one.

My attitude changed immediately. I began thinking about how my life will be different when they return me in my new body. There are so many things I’ll change.

The first thing I’ll do when I get back is divorce that nagging excuse for a. Then, I’ll find me some rich, old gal with more money than brains. I’ll have a good life for a change, drink to my heart’s content and never lift a finger again. I could hardly wait…

Wait a minute; there’s movement over there. My clone is moving around. Maybe that means he’s ready for the brain pattern transfer.

I watch as the aliens help my clone out of the tank and onto an examination chair. They place a thin, metallic helmet over his head, and lights start blinking on the chair. My clone’s eyes are shut, but his eyes move rapidly as if in a deep dream of some kind. Maybe, they’re preparing his brain in a similar fashion that a hard drive is formatted before use.

During the time that passed, I watched the aliens perform on my double. As he slept with the helmet, they gave him several injections and clothed his body. It was identical to the outfit I’d worn on the day of the accident.

When the aliens finally removed the helmet from my clone’s head, he opened his eyes for the first time and stepped across the room experimentally. It was like looking in the mirror except he was in better shape than I’d ever been. His face nearly glowed with a radiance of health, and his eyes burned with fierce intelligence.

When he looked at me, his gaze burned with something else as well.

Anger.

The aliens silently led him out of the room. At that point, my wall screen returned to life. It followed the aliens as they led my clone off the ship. I watched as they returned him to the place they abducted me. Wait, why wasn’t there any signs of my accident? Where was my…?

They loaded him into a truck that matched my old one perfectly – prior to the crash. It was an exact match, right down to the minor dents and scratches. They didn’t just clone me, they cloned my truck as well. It was as though neither of us had never been in an accident.

He drove away, and the aliens returned to the ship. I felt vibrations and heard rhythmic humming from the alien craft. I was certain the ship was in motion.

The wall screen showed my clone traveling home to receive a warm welcome. My wife sobbed with tears of joy as the clone apologized for the years of her mistreatment. He swore he’d never touch liquor again as long as he lived. He said that he loved her and that he would do whatever it took to make her happy again.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing or hearing. That was supposed to be my body. I was the one who was supposed to get a second chance. This wasn’t fair. What would happen to me?

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