I stood up and walked towards the computer table. Within next two minutes, I opened all the drawers one after another. I was looking for something that would prove me that I was Henry Eckhart. I was looking for an identity card or something. But I found nothing.

As I stood straight and moved away from the computer table, I commented:

Something does not seem right. Where is my identity card?

I then sat on a sofa nearby and wondered:

Are these people trustworthy? Should I rely on them?

I was getting these thoughts, that I should not quite easily trust these people. They might be lying all along.

I stood up and immediately left the room.

Next minute, I was standing inside the kitchen. I opened the fridge to have some water. I was thirsty since last three hours but all this anxiety and stress made me forget it.

While I was drinking water, I wondered in my thoughts:

Who are these three people? I have no idea of course. They might be good people, simply trying to do something nice. They might be bad people, using me and taking wrong advantage of my psychological disease.

It is not easy to find a way out.

As my agitation rose, I left the kitchen and went to find my identity card again. Anything could be enough for me, even a university’s card. But this mystery could not be solved alone.

As I got exhausted and stopped searching, I felt quite a lot of sweat on my forehead. There was also a minor headache over me.

I think you should rest. I convinced myself. Or else matters might get worse.

I slowly walked towards my bed and while I was walking I instructed myself:

As you meet Luke and the girls sometime soon, you have to ask them about your identity card. Ask them to prove your identity.

Next day’s evening, I was seated with these three members at some café. This café was somewhere near my house’ building. The girls were having some ice cream shake. Luke was having a cappuccino. He asked me:

“Why aren’t you having something? We all are enjoying here”

“No” Ellison spoke, “the doctors said he is not allowed to have this stuff”

“Oh come one, he can have something, can’t he?”

“Let’s just follow the instructions of doctors” Linda added.

“Ok” he answered and then turned towards me. “So Henry, how have you been doing?”

“I am fine. But I have some questions. In fact many questions”

“Look…Everything will be answered. Everything will be cleared with passage of time”

“Let him speak” Ellison spoke.

“I’m just saying” Luke spoke, “let’s just enjoy right now. Let’s make him comfortable for the moment. These issues, all these conflicts that are occurring in his mind, require some quality time”

“Luke stop please, let him talk”

The three of them looked at me. Although I was getting embarrassed but I spoke:

“I was inside my house. I spent an entire day. I couldn’t recall anything”

“Ok” Ellison spoke trying to appear cooperative.

“I am just wondering why isn’t anything ringing a bell. I mean shouldn’t it? Shouldn’t I recall past and events of my life, one after another?”

“Look we can help you” Linda spoke. “We will help you with everything. If we ask you to stay calm and patient, would that be difficult for you?”

“Yes”

“Ok” she nodded as if she understood emphatically.

“Henry” Luke spoke, “all that we’re trying to do is help you. I’m sure you understand that. We just want you to stay away from distress and trouble”

“My mind is already troubled. You can’t make it worse” I chuckled.

“Ok just for start” Linda spoke, “what is really bothering you? What is this one question that you really want answered?”

The three of them were looking at me as if they were keen to know what I was about to ask. I spoke clearly:

“I cannot find my identity card. I want to see my identity in a written form”

Ellison seemed kind of stunned. I looked at her and asked with a smile:

“What is it?”

“I’m just surprised as to how you know about the concept of having an identity card”

I laughed a bit courteously.

“Can you read?” Luke asked trying not to appear disrespectful.

“Yes I can”

“Wow I’m impressed”

The three of them were now talking to each other as if they were fascinated.

Are they trying to escape my demand? I wondered.

“So where is my identity card?” I raised my voice bringing them back to the topic.

The three of them looked at me again. Luke replied:

“Well we all are glad that you can read”

“Thank you” I sensed that they were deliberately diverting away from the topic.

“It means you will recover soon” Linda added.

“Ok” I spoke firmly now, “can we talk about my identity card now?”

Luke spoke instantly in one flow:

“We don’t know about your identity card. It must be at your house”

His body language proved that he was confused. I looked at the girls, they were quite the same. They were avoiding eye contact.

“Well I’m sure it is not there” I spoke regarding my identity card.

Now while I was waiting for them to respond, I felt that the three of them were silent and were not even talking.

“Why does it seem that you all are…”

“…Its not at your home?” Luke asked interrupting me as if trying to minimize the awkwardness. “It should be there”

“Well I have checked it everywhere. I couldn’t find it”

“Do you know what color it is?” Ellison asked testing my memory.

I got to tell you. I was confused there. I had no answer for that. I gave myself a time to think and then vaguely spoke:

“I think somewhat white and golden”

“Look Henry” Luke spoke, “you don’t have to worry about it. It is not quite necessary to own it”

That moment I said to myself:

They all are making stupid excuses. No one even suggested that it might have been lost in the hospital; or in the accident. They are obviously lying.

“Henry” Linda spoke, “Luke is right. It is not quite necessary to own an identity card. You are not breaking law or anything. I mean the cops won’t get you in any trouble. That’s for sure”

Ellison nodded after her.

“Ok…” I spoke getting an idea, “so can you guys tell me where it might be, where I can find it. I mean apart from my apartment”

“Ask the guy who is downstairs” Luke answered. “The one who keeps knowledge about lost and found stuff”

“Ok, I’ll try”

We had a little more puzzling conversation and then they dropped me home.

Somewhere around midnight, I woke up from my sleep. The first thought that landed on my mind was my recent conversation with these three friends.

I am more than damn sure. I am one hundred percent confident that something is not right. It appears suspicious but in reality it can be a lot more complicated.

Why they are doing this to me? I don’t know for sure. But yes, they are lying and if I waste my time thinking what they are up to, then I might lose whatever I already have.

I stood up and left for the kitchen. I wanted to make some tea but I didn’t know if I could or could not. The only way to test this was to try it. This could be fun.

All the while I was making tea, I was having a conversation in my mind:

These three youngsters, they appear very sweet and innocent. But something seems fishy as well. Why would they behave so confused and uncomfortable when asked about my identity card? They had plenty of reasonable excuses but they couldn’t mention any.

I finally made tea with the help of tea bags. To my surprise, it turned out to be very easy and simple. Thank God, this skill was not uninstalled from my mind.

I don’t know if everything that I am being told is true or not. The accident, the memory loss; I don’t know how much their words are trust worthy. Whatever that I am seeing with my own eyes might be true. But wherever there is suspicion, I have to stay alert and keep my eyes vigilante.

Few Days Later

My three friends and I were headed towards our university’s campus. This time I wasn’t expecting the recovery of my lost memory but I was hoping to find my identity in a written form.

What happened inside the campus was somewhat expected from these people and yet surprising. I asked Linda and Ellison.

“Can you two please tell me where I can confirm my identity here?”

Linda was quite shocked and confused. Ellison however cleverly spoke:

“Actually we are getting late for our class. We’ll meet after three hours. Ok?”

The two of them left as if escaped away from me.

Luke immediately held me from my shoulder and pulled me towards another direction.

“Listen to me Henry” he said to me, “you and I are headed towards another class. Actually you are not a part of that session, but I am therefore you can just sit by”

That moment someone came and greeted Luke. Luke shook hands with him and said:

“So what’s up?”

That moment I got an idea of confirming my identity from this guy. As I thought of and actually considered doing it, this other fellow shook hands with me.

“Do you know who I am? Can you please mention my name?” I asked him.

Luke pushed me instantly and spoke in my ear:

“Come on don’t do this now. Let’s go and attend our session”

I was quite shaken on his behavior which was why I moved away from him and said:

“Ok please, I think I should leave”

I turned and walked towards the exit. He asked me while I was walking away:

“Where are you going?”

I stopped and said to him:

“I’m sorry Luke, but I don’t trust you people”

I stopped and said to Luke:

“I’m sorry Luke, but I don’t trust you people”

“What are you talking about?”

I turned and looked at him:

“You people have been quite supportive. But at the same time you all are very suspicious”

Luke instead of answering, turned his eyes aside and gave rise to my suspicion.