Day 2

I awaken to the sound of a new shipment of letters. After stretching, eating the stale food and warm water they left me, and checking on Amnesia to see if she's still alive, I collect my stack of letters and begin to read.

Dear _, we may have accidentally sent you a letter addressed to a certain Mr. Smiley. We want you to know that this mistake has been rectified and that your Happy Buddy really does like you and is your best friend purely because you are so friendly.

RISE AND SHINE SLEEPY HEAD! I HOPE YOU HAD A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP. I SURE DID! HOORAY!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA HOW ARE YOU DOING? I'M FEELING SOOOOOOOOO GREAT! YOU ARE MY BESTEST FRIENDLIEST HAPPY FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD! TO CELEBRATE THE OCCASION OF YOU GETTING UP, I HAVE SENT YOU A NEW GAME FOR YOUR PORTABLE ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCT!

Okay, so I'm not Mr. Smiley…my Happy-Buddy is. So…if that's the case…is everything he is telling me just so that he can get his daughters back? If so, how can I trust anything he says? If he truly is my friend, why would he only give me compliments and games after getting threatened? Or am I the selfish one by blaming him for just trying to get his daughters back? I don't know…

I hear a soft jingle coming from the Game Boy and turn it on. The menu now has two games, Serpent and a new game called Fear of Fire. I want to open it and try it out, but another letter slides in.

I have decided to head north, which is, as you know, my favorite cardinal direction to head. On the way, I passed by a very interesting river. A sign next to it said that the water changes the direction it is flowing in around this time of year. Fascinating, wouldn't you say, friend? I must stay here and witness the change occurring, my curiosity is just too tremendous to resist the temptation. As much as I enjoy vast landscapes and new locations to explore, sometimes in life one must appreciate the little things. –Sal

Wow! I always thought that rivers never change direction. When I get out, if I get out, I need to visit this river. Hell, I need to meet this Salvador fellow. See if he can help jog my memory. Eventually, another giant letter arrives. This one is in the trademark blue of my Happy-Buddy. For a brief moment, I considered just throwing it away, tossing it through the cell door and never reading any more of those loud, crazy letters. But then, if I did that, not only would I probably fall into a depression, but it would also permanently keep his daughters away from him forever. Grudgingly, I pick up the package and read the letter on the back.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I HAVE ANOTHER PRESENT FOR YOU! IT'S A POSTER TO REMIND YOU TO ALWAYS KEEP A SMILE ON YOUR FACE!

In a daze, I put the poster inside up without even looking at what was painted on. When I stepped back and examined what it was I made a permanent place on my wall, I nearly faint. In red and yellow splotches, a smiling face with eyes, eyebrows, nose, and mouth are plastered on a green and purple background. That wouldn't be so bad if not for two things: One, the mouth had teeth. Two, on the bottom left corner, there appears to be a fresh bloodstain spread across its surface. I try desperately to peel the poster off, but it wont budge. So not only am I alone, but now I have to sleep with this freaky thing staring at me. Great…

As the next letter appears, I notice right off the bat the difference. Instead of the stark brown, the bleached white, and the stress inducing blue, this one has a nice somber yellowish hue to it. Sealing the envelope closed is a red wax seal with a pastry of some kind imprinted onto it. Above this is a single, elegant name: "Charlotte". I break the seal and read the beautiful pink stationary inside.

Good day! I don't think you know me, but from what I've heard, it seems that you and I are the last people in the town who are still not infected with the virus. I am the owner of a pastry shop not far from where your cell is. But as I don't want to get infected, I cannot sell my pastries to anyone anymore. Except you. I would really appreciate it if you could come visit me sometime, and maybe have a cup of tea.

By the way, my name is Charlotte. Nice to meet you.

As I placed the envelope in the ever increasing pile, I reread the letter again. And again. And once more. I ignore the sound of a new letter arriving and just focus on that last sentence. "By the way, my name is Charlotte. Nice to meet you." I start to smile a little bit, although I don't know why. I guess just the thought that someone is out there that I can actually believe exists. As soon as I get out of here, I'm going to find her pastry shop and introduce myself.

Although I have no name I can recall.

I open the next letter in defeat.

My dearest companion, the river's change in direction was quite interesting to see. This is exactly what I love about my travels: you always get to see new and amazing things. –Salvador

Huh…so he actually did find a river that changes current. When I meet up with him, I'll have him bring me along.

Another sealed letter from Charlotte arrives. My heart quickens as I read its contents.

I'm very sorry if I came off as too eager in my last letter to you. Fact is, I haven't really had much contact with people anymore lately. Please forgive me if I made you feel uncomfortable Charlotte

Oh, how much I want to tell her it's alright.

And to come visit me.

And to get me out.

And to stay with me forever.

Whoa, that went to a dark place. I shake my head and start to wander a little bit. I'm getting restless now. All I've known for the past two days is this dark cell and the people who may not even exist writing phantom letters to me. A long time passes. No letters arrive. I eventually turn on my Game Boy and start playing the new game, Fear of Fire. It's actually a pretty fun game. You play as a little bug (I imagine it's Amnesia) who scuttles around a concrete floor with fireballs moving around trying to kill you. It's extremely addicting and, before I know it, I've beaten 8 levels before I hear the arrival of a new Happy-Buddy massage.

HELLO HELLO HELLO! I HOPE YOU'RE ENJOYING YOUR 2 GAMES. THEY WERE EXPENSIVE YOU KNOW HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA

Awww…now I feel bad for trashing Serpent. He spent all of that money for me and I repaid him by saying it was awful.

Another letter:

HAHAHHAHAH HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA Please don't be sad. I know it must be hard all alone in a prison cell but you must REMAIN HAPPY!

Please.

That's all that it says. The feeling of sadness starts to creep in. I know I must remain happy, but how can I with all of this depression constantly getting shoved into my hands. I'm about to give in when Amnesia flies over to where I've been sitting, looks up at me, and squeaks. I give a light laugh and start to pet her on her shiny black shell. I start to feel better in a way.

A white letter appears in the doorway.

It has come to our attention that your happy-Buddy has shown signs of not behaving in an excited and happy matter. If you wish to have your happy-buddy replaced, please just send us a letter and we will get rid of him.

Ha! That's a joke. Even if I wanted too, there is no way for me to write a letter out to you. Whoever you are.

A Happy-Buddy letter now.

HELLO HAHAHA HELLO I HEARD THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THEIR HAPPY-BUDDIES TO DOCTOR MONEY HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHA! YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM RIGHT? DO YOU? YOU WOULDN'T DO THAT TO ME WOULD YOU? HAHA! I'M SORRY I HAVENT GOTTEN YOU ANOTHER GAME YET. I JUST DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR IT AT THE MOMENT.

I'm so sorry.

So very sorry.

Oh my…I think he's broken. The strain of trying to keep me happy while also scraping together enough money to EAT, let alone a new game...He must be destroyed.

A brown envelope appears.

Friend, Is your bug friend keeping you company? Have you given her a name? You should. Do you remember how we used to sit by the fireside, carving chess pieces out of wood without a care in the world? That was a long time ago…

BOOM! I flash back to a dark night, long, long ago. A raggedy tent in the corner of a makeshift campground, the knight I'm holding in my hands…a young man sitting next to me, jagged hair, tweed jacket, thin pencil moustache, an elegant queen being shed of its grains.

Then, just as soon as it came, I'm back in the cell. Amnesia is on my chest confused. I seem to have fallen onto my back on the floor. I scootch Amnesia off of me and slowly sit up. In the mail slot, there is now a letter and a large rectangular package. I heft it and feel its weight. I open it and pull out a long, smooth rectangle of wood. Expertly crafted. I open the letter next.

My wood carving skills have gotten significantly worse, but I still tried to make you something to make you feel less lonely. It's the leg of a table I'm making for you! I know that might not be the most extravagant project, but I hope you like it anyways. –Salvador

I smile…and laugh. Laugh long and loud. Laugh so loud, I'm sure Charlotte can hear me. Thanks to Salvador's amazing gift, I got the first bit of my memory back. All thanks to a damn table leg.

Speaking of Charlotte, just as the sun starts to set, the final letter of the day slides in under the door.

It's a nice evening, isn't it?

I hope you have a nice sleep.

Charlotte

I gingerly fold the letter up, crawl onto my steel bed with Amnesia, and fall asleep with the pink swirled letter tucked in my arms.