The XY Project

Code 004: Axollyn

     There shouldn't be so many potholes. Most of them are small, but still annoying. The ground taxi bumps again. I think that was a big one this time. An air taxi would've been better. If it wasn't so damn expensive. Too much money, those air taxis. Too much. And what for? Air vehicles got no wheels. They hover beside buildings and still have to mind traffic regulations. Unless a teenager is driving it. Crazy kids Fly-Racing.

     I arrived at the cemetery. Pay the driver and make my way through the tombstones. It's been a while. A long while. Mother's hiding in here somewhere. I just gotta keep looking. Searching. The bouquet of flowers feels heavier now. I don't like it. That feeling. It's unnatural, yet it happens every visit. I pick at some petals, hoping to make it lighter. It's still heavy. I find my way closer to her, but she already has company. Which is odd. I'm the only company she's got. The woman has on a red coat. Some sunglasses too, from the looks of it.

     She's probably confusing her with someone else. Poor thing. Must've been recent. I'll wait at a distance. Don't want to disturb her. Probably was hard enough for her to make it here already. I know it was when it was my first time. God, it seems so long ago. I was about twenty-four years old. Or was it twenty-five? Anyways, I was a young bastard. Feistier, nastier, and sadder. Much sadder. My first visit after her death wrecked my soul. I sat by her and cried for hours. After that passed, I stayed to talk with her. Eventually, I had to be escorted out, but I managed. The only amusing part was how angry I was with Meredith when I returned to my hotel. I purposefully stayed out in the rain and got sick before heading back home. She was furious, and I loved it. Out of spite, I continued this childish tantrum until she tried acting decent enough for me to not care anymore. I guess one could say I've matured. Hardly. I still like to get on Meredith's nerves now and then.

     The woman in red reaches into her coat pocket and takes out a small box. She places it on the grave and walks away. Once she's out of sight I walk over. There she is. In all her glory. "Heaven treating you well, Mom?" I ask her, placing the flowers down. I place my thumb on the fingerprint scanner by the tombstone. The screen on the tombstone reads: AXOLLYN (Son). The holo-monitor activates and projects mother's hologram. The video begins to play.

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     "Excuse me," a young voice calls out, sort of had a crack to it, "Don't mean to bother you sir, just that it's about time to close." I turn to see a teenage boy hidden within the dark shadows. The only reason I can somewhat see him is by the light shining off the moon. His work uniform looks a bit baggy on him. Guess they didn't have his size, "Didn't realize how late it got," I inform, picking myself off the dirt. "I saw you here since I started my shift," he adds on, sounding slightly dumbfounded.

     I've had this recent pattern, for whenever I come here to visit my mother, after watching her hologram recording, I'll sit and talk to her. Not verbally, of course. Just in my mind. It felt similar to meditation or praying. Just, instead of talking to myself or God, I'd be talking to my mother. My assumption would be that I ended up talking to her longer than I had anticipated.

     Only now did I notice the emptiness in my stomach. "Didn't mean to overstay my welcome. Time really flies when you're having fun," I chuckle. The boy smiled. A warm, genuine smile. "We open at nine o'clock tomorrow morning, so don't hesitate to come back," the boy beams with enthusiasm. I laugh at his radiant response, "You're a good kid. I'm not sure why you work at a place like this, but keep up that upbeat attitude of yours." Still wearing that smile he eagerly nods. I wave goodbye and start heading towards the exit.

     It's these little things I miss about the outside world. Not that I never go out. I just don't have as much freedom, with Meredith chaperoning me everywhere. Now, it wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for my back. My damn, hunched back. I'm fine now because of the bone renewal cream, but it's only for when I'm traveling. Otherwise, Meredith keeps it from me.

     Getting the cream itself wasn't the issue. Especially when all you had to do was get a prescription from a doctor to receive it. No, the problem was only Meredith. It always is. She hides it in places I cannot reach and with the whole chaperone thing going on, there's no way I can visit a doctor on my own. Yes, I have hours within a day when Meredith isn't around, like when she's off fucking some unlucky bastard. The thing about my back is how slow I am when walking, not to mention the amount of pain it brings me to move around. So, going by myself isn't really an option. I always end up just staying at home for the majority of the time.

     "Sir!" The boy yells from afar. I turned around to see him chasing after me, "You almost forgot this." He places a small object on the palm of my left hand. My eyes try to adjust to my dark surroundings and I finally realize what he's given me. It's the box the woman in the red coat left earlier. "Sorry, but this isn't-" I start to say, until I notice the boy is already halfway across the graveyard. I guess I'll just have to return it to her when I visit again tomorrow. I shove the box into my pocket and head to the nearest diner.