Chasing Time

Joseph’s POV (throwback) “Gotcha” she said while giggling… teasing me and hugging me from behind. I just smile back knowing it is the woman I love….. I still remember her habits. She loves to startle me while hugging me from behind and tickles my belly coz I used to be a chubby kid with a big tummy haha. She always done that since we were kids ‘til we grew up. Those memories made me smile but hurts me at the same time. A tear fall from my eye. I have to hold my tears. . . . “Knock knock” ….. someone’s knocking. I wiped the tear on my cheek and composed myself. “Come in.” I answered back. A guy in his mid-30’s and is wearing a suit entered the room. “Good morning, Mr. Collins. I am Patrick Davis and I will be your personal tutor and assistant.” He said. “It is nice meeting you, Mr. Davis. Please have a seat.” I replied while pointing the chair across my table. “We are going to start our learning sessions tomorrow, Sir.” He explained. “Okay.” I said. “By the way, we already prepared a breakfast for you. Would you like us to bring it here?” He continued. “No, I’ll just eat there, thank you.” I don’t want to eat here alone. It’ll just remind me that I’m all alone now. “Okay Sir. Your breakfast will be waiting for you in the dinning table.” He said. I just nod my head as a reply. . . . . . It’s been 6 months since I woke up from a 300-year preservation and I just got released from that institute yesterday. They let me stayed for 6 months to conduct a lot of tests, treatments and physical and mental trainings. Yes, I was preserved. I was preserved in a Cryonic Institute. A private preserving institute here in Michigan where only wealthy families can afford to pour their money just to preserve their deceased relatives hoping that one day science might heal their physical bodies and wake them up. In my case, I was diagnosed with a severe illness in the early 1700’s. The doctors and even my father who was a well-known physician couldn’t even identify what kind of illness that struck me. We did all we can to cure me but I was only getting weaker and weaker. When I was in the brick of death, my parents decided something they thought would be best for my future. They apparently preserved me to continue my life someday but I cursed the day I woke up. Who would want to wake up one day knowing you are all alone? The people you used to be with are not here anymore. And you are in a different world. The Institute considered me lucky because I am one of their projects that succeeded. Yes, few of those preserved people like me, unfortunately died and some of them are still preserve. This kind of thing is stupid for me. I’m all alone in a different world now. My parents, friends, Amelia and my world are gone. My life has been done along time ago, it should’ve been done….. . . . . I’m in the study room with Patrick and he is teaching me about computer and how it works. “So, this is a computer. It is an electronic machine that can store and work with large amount of informations.” Patrick explained. It’s been a week now since I got here in this mansion. And Patrick is so patient in teaching me with a lot of things. He gave me a phone and taught me how to use one. “Example, instead of just using a pen and paper like you usually used before, computer can do that instead.” That is fantastic. Dad should have one back then coz he has a lot of things written in his leather notebooks about our business and his patients. Those notebooks were so important to him that he even locked them on a box. I wonder when was computer being invented. “Charles Babbage, an English mechanical engineer and polymath, invented the first mechanical computer in the early 19th century.” He continued. Ohhh, that’s why. It was born in 19th century. If I didn’t die and continue to live until my old age, I still wouldn’t be able to meet the first ever computer. I looked outside the window while Patrick is busy talking while his eyes are on the computer…. “This is the monitor, it is where you can see and edit some informations. If you want to see a picture or watch a movie, you can see it right here.” He is still continuing discussing stuffs about the computer. If I didn’t get sick, I should have probably marry Amelia and built our own family. We might as well have 5 kids coz I remember she always wanted to have a big family haha. That thought made me smile. “Let me show you an example. Hold on… ..” Patrick said while poking on the thing with letters. I then heard a sound playing but I didn’t mind it at all. “Isn’t it cool?…….” He asked, looking at me. “Joseph? Are you listening?” I then get back to my sense. “Yeah, yeah, just continue.” I replied. “Okay. Just watch some of these videos about the computer and how it works first. This might enlighten you to listen and use the computer later.” He said smiling then play a video. What I’m watching right now is amazing. I remember how Amy was very interested in a lot of things. I used to call her Tiny Amy when we were kids coz she was smaller than me. How I wish she got to see these things…. But how I wish I didn’t get to meet this computer world………