Thinking through everything more, I think I know what is going on. I may have brain damage, but I don’t think so. I could be dreaming, half awake, but still dreaming. I remember hearing about when you are waking up and your mind starts to become more aware, you could interact with and control your dreams. Looking around the room, I don’t believe that either, but it is making me feel better.

After a while, I can smell food cooking and hear what sounds like a commotion in a lunchroom. Reminds me of when it was time for lunch as a kid in school. There is a knock at my door and someone comes partially in. She does a quick scan of the room, sees me by the window, and starts to walk towards me. I have not met her before, but I know the face from the Doctor’s phone rock. It’s Lilly with someone trailing behind her.

“Hello, Doug?” she says. I am a little stunned for a second. Watching her walk-in was a little mesmerizing. A grace and class that is just not common to see. The one trailing behind snaps me back to myself as she comes around and stands beside Lilly. The family similarities are unmistakable, this is Lilly’s daughter or possibly a younger sister. “This is my Daughter Jenn,” Lilly explains. “She is the girl you saved and stood guard over”.

Jenn rolls her eyes a bit at the description ‘girl’. She is clearly happy and a bit bouncy, not able to stand still. Like when you would see a line of fans waiting for their favorite teen idol to pass by. Looking at her I can see now she is not a teen, but a young woman, possibly mid to early twenties. Being slightly petite and unable to stand still, it’s giving off the vibes of being a child.

“Hello, my name is Jenn” Holding out her hand for a handshake. As I shake her hand, she brings her other hand up and clasps my hand between both of hers. “I have been waiting to say thank you for helping me”. I now recognize her face as the one who was peeking in on me. “I have been asked to show you around ‘Community Farms’. We can get some lunch if you’re hungry. Then go outside for a bit”.

I smile “Alright, lead the way. I haven’t eaten yet today”

She turns and I start to follow Jenn out the door. Before I get a second step, Lilly has my arm and is gently snapping a blue name tag on me. “This is your temporary ID Doug.” she says “Most people wear it around their neck or on their wrist so it can be seen.”

Jenn has my other hand now and gives a gentle pull towards the door. I see her eyes flash at her mother and her smile is forced when I look at her. I follow her out the door and a short way down the hall.

“Jenn, remember lunch is extended an extra hour today” her mother lightly calls. And I feel her grip tighten. I know without seeing her face that she doesn’t like being treated like a child or that she doesn’t know. I think that fits with her stature. She is not short, almost as tall as I am. If you didn’t notice the maturity of her form or if she was wearing some baggy clothes, I could see her being mistaken for a young teen.

We pass a front desk with a family checking or signing in. I notice a white ID in the man’s hand as he is handing it to the clerk. There is a boy with a blue ID tag hanging from his neck.

We turn into a larger room that I see as the lunchroom. Few picnic-like tables along one wall, round tables through the rest of the room. Maybe twelve to fifteen tables in total. A cafeteria-style food station with a small staff along another wall. Jenn takes me through the process of getting something to eat, mostly a variety of vegetables and water to drink.

As we are eating, I’m looking around the room, noticing the people and some families. There are a few older people scattered about, mostly to themselves. Brownish ID’s on their necks. One old guy has a shiny silver ID. The families don’t seem to all have IDs showing, but I do spot blue IDs intermittently.

We finish eating, leave our plates, and head outside through some partially glass double doors. Jenn has been talking to me for most of the time. She has been explaining that this establishment is called the ‘Community Farms’. Her father is the doctor on call here and together with her mom they run the place and try to help others as they can.

Once outside, I can see some animals scattered about. Maybe a small lake or water farther back. Playground, obstacle courses, archery targets, it looks more like a health club and recreational training camp for the whole family. People and families are scattered about enjoying the day. We start towards one of the hiking trails and I hear Jenn’s mom calling her again. “Mom needs me for a bit. Here you are safe and all the trails circle back to the main house. Explore and see what there is to see.” She smiles, turns, and does a quick jog back to where we came from.

Looking around I decided to head in the direction we were first going. It is a cool spring day, partially cloudy, sun high, still in the afternoon.

After a few minutes of walking, I start into a light jog. Muscles are stiff, but it feels good to move. Topping a small rise, I can see that this trail winds around and up by the archery targets. I pick up some speed running down the back side of the rise and keep up the pace as it flattens out. I control my breathing and feel how good it is to run. As I continue to run, I feel another surge, my second wind kicking in. Now I feel like I’m flying, it’s exhilarating, and I stop. “This isn’t right.” I say to myself. Looking back down the trail I see how far I have come.

When I was young, before I was old enough to legally drink, I used to skate, quads to be exact. Roller Derby, not in-line or ice skates. I wasn’t on any speed teams, but I was just running as fast or faster than I could skate, I know it. I also know that I can’t run halfway around the block. I would be sweating, breathing hard, weak. Two flights of stairs and I would feel it. I also know I felt a change, twice. I was stiff, I felt better, then I was flying. And right now, I’m not breathing hard.

Dreaming? Brain-damaged? I ponder the questions again. It feels too real for a dream. I’ve watched news specials where people born with disorders or injured have become autistic or other issues including strength. “More like my perception has been affected” Talking to myself, feeling a bit depressed now. Evidence for brain damage now a more realistic probably.

I continue a slow walk down the path.