There’s nothing worse than being reminded of all the bad things you’ve done in life. You do every thing in your power to push and close off all of those bad thoughts but they sit there in the back of your mind simmering, waiting for the perfect moment to boil up and ruin you. Honesty is the only way to face them, at least that’s what Illinois believes. They’ve taken it upon themselves to be the epicenter of human growth, a place where those who are hurt or have hurt can repair themselves through a personalized healthcare regimen. All of Illinois was engineered to help everyone, whether you were sent here or just passing through. The only way out of Illinois is to conquer whatever it was that got you sent here and for me it’s the past. I’m alone in a room with a single chair and table. The room is square with no doors or windows and a single screen is hanging from the ceiling. On the screen are events being played out in sequential order, my life. What am I supposed to do, I already know all of these things happened and that I was the cause and that not all of them were good. Am I supposed to feel sorry for my actions? A green check mark flashes on the screen. I suppose that means I’m heading in the right direction. Now the screen is replaying only a few of the previous events: the first time I met Mare, a moment from the juice shop, the first child I ever--- No. I know where this is heading. They want me to apologize for something I won’t apologize for. I did what had to be done and I accept that it may not have been the best answer but it was mine and I will not apologize for that. The screen flashes a red X. They don’t like my answer, but their opinions do not matter. I’m done with Illinois.
Mare starts the car up when she sees me walking towards her, “What took you so long?” “I wanted to see if Illinois was all it was cracked up to be.” Mare looks at the long winding road ahead while I get in, “Was it?” There is nothing but the road and the dark sky above us, we are no longer in Illinois. “No.”
