Have you ever considered whether or not you're merely just another caged animal for a bigger beast to feed? Afterall, there's always bigger fish in the sea.

Everyday is the same. No one else notices, but every single day is the same. The very degree the sun rises, the very angle the sun sets; the mere seconds that pass between the hour and the events that happen within those seconds; it's the same. Every day. Everything always starts in the same way, same routine, You wake up, You eat, You work, You sleep. Of course, if chosen, there are some extracurricular activities one may indulge in, but it's the same every day. Once you adjust your routine, there's no going back. There's simply no regret, none at all.

I found myself there, at the table. I always find myself here after all, I open my eyes, and here I am. At this table, with two other faces. One claims to be my wife, I don't have a wife, do I? The other... It claims to be my daughter. I don't recall ever having a daughter. No- No of course I don't, how can I possibly–?

Someone's calling my name. I hear it faintly and distantly. Why are you calling for me again…? Every night it's the same. Ah, it's this dream again… Where am I trying to run to?

"Henry!"

I jolted awake, my eyes opening, a cold sweat running down my face as I observed my surroundings. That face looked at me riddled in concern and worry.

"Henry, what's going on with you lately? Are you alright? Do we need to call in the Doctor? It isn't that sickness acting up again is it?"

She asked all these questions in an anxious tone, clearly very concerned for my health. Although, it just gave me a headache so early in the morning. I suppose that's a wife's job, as your life long partner, to be concerned when there's abnormalities. Ah.. life long partner. It's been seven years since I met my wife, we've lived a very happy life together. We even have a daughter of our own, she's the sweetest.

That's right how could I even question it… I have a wife, and a daughter. I always have. That's why I dislike dreaming. I never did often, up until recently. Dreaming is unpredictable, your brain tries to play tricks on you, testing your sanity. It's an awfully cruel thing if you ask me. I just need to remember, that isn't real. This is. Of course, I want to believe that. Who wouldn't want to believe that? This life is perfect.

I shook my head and sighed, "I'm fine, really. Just another bad dream. Let's just eat breakfast, okay?"

She looked at me, with concern in her eyes still. Reluctantly she nodded, that nod quickly turned into a gasp as I fell out of the bed. How could I have forgotten something that impacted my life so much? I looked down to notice.. My lower left leg was missing. I felt a sense of panic creep up my spine. My wife rushed to my side to help me up.

"Hon, are you sure you're feeling well? Why didn't you ask me to grab your prosthetic?"

That's a good question. Why didn't I? I always did. Didn't I…?

"Sorry, I guess I'm still kind of asleep."

She gave me a weird look, I can't quite describe it. It was a mixture of disbelief and concern, but there was something else to it. Something that made me... anxious. Suddenly, her face contorted into a gentle smile. A mimicked smile of the typical warm smile she wore for her loving husband, for me.

"Oh, that's… understandable. It's just…"

She paused.

"Nevermind, let's help you up shall we? I think I'll call Dr. Theodore later, get a check up and all. You're running a fever, have you taken your medication at all lately? You aren't skipping it again are you?"

I stood silent. Of course I wasn't taking it. It didn't do anything anyway.

"Henry! You aren't … You aren't being serious are you? You know what Dr. Theodore said– if he catches you this time it might be the last straw. What if they take you to the Red Room? Please, I know you hate it. But for me, for you daughter. Please. Tell me you didn't stop taking them."

I could hear the desperation in her voice. But was she really asking me this because she cared about our family? We had a very typical family. We loved each other very much, never got into fights much, we went out and enjoyed ourselves, we ate meals together, we communicated well, we did everything every family should do. Despite that, I couldn't shake the awful feeling in my stomach.

"What do you expect me to say?"

She grabbed my hand pleading with me.

"I need to know you aren't going to get yourself taken away, is something a matter? Am I not doing enough for you? Do you really want to leave so badly? Dammit Henry I'll do extra, alright? Just please…"

I don't really understand why, but I felt angry. Maybe it wasn't right for me to raise my voice, but I did anyway. It gets frustrating, living the same life every day. It's draining. Especially when no one believes you. Afterall, to them it's all just a conspiracy.

"Damnit Sherry, you know that room isn't what they say it is. It's no 'rehabilitation' center, people don't come back outta there! Not the same. None of them are the damn same! They're empty hollow clones, whatever the fuck they are they aren't the same people we knew."

Rest assured, this is not a conspiracy. I know the truth. Regardless of who tries to silence me, regardless of what others say, I don't need the world to believe me. I know.

"Not this again… So what, one time you meet with that old nut case on Yellow Brick Edge and you believe in all this nonsense? What has gotten into you Henry! Why don't you just want us to be happy? We were given a free sanctuary, and dammit we don't even pay for electricity, water, we are given free food, free shelter, and all we need to do is follow a few rules. Is that really too much to ask? Do you really want to see this family torn down so badly? Why can't you just let this go."

She had a point. Why didn't I let it go? What evidence do I even have to prove my theories? Dr. Theodore and the other residents have been so generous to us. We're given everything we could ever want and more, but even so… I simply can't live like this anymore.

"I can't. I'm sorry, I just… I can't. What if I'm right? What then? What will it take for you to see what I see? I swear to god Sherry; David was onto something. Don't you find it a bit weird? When they took him to the Red room he came back changed. He just wasn't the same."

"Of course he changed, for the better! He caused such a ruckus with all his weird gear everywhere, disrupting peaceful moments just for his conspiracies. He came to his senses."

"No Sherry! That thing isn't David anymore! You… You didn't see it that day.."

"...Here we go. Really? You want to bring this up again? God Henry, please just drop it. For both our sakes."

The alarm started to go off, it was 7:00 am already. I sighed, adjusting my prosthetic. I simply ignored Sherry, and walked downstairs. My daughter tried to get my attention, I wish I would've said something to her.

"...We can talk whenever you're home, if you want to."

Sherry was standing behind me as I had my hand on the door knob. I was hesitant.

"Yeah. Sure."

I opened the door, and just like that I went to continue my routine. The same routine I had everyday.

Ah... there was this weird sensation of familiarity about this whole situation.