Keys to a Better Future

Neo was spaced out the next day, only truly waking up when he arrived at his philosophy class. The professor’s topic had caught his attention.

He spoke about how our "self" is formed—how all our memories make us who we are. Without our memories, we are nothing, just a shell of what we once were.

Experiences and memories shape our personalities, values, and beliefs. This happens because memories are like records of past events that contribute to our development as individuals. We become who we are largely due to our experiences and how we interpret and process them.

During the break, Neo sat alone on one of the benches in the courtyard.

“Hey! Are you okay?” Saya asked, sitting next to him.

“Huh? Yeah, why?” Neo replied, forcing a smile.

“Are you sure?”

Neo sighed. “There’s no point in hiding it from you when you already know.”

Saya smiled.

Neo brought his hand to his mouth, lightly biting his finger as he organized his thoughts. Then, he moved his hand away and stared at his palm. “If I got my memories back, would I become someone else?”

“According to what the professor said, yes.”

“And would that be a good thing?”

“I don’t know, but look on the bright side—we’ve never talked this much before. So, in a way, it’s been good. And your current memories won’t disappear when you recover your old ones.”

Even so, Neo seemed a bit down after the conversation. Saya pulled two cupcakes from her bag.

“How about we eat to cheer up?”

Neo felt embarrassed and flustered.

“Thanks, Saya,” he said, taking one of the cupcakes.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the break, and the two headed to the gym for PE class. However, a boy stopped Neo—it was the class representative, Richard.

“Not you,” he said, his face showing no sign of friendliness. “I was asked to call you to the infirmary.”

“It seems like Richard doesn’t like me much. Makes me want to refuse, but just thinking about the hassle, it’s better to go.”

Katherine was busy looking at some papers when Neo knocked on the door before entering.

“You called me?”

She turned to look at him.

“Yes, I’m just finishing a few things. Could you sit in your chair?”

It didn’t take long for her to finish and start examining him. She began by measuring his vital signs, then checked his head for wounds or swelling. Finally, she carefully examined his eyes for any apparent abnormalities.

“So, how are you feeling?” Asked Katherine.

“I’m fine.”

Katherine sighed suspiciously. She noticed something that clearly indicated Neo was lying.

“No more fainting spells?”

“No.”

She smiled.

“I’m glad my advice worked.”

She wrote a few notes on his file, then looked at him directly, challenging him.

“Are you sure everything’s okay? You don’t feel weak or anything?”

Neo started to feel unsure.

“Maybe a little.”

She sighed in frustration. “Maybe, huh?” She rested her hand on her chin, thinking. “When was the last time you had a full meal?”

“Last night.”

“And before that?”

“The afternoon before yesterday.”

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“You didn’t eat lunch yesterday?”

“No.”

“And not even breakfast or something?”

“Also no.”

She sighed.

“This is a problem for my sister.”

She grabbed a white phone near the wall and dialed a few numbers.

“Karine.”

“Yes, he’s fine; it seems there haven’t been any more fainting spells. But he has another problem.”

“I’ll let him explain it to you.”

“You haven’t been eating properly?!” Karine yelled as soon as he explained the situation.

“Well, I’ve been trying. Today I ate a cupcake.”

“How could you not tell me? I could have helped you!”

She sighed in frustration and approached him, examining his uniform. She noticed it was a bit damaged but seemed clean and didn’t smell bad.

“Where did you wash your uniform?”

Neo preferred not to answer, making Karine even angrier.

“Neo, where have you been sleeping?”

“Around.”

The bell rang, signaling the last class.

“I’ll figure something out, okay? For now, go back to class and come see me afterward. Don’t leave, got it? If you disappear, I’ll be furious.”

Neo thought there was no way she could get angrier than she already was.

During class, Neo really started to feel weak. Good thing he hadn’t participated in PE—he wouldn’t have managed. How did she guess?

When he returned to Karine’s office, she explained a long story to him.

“Many students from other cities come to study at our school, and my late father had the idea to create two dormitories to accommodate these students from far away.”

She handed him a key.

“Luckily, I found a vacant room. A boy had requested to have the room to himself, and we had allowed it until now. But I can’t let you sleep on the streets because of someone’s whim.”

“Thank you, Karine.”

She pulled her hand back as he tried to take the key.

“The dormitory has rules, got it? I hope you follow them properly.”

“I will.”

Once he agreed, Karine handed him the key.

“I’m also giving you some money. It’s enough to last you a month. After that, you can find a job to cover your needs.”

She handed him an envelope with some cash. It seemed like a lot.

“I don’t know if I can accept all this.”

“You don’t have a choice. I’ll get you clothes too, don’t worry.”

“But, Karine—”

“No buts. Take it and be quiet, okay?”

She was very angry, so Neo decided not to argue. He took the envelope from her hand.

“Don’t lose it, and spend it wisely. Now, if you want, go check out your new home.”

Neo couldn’t hold back his emotions.

As he left the office, Karine picked up her phone and called someone.

“Hello, Lionel? I need your son’s uniforms and clothes.”

The dormitory was quite large, almost like a hotel but without a reception. Neo went straight to the cafeteria to eat something with the money Karine had given him.

He couldn’t even imagine being able to eat so soon that day without relying on luck to find someone. Neo clearly chose something he’d always wanted to eat after all this time—cheese bread.

He sat in one of the chairs, savoring what other students had made him envy for so long. The bread was crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. It was delicious.

The cafeteria stayed open in the afternoon and sometimes at night, with staff to serve the students. At night, it was open for dinner. There were also vending machines with snacks, drinks, and other treats for off-hours.

Afterward, Neo searched for his room. There was a number on the key. After climbing several floors and looking at many different doors, he found it. But he didn’t go in.

He stood in front of the door, staring at the key as memories of sleepless nights and hunger came flooding back. He felt like crying but was overwhelmed with happiness, realizing his hellish week had finally ended.