The Other Side

"Amnesia, eh?" the man commented. He looked over his eyeglasses to the ratty-looking young man standing in front of him.

"Yes sir," the young man replied. "Don't even know my name."

The heavy set man behind the counter shrugged. "Well, as long as you pay the rent, I see no reason why you can't have the apartment." He grinned. "You do need a name, though, boy. Just something to put on your mailbox."

"Yes sir. Any ideas?"

The building owner stood up. He placed a hand on his chin thoughtfully and examined the scrawny boy from all sides.

"You look like a Paul," he declared after a few moments of deep thought.

The boy didn't seem to mind. "Paul it is then," he decided with a shrug of the shoulders to indicate that it didn't matter to him one way or another what he was called.

The owner looked pleased with himself. "Welcome to the building, Paul," he replied. "Call me Tony."

"Thanks a lot, Tony," Paul replied. "And thanks for the name, too." He took the keys from his new landlord and headed for his apartment.

A black face he could barely see peered at him through the darkness. Fear ran down his spine.

"You'll soon be dead," the voice told him. "And she'll be mine!"

"NO!" he shouted. He shouted as loud as he could. He shouted until his throat was sore and his voice was hoarse. But it was no use. His world caved in around him with a violent explosion.

Paul sat up in bed, sweating, and looked around the room. It took a few moments for him to remember where he was and why he was there. Finally, he relaxed into bed with a sigh.

"Only a dream," he whispered to himself. "Only a dream." Slowly, he drifted back to sleep again.

The next day, Paul roamed around town until he found a job. It wasn't an easy task, since he had no experience and no idea where he was from. Finally, he managed to get a job as a janitor in a tall office building.

His first task was to learn the ropes from an experienced co-worker. He was assigned to work with a stout, dark haired, and cheerful man named Dan Johnson.

Dan led him to the main lobby of the building and showed him how to work. They worked well together, and Paul decided he would enjoy working with Dan.

"Don't remember a thing?" Dan asked as they stood in line at the cafeteria during their lunch break.

"Nope," Paul replied as he took a sandwich from the counter.

"Not even your own name?" Dan asked. He snagged an apple and a candy bar. "Wow."

"Yeah, my landlord gave me this name," Paul replied as he turned the plastic-wrap covered sandwich over in his hands, examining it. "He said I look like a Paul."

The two took their food and sat down at a table. "Really?" Dan asked. He frowned thoughtfully as he took a bite out of his apple. "I think you look more like a Steven."

Paul shrugged. "I dunno," he replied. "Maybe." He took a bite out of his sandwich and swallowed, making a face.

Dan laughed. "Shoulda warned you not to get the ham and cheese," he told him, laughing so hard he nearly choked.

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