Confused

I put my USB drive back into my pocket. Picking up the fork, I ate. An urge to eat faster assaulted me, but I took my time enjoying the flavors.

"Edesne?" I asked him. (Will you eat?)

"Non esurio," he replied. (I'm not hungry)

With a slight nod I finished the last of the citrus fruits and glanced around the room. The walls were now solid and no longer swaying as they had been before. There were quite a few different food stations, and as I looked, I heard another bowl clink against the table as it was set in front of me. I didn't turn back yet.

"Patientia," he said. (Patience)

"Quid tuum nomen est?" I asked, turning to the bowl before me. (What is your name?)

"Sapientiis," he replied, his mouth twitching slightly. (Wisdom)

I must have caught him off guard. With my fork, I dug around for the pieces of papaya because they never tasted the same if another fruit was eaten in between chunks. Only one bowl remained after I finished the second one. This one had apples and bananas in it. I ate the apples, but left the bananas untouched. Their texture reminded me of baby food.

"Finivistene?" (Are you finished?)

I nodded.

Sapientiis took the tray of bowls into the kitchen then came back. "Veni," he said. (Come)

"Quo ubi?" (Where to?)

"Tua vestis te mutanda." (You need to change your clothes)

We walked down several more hallways to another room. Silently, several people surrounded me, taking my measurements. Then I was given a suit and taken to a bathing room. The tub was already filled with hot water. Out of habit, I bathed quickly and dressed in the black suit I had been given, transferring my USB drive into one of the inner pockets of the jacket and making sure the tie was straight. A few people turned to me as I exited the bath, as if not expecting me to be done so soon.

"Finivistene?" Sapientiis asked. (Are you finished?)

"Finivisi," I replied. (I'm finished)

"Dum Gloriacum te relinques." (Then I will leave you with Glory)

He took my street clothes and debit card with him. I never saw them again.

Glory led me into an adjoining room where there were many more people. I was fitted with sunglasses before placed in a chair, where my short, light brown hair was cut shorter and died a blood red. Before it dried completely, a ton of gel was added and my hair spiked in the back. I don't know what they were thinking, but if I didn't stick out enough in my street clothes, I certainly would now. My hair looked like it had been stiffened with actual blood.

They tried to put a beauty spot on my face, but it wouldn't stay so they gave up. I was put into a different chair, where they did a manicure and added satin nails. It seemed as if they were going for a business woman look. My teeth were cleaned and my eyesight checked. Then came something I hadn't done since junior high school—a physical. They were through, even doing a gynecological exam, and I felt that there was no inch of me they didn't examine and make note of.

After being poked, prodded, and changed, Glory took me into an elevator. We ascended several floors. When the doors opened, I could see a hotel lobby. I didn't see much of it as several agents got on. I missed that Gloria had gotten off until after Sapientiis stood beside me. He took my hand to prevent me from following. We rode up several more floors. No one had spoken to me outside of what changes, and checkups they felt I had needed. Sapientiis and I got off and went to room 333.

"Hic remanebis," Sapientiis said. (You will remain here)

"Gratias ago, Sapientiis, sed quid facere sum?" (Thank you, Wisdom, but what I am to do?)

"Nunc nihil. Ominia facemus." (Nothing now. We will do everything)

"Sed..." (But…)

"Non sed. Requiesceres." (Not but. You should rest)

"Sapientiis," I started to ask. "Id dedisce." (Forget it)

"Ira es," he replied, his mouth turning down a little more. (You are angry)

"Quoniam non comprehendo, ira sum." (I'm angry because I do not understand)

"Quod non comprehendis?" (What don't you understand?)

"Cur hic sim." (Why I am here)

"Posterior explicabo." (I will explain later)

Left alone in the room, I lie on the bed trying to figure things out. I had sold everything I owned and I had hoped to be able to come to Salt Lake and start anew, but now that had changed. All that remained of who I was… my body and the USB drive in my jacket pocket. The woman, who's face now reflected back at me in the mirror, was not me. English was a dead language, though I swear I heard people speaking it at the airport. My flight to Salt Lake had changed when Sapientiis, and one other man, had knocked me out with chloroform and brought me to this place.

Yet, what did they want from me? Not only had they changed aspects of my appearance, but that had been very thorough to make sure I was healthy. Taking my USB drive from my pocket, I held it in my left hand. Was it because of my USB drive that all of this was happening? If that's all they wanted, why didn't they just ask for it? As I lay there, my eyes felt heavy and I fell asleep.

My mind was cloudy when I woke again. Sunlight came dimly into the room and continued to decrease. Must be sunset. My USB drive and sunglasses sat on the floor where I had dropped them. I left them there as I closed my eyes again. The door opened and Sapientiis returned. He brought food with him and set it on the table.

"Salve, Patientia Quercus," he greeted me. (Be well, Patience Oak)

"Salve, Sapientiis," I replied with a yawn, missing that he used a different last name for me. Sitting up, I stretched. (Be well, Wisdom)

"Bene dormisne?" (Did you sleep well?)

"Non bene dormio. Nimius interragaties." (I didn't sleep well. Too many questions)

"Paenitens sum." (I'm sorry)

Picking up my USB drive and my sunglasses, I put the drive in my jacket pocket before putting the sunglasses back on. By the bed was a small brown dresser with four drawers. Next to that was a miniature silver fridge. A small space for a candle stand separated the fridge from the bathroom doorway. A table and two chairs sat in the center of the room. A small flower patterned love seat had been pushed up against the wall by the door to the room. Only a small pane of glass separated the main room from the bedroom. I joined Sapientiis at the table and he ate with me. He had brought up mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, and barbecue chicken. From a small fridge he pulled out a white wine and two wine glasses.

"Vinum non bibo," I said. (I don't drink wine)

"Verene?" he asked. (Truly?)

I nodded and turned back to my food.

"Quod bibisne?" (What do you drink?)

"Aquam." (Water)

Sapientiis put the wine back in the fridge and pulled out a Dos Equos beer and a glass for water. He set the water in front of me before sitting once more. I could feel Sapientiis gaze on me as I ate. I never lifted my eyes from the table. Our setting reminded me of one of the stories I had been working on, save both characters were drinking wine before their one night stand. Part way through dinner, Sapientiis placed his hand over mine. I moved it away, feeling uncomfortable. The man I was supposed to be with, his last name was Oak. As of yet, I hadn't found him.

"Quid falsus, mea puella?" he asked. (What's wrong, my girl?)

"Tua puella non sum," I replied. (I am not your girl)

"Meam puellam es. Pilulam ab me cepiste." (You are my girl. You took the pill from me)

"Pilila non matrimonium est!" (A pill is not marriage!)

"Dedisciste." He frowned. (You forgot)

I closed my eyes and the book icon I could see in my right eye opened. It opened to the day I wrote about the pill becoming the marriage ritual.

Sapientiis touched my arm. I opened my eyes again. He pulled slightly so he could hold my hand again, but I backed away from the table. I didn't know this man. My dreams had been very specific. His last name was Oak. He would come to me when I needed him most, but at the moment I felt I didn't need anyone. Unless...

"Patientia?" (Patience?)

"Sapientiis... Sapientiis Quercus?" I asked. (Wisdom… Wisdom Oak)

"Ita vero." (It is true)

So this was my husband. It made sense in my head that this was really the case, but my heart continued to reject him. Never had I thought that he would come so soon and with such an odd reason as to why I needed him. I knew Sapientiis could make me happy, but why did I feel like this was wrong? Was it because of all my stories? His chair moved a little.

"Nunc scias?" he asked. (Now do you know?)

"Scio," I whispered, tears burning my eyes. (I know)

Sapientiis moved next to me, but I backed myself into a corner. His hand was soft as he wiped the tears from my cheeks. He removed his sunglasses and mine before kissing my lips. We had chemistry and deep inside I knew this was right, yet I could still feel myself resist. When he pulled away, I never looked at his face. My sunglasses were put back into place.

"Edamus, Patientia Quercus." (Let us eat, Patience Oak) Then he returned to the table, set his sunglasses down, and picked at his food.

It took me another minute before I could approach the table again. A few tears still slid down my cheeks. We finished eating in silence then Sapientiis gathered the dishes and left. I felt even more tired now than I had before my nap. Setting my sunglasses and USB drive on the dresser, I went back to sleep.