Sunlight streamed through the window as David stretched, a new spring in his movements. The past few weeks of therapy were finally paying off. He felt... clear. He decided to visit the old arcade, a place filled with forgotten memories, to face the ghosts of his childhood. He pictured himself effortlessly winning at Pac-Man, the joy of a perfect score echoing through the arcade. He felt prepared.
The arcade was even more run-down than he remembered. He approached the pinball machine he and Michael had spent hours on, a wave of nostalgia washing over him.
A young woman, engrossed in a game, turned at the sound of his footsteps. "Hey, you playing?" she asked, a friendly smile on her face.
"Not yet," David replied, smiling back. "I was just... remembering."
"Cool! This is the best pinball machine in here," she said, before continuing her game.
He watched her for a moment, then recognized her, Michael's sister, Chloe. "Chloe? You're Chloe, right?"
She paused, tilting her head. "I am. And you are...?"
"David," he said, his voice quiet. He felt a dull ache in his chest, as if someone had punched him.
"Oh! Nice to meet you." She turned back to the pinball machine. "I don't think I've seen you here before."
David stared at her back, the vibrant colors of the arcade suddenly fading into a muted gray. He backed away, his shoulders slumped. The sense of well-being had vanished, replaced by an unsettling emptiness.