It's the third time I've been here, the third day in a row. The alleyway seems even more daunting today, with the dark clouds that hang in the sky and the chilled wind whipping at my face. I run my fingers over the embossed lettering on the front of the envelope that sits in my jacket pocket. MR. ELLIS it said. There was no address on it so clearly whoever had dropped it off had done so in person. The letter enclosed inside had a short sentence and an address of its own. "A new life awaits you." it simply stated. During the first two days I came and watched, eyeing the decrepit looking building at the end, hoping to see someone going either in or out of its large worn doors. I never did. I have no idea what to expect. Perhaps someone is playing a prank on me. Though deep in the pit of my stomach stirs a storm of excitement, one that rivals the storm that brews in the sky. I make my way to the door, the buildings looming up at my sides like giant protectors guarding its entrance. Knock. Knock. Knock. The storm inside me becomes electric as my fist meets the wood. The door swings open and the brightness is such a stark contrast to the dreariness of outside that it takes my eyes a moment to adjust. Inside stands a well groomed man dressed in an expensive looking suit, he says nothing. My hand fumbles back into my pocket awkwardly and I pull out the envelope, handing it up to him. "My name is Peter Ellis," I say. The man takes the envelope from me. "Are you ready for your new life Mr. Ellis?" he asks. I nod, what else can I do? I have come this far already, I may as well see where it all leads. The man moves behind me, taking the handles of my wheelchair, and begins to push. I usually feel like some kind of incapable half version of a human when people push me along. Despite lacking my legs I still cling to some poor and misplaced sense of pride. But in this moment all I can feel is elation. As we move into the building, its warmth encompasses me. The inside is crisp and clean, with high ceilings and a large desk in the middle. The man leaves me by the desk and then exits the room via a door at the back. I look about the room, all around me against the walls are separate little sections. Each section has a screen which seem to be playing home videos. Around each screen is a series of images and below each screen sits a book. The images range within each section from ones with family pictures, to exotic holiday locations, country living, high rise business towers, and many more. "Mr Ellis!" A voice exclaims, causing me to jump a little in my chair. A professionally dressed woman stands behind the desk. When did she get here? I didn’t even hear her come into the room. "We have been waiting for you," she continues, "Its been three days since you got your invitation you know, it is always good manners to be prompt." I open my mouth to say something but she quickly cuts me off as she begins to speak again. "I suppose you're wondering what all this is about" she says with a smile. "Well we think your situation makes you the perfect candidate for the service we offer." "And what is that exactly?" I ask, the nervous excitement still filling me. It was the same struggle every day, struggling to survive but not really living. I lost everyone that was ever really important to me in the accident, and after that I just shut down. Letting my self pity become the thief of my own joy. The lady smiles and gestures to all the different sections around the room "Your choice of a brand new life!" -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eight years have passed since I have taken on the life of Mark Patton. I gave up the entirety of my former self, including all of the funds that I had. And for doing that, I gained a family that I now love as my own, a purpose, working legs, a job I enjoy. I have gained life! They assured me that they wouldn't be taking another life to give me one, that the original Mark Patton's essence had already drifted from the world. I would be taking his body and stepping directly into his life in his place. I am lucky that I have never been sick in this new body, have never so much as broken a bone or gotten a papercut. But here I stand now, my wife having just run into me while I was chopping vegetables for dinner and half of one of my fingers lays on the chopping board surrounded by blood and freshly cut potatoes. I am in shock, staring at my finger. Then I see it. Small, shiny, barely peeking through the flesh and blood. It doesn't look like bone. I pick my finger up to look at it more closely. It's metal. I look over to my wife who is already at the phone. "What is goi-." I am cut off as she says two words in succession that I never thought I would hear her say "Peter Ellis". I can't move, I can't speak, every part of me seems to be frozen in time. Every part other than my mind which is now wildly frantic with fear and confusion. I feel even less than half human now. "Account number 5736, Peter Ellis, reset request," I hear her say. Pause. "No, it needs to be done before the children get home. This is why I paid for premium." Another pause. "Okay". The phone beeps as the end call button is pressed. Was I ever really human to begin with?