Daniel's promise

Perception is key, was a sign written on the wall of his old office. It was there to instruct everyone that all of us have a different perspective, that reality to each of us is different, there's not two sides to a story, there's a an unknown number of different sides to a story, one for each person involved.

The story of this room will have over 100 stories, some telling how they were released the first day and witnessed the downfall of a group of people and their drive to madness in one day. Another story will be a different day and they might focus on the night they spent treading water and nearly drowned, and the sounds of those that did. Maybe someone will remember how Daniel gave up his number for a woman who had to get home; only to have his new number stolen and replaced with the worst number possible. Will his story be one of a hero, fighting for his life surviving in spite of his captor, or will he be the victim who's demise will be nothing compared to the overall actions of the room.

He didn't switch numbers to be a hero, he doesn't taunt Cipher because he's a glutton for punishment, he's doing it because he wants to be perceived as strong. Years ago his wife became ill, and he told her that he would be strong for both of them and get them through it, he taught his son that it was important to be strong and that carrying your family and being their strength is one of the most important things a man can do. He made a promise to his son that he would always be strong for them. It was a full on pinky promise complete with crossing of his heart and hoping to die.

That promise will get him to 100 days, it became a mantra in their house, anytime anyone made some sort of vow, "I'll clean up after dinner." "I'll take the dog to the groomer tomorrow" "We'll go to the movies next weekend. everyone would always ask, Cross your heart? the answer was always "and hope to die" Seems much more morbid now than it did then. There was a song that they used to bop along to in the car, Cross My Heart by Marianas Trench. The perception of those words then were that of a guy who wanted to get back with his girlfriend, "take me with you, I'd start to miss you, take me with you I don't want to be alone tonight." Daniels wife and him would hold hands when the song came on and give a squeeze when that part would play, their silent little nod to one another.

The man in that song misses her so much and Daniel knows what that feels like, to be away from the ones you love. Before the expedition he had to travel and when he did he would sometimes pack a pillow case in a freezer bag before he went on his trips, not because he had issues with germs, no, he kept in the freezer bag to seal in the smell. He'd get to the hotel, open it up and the scent would instantly hit his senses. He had sprayed a bit of his wife's perfume in the bottom corner of the pillow case, so all night long he'd smell her, and fall to sleep smiling thinking "I wonder what your doing, I wonder if you got it, I wonder how we ever used to go so long without it. And no matter where I go, I'm coming back to you. Be forever, be forever.."

So Daniel will try and be strong, for his family, for his new friends and for the country that is watching this play out online. This isn’t going to be like promising to wash the dog, or go for ice cream, this is as big as it gets, he just hopes he’s strong enough to keep his promise. "And I do want to show you, I will run to you for you, 'til I can't stand on my own anymore, I cross my heart and hope to die."