Only Amelia

PROMPT:

A market research firm in midtown Manhattan hands out leaflets to random people on 42nd Street. The leaflet shows a picture of a familiar pop musician who is very well known. Apparently, they want to find out what people like best about her. It pays you $50 and will only take a half hour to do. You decide to go and check it out.

You are one of ten people sitting around a fancy corporate boardroom table. Each person looks different, and as some songs are played over the speakers, everyone gets a chance to voice why they like a particular song. What’s interesting is that each person there likes her music or songs for a different reason. The coordinator from the agency marks down each answer on a clipboard, then tells them that she wants some kind of consensus opinion from the group. “I will leave you in here for the next ten minutes and I hope you can agree on something. Start by introducing yourself.” She then went out the door and closed it behind her. The first woman stood up and said her name -- strangely, it was my name exactly. Then each of us said our names. Every single person there had the exact same name. It was weird and we all wondered what was going on.  It was only through the next few minutes’ discussion that it became clear.

Hearing my own name come out of the mouths of everyone else felt like a surreal experience. Whether this was a coincidence or not, my suspicions were high and my mind was alert. Everyone seemed to have a high review of the popular musician but I couldn’t fully understand why. 

Eventually, it was my turn to introduce myself. I slowly stand up from the uncomfortable chair I was sitting on and do a brief introduction, “Hi, my name is Amelia.” I hesitate before continuing to state my opinion of the musician. I listen to the music playing over the speakers and try to hear the lyrics. “This music is pretty good. But I wouldn’t consider it my style.”

Everyone's eyes lock in on mine. The music on the speaker lowers slowly and I hear a lock from the door click. A large man walks into the room with a cold look on his face. The rest of the group doesn’t break eye contact with me. The man walks around the table and grabs my arm tightly. “Please come with me” He says, dragging me towards the door he just walked into the room through.

“Let go of me,” I start to try and fight for my arm back, but his hand is grabbing me so tightly, there is no hope in and even trying. He continues to lead me down long hallways, someplace I hadn’t seen walking into the meeting, and eventually into a room. Hundreds of people fill a large, warehouse-like, empty room. These people are talking and walking around.

“Please stay here. We will know if you leave.” The man turns and slams the door to the room behind him. The echo sends silence through the room and everyone turns to look at me, and then continues with their conversation.

One girl specifically walks up to me, seeing the confusion on my face. “I’m guessing you didn’t like the musician?” She asks with an unserious tone to her voice.

“I just said she wasn’t my style.” I tell this random girl, almost out of breath and confused.

“That’ll do it. Everyone you see here said something negative about the musician.” The girl explains to me. Then she continues, “It’s almost as if they need everyone to like her.” 

The girl starts to walk away and I follow her through the crowd of people. “How long has everyone been here?” I ask as she starts to head over to another girl.

“Hey Amelia.” The new girl says to the girl I’ve been talking to, completely ignoring my question. 

“Wait, your name is Amelia?” I ask.

“Yes.” Both girls answer at the exact same time.

“My name is also Amelia.” I start to panic a little bit.

“As far as I know, all the girls here are named Amelia.”

Thinking back to the ad for this job, I remember the name of the musician, Amelia.