Halloween: Fading Memories-Halloween #3-Mayuka

"Fading Memories"

A young man with ginger-blonde hair shielded his eyes from the sun with his hand and blinked to adjust to the rays. He had woken up from a bad dream where the earth was moving while he was in bed like he had vertigo or an earthquake slowly rocking. He’d felt as if he’d fall out of bed. He could hear monotone voices in the distance. He shook his head and exhaled, trying to shake off the feeling like he’d been at sea for 3 hours. He looked around the plain room. An ugly room. Plaid wallpaper, plain sheets that matched the forest green carpet and walls. His brain was foggy.

He couldn’t remember the day before.

Wait.

What could he remember?

He suddenly realized how sunny it was. Why was this warmth so unfamiliar? Just then the door creaked open. A maid stepped in.

She was turned away from him. She shut the door behind her at his response, “I’m leaving.” He caught his reflection in the mirror. “I look terrible.” He stated to himself. He looked down and thought he was dressed like a homeless man: loose, faded denim pants and a raggedy, cream-colored, long-sleeved shirt. He stood up and quickly made his way to the closet to find something to change into, but there weren’t any clothes. He closed his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh, then took the stairs out of the building.

He was miserably lost. He had no idea where he was. His head ached.

Mother? He suddenly thought. He looked around nervously. Maybe things would start to come back to him.

He stopped at a library. People there always seemed to have information. “Valley Library.” It read. Not helpful. He entered through the single opened door. It was quiet and cool inside. The smell of books welcomed him. This was a relatively new library. The woman at the front desk peered at him through her glasses and smiled slightly. She didn’t seem to want to look directly at him. She nervously organized some books. He looked around for someone else to question. There were some children reading. The place was decorated for fall with leaves and dancing scarecrows. Some teenagers were leaving the library. It was almost closing time. Groups were walking home from school and he watched them silently. His eyes darted across faces like he was looking for someone.

The wind picked up and fallen brown maple leaves kicked up around him. Like a lost puppy, he sat on the sidewalk.

A strawberry-blonde girl walking alone caught his eye. She looked over her shoulder like she was looking for someone. She looked worried. He knew the feeling. He stood up and followed her. After going into her home for a few minutes, she came back out. She’d changed out of her uniform and headed to the local cemetery.

“Maryview Cemetery”

The sun was setting now. Tears streaked her face. Maybe she was visiting someone she’d lost. He decided this wasn’t a good place for him to be. But, he didn’t want to leave her alone.

He stood behind her as she openly wept at a grave. “It’s been 7 years and I still miss you. Oh, my big brother,” She cried, wiping the tears with her sleeves. He looked at the name on the plaque.

It was unfamiliar.

Adrian Coalhall

He felt like there were more things he was forgetting.

"I wrote you a letter," she whispered. "Like when we were 10 and you were away at summer camp. That's where I pretend you are."

She pulled out a picture and kissed it. “No one prints these out anymore. But, just for you. I have a copy.” She tucked it in the envelope. The wind picked up again and the picture escaped. He ran to pick up the photo when he saw his own face.

“I have to go,” she said as she caught the photo.

“I’m going away to college. I didn’t want to, but…I can’t stay here anymore. Forgive me.” She lamented as she clutched the photo and left it at the grave tucked under a heavy rock this time before reluctantly leaving.

“I’ll see you again.”

That was the last thing he remembered.





*The End*



Thank you for reading. I was working on something else when this popped into my head. I hope you enjoyed it. Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

I'll leave this story open to interpretation, but the title is from the Barenaked Ladies song "The Old Apartment." I haven't written anything in two yearsish.

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