Short Stories

Stolen Memories

"We've met once, but you wouldn't remember that memory." He said, as we walked side by side down the empty pathway, in the vacant park.

"Why would you think that?" I asked, wondering where he's thoughts laid. And if I could reach them, to understand he's perspective more clearly.

"Because I stole them from you." Was all he replied, as if he's words were just a mere sentence to answer my question.

Not knowing how much of an effect he's answer was to me, and how much they intrigued my interest and curiosity. 

"My memories?" I asked, which he only turned he's towards me, and gave me a wide grin.

"For a reason, that can't be answered. At least honestly, that is." He replied while rubbing the back of he's neck. Giving me a nervous, yet captivating chuckle.

"Hmm." I hummed in response, as I faced forward. Continuing our walk around the park.

"Was it nice, or sad?" I asked after a while of peaceful quiet between us.

"What was?" He asked confused, as he looked at me. In a way where he tried to search for something, anything that can help him understand just a mere question that has yet to be elaborated.

"Our memories."

"Oh." He then faced forward, as he looked away into a direction. He's eyes glued to a scenery nearby, but I knew he's mind was anywhere but.

"They were neither, actually." 

I then tilted my head a bit,  so I still faced the front. But I had a small view of him from the corner of my eye. As I watched him go into thought, and as I heard he's voice sound so distant. As if he's mind was reliving the past, and he was trying to describe it to me.

"Sometimes you'd be there, and we could see each other. Sometimes you weren't, and I'd miss you. But I can't say it was altogether happy, neither can I pin point it as a sad one either." He's brows knitted together saying all of this. Looking deep in thought, only for he's expression to soften, as he let out a small chuckle that led to one of he's warm smiles. 

"But you use to say these things, and they were amazing." He turned and gave me a wide, proud smile.

"When I first met you, you told me it was a beginning of something we have yet to find out." 

I then felt he's hand in mine, as he laced our fingers together.

"And you were right." He spoke up, as he kept a hold of my hand.

But then he's features looked sad, and another emotion I couldn't yet detect. But I knew it had something to do with a memory. 

"When I was dying, I never told you at first. I thought if you knew, it would make the situation more realistic then I wanted it. Which was selfish, but I enjoyed the Sophie who looked at me, as if I had a future to give to her, to you." He replied with a small smile, until he spoke the last part, which came with a sad smile. One that I didn't understand.

"But I didn't." He spoke up, but I stayed silent when he looked over towards me. 

I didn't want to interrupt him, somehow I felt as if this was nothing but contemporary. So, I stayed silent and enjoyed my time with him, for as much as I could. Feeling as if something bad was going to end from all of this.

"My last 24 hours of being alive, I told you to go to the park. I told you to wait for me, and you did. I pasted away that afternoon, while you were sitting here." He then led me to a bench near a large tree, that gave a lot of shade to hide under.

"On this bench." He spoke, as I looked at our hands. Watching and feeling how he's thumb rubbed over the back of my palm.

"You were waiting for me, and I never showed. Because I never felt like you needed an explanation from me. Which was selfish, and I know that now." 

"Why are you telling me this, and why won't you tell me who you are?" I asked, but he only turned and gave me another smile.

"My punishment for being selfish, was you being taken away from me. Which kind of had it's on dark humour, if you think about it." He replied with a small, light chuckle. One that didn't reach he's eyes.

"I thought this whole time when I was alive, I was being taken away from you. And that you could easily grow and fall in love with someone else, so I was selfish and never told you about my death catching up to me."

After those words, we sat in silence. A very much needed silence, while I took he's words into deep thought. While he tried to form words out loud from he's deep thoughts. 

But then my attention grew back towards him as he started to speak again.

"Either our memories was to be erased completely from you, and anyone who knew about us in the living realm. Or I was given the opportunity to steal them, and keep them with me until we meet again."

"But if you have these memories, of us. Why won't you share them with me, since we are together right now?" I replied confused as I held he's hand a bit tighter. 

He then turned to me, and gave me a warm smile. As he leaned in and kissed my forehead.

"I know when you're going to pass on from the living realm, and I know that time is not now." He then put he's hand on my cheek as he tried to smile. But all that came out was a sad smile, as he looked in pain.

"You have a long life a head of you, Soph. Enjoy it." He let out a sad chuckle, as he tried to laugh away the tear that escaped him.

"Why is that I feel something is blocking me from you, to feel and share the pain you do for this situation?" I asked, hoping this feeling inside me will be put to rest with the answer he gives me.

"We will never be together fully, not when you're meant to be out there. Alive and making a mark into the world, like you have given to me." He replied.

"When will we meet again?" I asked, but he only shook he's head with a goofy smile.

"I wish I could tell you, but it is not my position to let the living know of their death. I was only brought here, so I could see you one last time before I go."

"Where are you going?" I asked, as a feeling inside me started to turn unpleasantly.

"I don't know, but I do know we will meet again." He then stood up, as he reached out he's hand. Which I took, as I stood up and we started to walk again.

"It's time for you to head back." He spoke up, which left a spark in my chest.

"Will I forget about this, when I wake up?" I asked, but he only lowered he's head. Causing me to frown, as I took the hint.

"Can I at least know your name?" He then lifted he's head and gave me a warm smile.

"Why would you want my name, if you're going to forget it when you return back?" He asked, as pure confusion and interest over took he's eyes.

"If I have to leave, I want to say goodbye properly. I want to say your name, at least once. So, I know even if I forget this soon, that right now in this moment I will remember you, as you." He only smiled at my reply as he gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

"Parker." 

I then reach up and put my arms around he's neck, giving him the best smile I could muster.

"Goodbye, Parker." I said, as I leaned in and laid my head in the crook of he's neck.

"Goodbye, Sophie." Was the last words I heard before I felt a pull in the middle of my chest.

***************

"Sophie, are you alright?" I heard my farther's voice, which pulled me wide awake.

"What happened?" I groaned as I rubbed the back of my head. To which the pain ceased quickly afterwards.

Odd.

"Thank Goodness you're alright." My mother replied as she turned around to examine me with her eyes.

"We collided with another car, honey. But the ambulance should be here soon, to make sure no one got hurt. Especially the other family in the other car. I tried to see if they're okay, but one of their kids weren't responding." My farther replied in panic, as he helped me and my mom out the car, before heading back over to the other car we collided with.

"Hopefully they're okay, and no one is hurt." My mother spoke up, mainly to herself as she looked over to were my farther was. Helping the family out of the car as the ambulance pulled up beside them.

"Someone once told me, that we only ever leave when it's truly our time to go." I replied, mainly to myself this time. As I looked to the scene before me.

I felt my mother turn her head to me, as I could feel her stare.

"Who told you that?" 

"I...don't know, but I think he was someone important." I replied, to which my mother took in, before turning her attention back on the ambulance.

"I didn't know you hit your head that hard, should we go over to the ambulance van and check if you're okay? I don't want you saying you're fine, only for it to be an adrenaline rush. And in a few hours you'll be in pain again." My mother explained, but I only shrugged off her words as I let her guide me over to one of the vacant ambulance vans.

I sat down, as the doctor shined a flash light in my eyes, after he finished examining my head.

"Can you tell what's the last thing you remember, Sophie?" The doctor asked, as he wrote down somethings in he's clip board before looking over at me.

"Parker." Was all I replied, to which my mother cut in and started talking with the doctor a few feet away.

"I see no bump, and all her vitals are looking okay. But if you have any concerns feel free to book an appointment or head to your nearest hospital. I'm sorry but there isn't much I can help with, when your daughter is physically healthy, m'am."

I then heard my mother shout something in Italian before walking back over to me.

"What a dumbass. I think I know when my daughter doesn't seem right, stupid prick." My mother mumbled under her breath.

"Come on, honey. We'll go see your farther and then call your grandparents. We're going to stay with them for a few days while we try and make sure we don't get sued." I only shrugged her words off again, as she led me over to my farther. 

"And who is this Parker?"  My mom asked as we walked towards dad.

"I don't know."