Retrograde

Prologue

Prologue

A long time ago, when I was a small child it was said that I had a happy life. A life full of joy and laughter and smiles. The town I lived in was said to be a peaceful town full of kindness. I speak of this town with the term 'it was said' because I personally don't remember anything that happened in this town. I never understood why such a joyful town which people had informed me about was something to be forgotten. If this town was joyful, if it was happy, why didn't I remember anything? I ask myself this every day.

Seven years have passed since I moved away from that town. Seven years since I have wondering why my memory of that town has completely disappeared and seven years since I was diagnosed with retrograde amnesia. I decided when I was twelve that once I was old enough I would return to the town which I no longer had any memory of and that is where I am headed today.

I sat in the train heading towards the town I had once lived in. Glancing out of the window I watched as raindrops lightly hit the window. The sky was dark and my surroundings were drenched. It had been raining like this for quite a while now. Days in fact. But I suppose that is the weather of winter for you.

The train finally stopped at the station which belonged to the town I once lived in. I climbed to my feet and walked into the isle of the train. I reached up above my head where my black suitcase was stored. I tugged at it and it toppled down. I then reached for my black umbrella with lace around the edges. It lay on the seat beside the place I had been sitting. I dragged my suitcase towards the exit and the doors slid open. I placed my umbrella out in front of me and opened it as I stepped off the train with my suitcase.

I lifted my umbrella above my head to shelter me from the rain as I watched the train depart. My long dark brown hair blew gracefully in the winter's strong wind as I continued to watch the train depart with my bright green eyes. One the train was gone I exited the station, walking down a hill I soon found myself standing in an empty street. The rain was coming down hard and the streets were deserted.

Although I had lived here once before, as I stood in the street I could not recollect any memories, the town was dull and seemed miserable. There were lots of dark buildings but that didn't bother me. I began to head down the street my black lace up boots tapping against the concrete with every step I made along with the sound of rolling wheels coming from underneath my suitcase. I wasn't sure where I was to go but I assumed my feet would take me.

"Honoka chan, don't forget the piece of paper." The words echoed through my mind as if someone had only just spoken to me. I set my suitcase down for a moment and placed my hand within the pocket of my dark grey and black long sleeved dress. Inside the pocket I removed a sheet of paper with an address on it.

"Alright..." I muttered as I placed the sheet of paper back inside my pocket, took a hold of my suitcase and headed down the street again. On my way I looked at multiple signs telling me street names and eventually I came to a large house. It was two storey and surrounded by a cement fence. I glanced at it an examined the black brass gate that prevented anyone from entering. Beside the gate was a small box with a button on it. I assumed that was something I needed to speak through.

I approached the box, placed my suitcase down again and pressed the button, holding it in place I spoke. "Um... hello, this is Honoka Kobayashi." I then removed my finger from the button.