A Part of My Memory

Zara

They had planned a welcome home party for me, and yet I had no idea who any of them were. For now, of course. Once I got my memory back I would remember them.

Two young females and a young male pulled long tubes that sprayed confetti everywhere. A confetti bomb, I remembered the name. I found it odd how I remembered the names of things, and yet I didn't remember people or memories.

"We missed you so much!" a lady came and enveloped me in her arms. Feeling awkward, I glanced at Elliot, only to find him looking somewhat awkward as well, pinching the bridge of his nose as he shook his head.

"I know you probably don't remember me so I'll introduce myself," the lady continued, pulling away from me to introduce herself. "I'm Mary Fraid, Elliot's mother, and your aunt." I couldn't help but notice the honey tone of Aunt Mary's voice. She had a short afro with grey highlights in her hair, and it looked so good that I wasn't sure whether it was natural or artificial.

Beside me, Elliot let out a guttural sound, but before I could question it a man extended his hand. "Glad you're okay, Zara," he said. "I'm Harry Fraid, Elliot's father, your uncle." Uncle Harry had a bass deep voice and a fairly large build. His beard and hair were neatly trimmed and both had already started greying.

"And I'm Harley!" One of the young girls who set off the confetti bomb announced. She jumped over the couch she had been behind and gave me a long, tight hug. "I can't believe you don't remember me," she pouted, pulling away. "As I said, I'm Harley, Elliot's sister, your distant cousin." Harley looked to be about 15 years old with black, braided hair. She was fairly darker than Elliot but her eyes were a lighter shade of brown which brought out her features. "I'm your favourite distant cousin, by the way. You told me yourself, you even buy me chocolates every week and—"

Elliot suddenly placed a hand over Harley's mouth, making her next words come out as mumbles.

"You can just call her your cousin, Harley," Aunt Mary told her daughter.

Harley removed Elliot's hand from her mouth and said, "alright." With a glance at Elliot, she amended, "I'm your favourite cousin."

Just then the other young female who had pulled a confetti bomb jumped forward, "I'm Ryley, and I'm your favourite cousin." She had lighter skin, colourful hair and colourful braces. "I'm joking," she laughed at her own joke. "I've never actually met—"

Elliot suddenly broke out into a fit of coughs, cutting into Ryley's words.

"Dude, what was that?" Ryley asked.

"Choked on air," Elliot said quickly, his voice sounding perfectly normal and not as if he had just come from coughing.

"If you're going to fake cough, at least do it properly," Harley remarked.

Elliot didn't bother answering but instead said, "I'll introduce you to everyone," before grabbing me by my shoulders and leading me away and into the living room.

He introduced me to every single relative. I received handshakes and hugs from several people who were still strangers to me at the moment, at least until I regained my memory and remembered them. I knew I was probably going to forget most of their names and who was directly related to who by the end of the day.

Elliot stuck with me the entire time, not leaving my side as I made small talk with everyone. They all didn't know who I was, which I found weird.

"How come they don't know who I am?" I asked Elliot at the food table.

Elliot swallowed and blinked. "Uhh...well..." he stammered before suddenly shoving a whole samoosa into his mouth.

He avoided looking at me then, and I furrowed my brows at that, "Oi, answer my question."