Remember

Chapter 1: Lost

Stressful, that's how this moment is starting. I hesitantly stand in the middle of a coffee shop. Servers look at me as they wait for me to take a seat and when I can't remember why I walked in, I slowly take a seat. I shiver as I try to let the warmth from the fire place engulf me. It looks modern on the inside; bright lights, shelves with books and mugs, and a tiny fire place. The smell of roasted coffee beans fills my nose and yet I'm not reminded of anything.

I'm not entirely sure how I ended up walking in here, maybe the cold from outside brought me in or the smell of coffee lingering outside. I check to see if I have money in my pockets and all I have is a small hand bag. There's a man on his lap top typing away and a young couple two tables down from him, laughing. My surroundings don't seem threatening.

My mind is empty. No name pops up as I strain to remember one. I attempt to grasp for my name, any name. The only thing that feels right on my tongue is Maple. I think...

I check inside my bag, and my eyes light up feeling paper, but I'm instantly disappointed when I see it's not money. It's a folded up piece of paper, useless. All it says is 'REMEMBER'. The paper is yellow and worn out, almost like it was written long ago. I roll my eyes, if I could remember, I would.

The coffee shop is almost closing, it's freezing outside and I have nowhere to go. I'm wearing a thin black sweater, dark navy blue jeans and black and white sneakers. From what I'm wearing I guess I can assume I'm a casual person, someone who likes to feel comfortable.

How did I get myself into this situation? According to the note all I have to do is remember, easier said than done.

I roll my eyes, my frustration levels rising. I'm not sure what to do, or if this is some sort of sick prank my mind is playing on me. I hope I wake up in a hospital, and this is all a bad dream. Someone has to be looking for me, right?

Ten minutes until closing time, the workers are waiting impatiently for me to leave. Being in here is my only way of getting warmth, I don't feel like freezing to death outside just yet. I'm using up the last remaining minutes and then I'll leave. With no further plans on continuing to find out where I am, I'm stuck with nowhere to go. My mind is racing with so many possibilities of how I ended up here, but none of them make any sense. Snapping out of my swirling thoughts, I compose myself.

Maybe if I go to a police station they can help, I might be a missing person? I just have to figure out where one is located. I release an anxiety held breath.

Okay just get up and ask someone.

I look around and every worker seems busy, clearing tables and mopping floors. I watch the cashier as he plays on his phone, he's not busy.

I slowly walk to the cashier, and cashier guy already notices me. Suspicion fills his eyes. I have been sitting in a coffee shop without ordering anything, it makes sense. He gives me a gentle smile as I stand in front of him. His smile eases my nerves; I greet him with a genuine smile.

"Was wondering when you were going to order..." He says with a small chuckle. I let out a nervous laugh and look at the menu. I have no money, I can't order anything.

"This is going to sound a little weird, but how can I get to the police station from here?" I ask quietly. He looks from the cash register back up to me, noticing that I'm not going to order anything. I wait for him to respond. He stares for a while, trying to figure out why I'd ask such a question. I look down at my fingers, picking at them and when I have the courage I make eye contact again. I feel small droplets of sweat forming on my forehead and I quickly wipe them away.