my writings

prospagnosia

this was originally part of a longer novel, so it might be a bit confusing. 

Luke opened his eyes.

And immediately closed them again.

The light – ugh, the light. Since when was it so bright? And it was so loud. Were his friends always that noisy? He was about to cover his ears when he heard a loud shriek of joy. At least, he thought it was joy.

He tried opening his eyes again, blinking a few times to get adjusted to the brightness. His vision was a bit blurry, but he could see the face of a girl with dark hair looking at him hopefully. Luke, however, had no idea who she was.

"I'm sorry, but who are you?"

The girl's face fell. She turned to a man dressed like a doctor. "You said he didn't have amnesia!"

The doctor frowned. "He doesn't,"

"Then why doesn't he remember me?"

Luke couldn't understand anything. Who were these people, and what significance did they have to him? And where were his friends? "Uh, sorry to interrupt, but where are my friends? Mira, Kait, Dan – where are they all?"

The girl stared at him in disbelief. Or was it someone else? He couldn't remember. (Why couldn't he remember?) "You honestly don't know who we are?"

He frowned. "Why would I lie about that?"

The doctor shook his head. "Prosopagnosia."

"Excuse me?"

"That's what your disorder is called. Prosopagnosia."

He saw someone else ask the doctor something. Or was it the same person? They all looked the same – dark hair, dark clothes. The faces were blurring together. Luke shut his eyes. What is happening?

He could hear voices, but they all went over his head. He wanted to talk to his friends, to his brother – he wanted to see familiar faces. But he didn't know anyone. Everything seemed to blur together.

Gradually, it became quieter. He could hear the sound of receding footsteps and clicking doors. He assumed that everyone had left the room. Slowly, he cracked open one eye – only to see a girl standing by his bed. He didn't know who she was, either. But from the way she was looking at him, she did.

"I'm Mira."

He frowned at her, confused. How could he not recognize Mira? She was one of his closest friends.

"Sorry I didn't realize earlier. Still kinda, y'know, blurry."

Mira smiled sadly. "It's not that. Remember what Zach said about prosopagnosia? Apparently, it's a disorder that makes it hard for you to remember faces."

"But-but how did I get it?"

"When you fell off the bridge."

"What?"

She sighed. Her face was so... neutral. Like it could be mistaken for anyone's. Mira was not just 'anyone'. Why did this stupid disorder have to happen to him? And that doctor – that was Zach? Was this how his life was going to be from now on? Disconnected, and blurry?

He was jolted from his thoughts when he heard Mira say, "Come on. I'll re-introduce you to the rest of the gang."