Tabletop Affairs

I.

Most Humans lose access to old memories as they acquire new ones. They know how to speak, for instance, but they dont recall learning to speak. They keep what experience has taught them—usually—but lose the experience itself. - Octavia E. Butler

Through glazed eyes, she blankly watched as chattering people and screeching children passed by her. Turning up the collar on her flimsy coat, adjusting her scarf to cover the chafed exposed skin, then without a moment's hesitation shoving her hands into her pockets. The brisk, cool bite of the burned the inners  of her delicate nose, wiping away the liquid dripping towards her lips.

Hearing the crunch of leaves, the wind gathering and then carrying them down to the corners of the bay. Her sight grows increasingly grey, the once vibrant oranges and golds turn into heathers. Feeling herself falling, her body draws up, and tighten itself. unable to wake herself up, eventually losing the battle, she surrenders. Retreating into her mind, hiding from outer world. Seconds turn into minutes, and then reach longer ungodly lengths of time,. Drifting from the lucid world to the dreams of her youth, the only place where she felt safe.

Clinging the last of her memories, they too fate and leave her with the misfortune of her wrong doings.

Then she too faded into gray.

Lifting her eyes to meet the other heads in the surrounding occupied seats. Shifting uneasily, darting her eyes to the others in white room. The room smelled of bleach, and the stench of uncomfortable teen angst wafted all over. The walls were plastered with motivational pictures. No one wanted to be there, the faces of the others read blank expressionless numbed pain. The counselor in the center, fidgeted with her hair, paying the least bit of attention, making little effort to conceal her disinterest in being there. She was an over glorified teenage babysitter, looking just as bored as her counterparts. Standing up, pointing in different directions, she paired them up in twos. One boy with one girl.

"This is your partner. Like them or not, youre stuck with em," the counselors shrill voiced pierced the stale silence, causing a few to jump and others to roll their eyes.

"Sup, I'm Marcus,"his voice was deep with vibrato, projecting itself above the other teens seemingly boring voices in comparison.

"Hannah." Forcing herself to look up into his intense gaze, failing as her cheeks redden, giving away her uncomfortable position. A smile quickly appeared and then disappeared from sight.