Memory Lane

Prologue

Learning-Based Support Group!

Those were the first words on the ratty poster that was pinned to the noticeboard of the dingy hospital. It was the first thing you would see when you walked in, that old poster hung by one corner and flapped whenever the door was opened and let in a breeze from the outside. The poor condition of the poster was marked by fading ink marks, suspicious drying stains of what appeared to be a chocolate drink on some parts of the text, and the edges were torn, corners dog-eared.

In comparison, the other posters on the noticeboard were bright and cheerful, some with big bold words emblazoned near the top and wonderful positive pictures depicting mental health. They were newer, crisper. All four corners hung up and even smelled like they were freshly printed. The old poster was dull and worn, formerly covered in gaudy colours but the cheap ink had had its time. It was an eyesore in an otherwise neat noticeboard.

People walked past the noticeboard anyways, giving it a once-over with looks of disdain for the ratty poster but hardly batting an eyelid towards the other posters. The air smelled sterilized, as if someone had been a total clean freak and cleaned every single particle in the hospital. It smelled awfully like cleaning agents and that crisp smell of hospitals and sadness and death. Always the death.

Sounds of small chat were around, but always hushed. Perhaps like a library, but the atmosphere was tensed, only broken by the occasional wailing parent or patient, or perhaps the quiet tap-tap-tapping of people waiting and the maddening tick of the clock.

Tick.

Tock.

It was here that the doors opened abruptly, carrying a stronger breeze that blew that old poster off that one corner and onto the floor. A person stepped onto the hospital floor, never making a footfall and pausing to scoop up that old poster almost gingerly.

"Do you remember, Jared?" The hand that held the poster was almost shaking, holding it up to show the other man who was slowly shuffling towards him.

The man named Jared shook his head, taking in the sight of the hospital, of the people seated there, of the poster again, of the man holding it and then to the hand holding the poster.

"No. Why? Does this group have to do with anything?"

"It meant the world to me, Jared. It meant a lot to you, too..."

"If it did, why can't I remember?" Jared asked, dark brown eyes fixated not on the poster but on the hand holding the poster.

The man put his hand down, slipping his right hand into his black hoodie pocket. It was not his hoodie, and even though it fit snugly on him, he sank into the hoodie as if it was oversized for him.

"No worries. We'll get there," his tone was light and cheerful but inside the man's heart was turning in guilt. He watched Jared look around carefully before his eyes landed expectantly on him and he tilted his head in confusion.

"We're here why?"

He forced himself to meet Jared's eyes. Those bright eyes that seemed to mirror someone else's eyes that happily gazed back at him.

"To meet someone that you know! And... and we'll meet someone else, too."

"Oh great! Why are they here? Are they injured?" Jared looked around expectantly, as if he anticipated the person to be seated there with them.

"Do you remember that nice friend who stayed by you when you woke up?"

"Yeah? Is it her?" Jared's eyes lit up, and the man felt his heart hurt even more.

"Yep! Just give me a moment."

The man walked towards the counter, his footfalls suddenly becoming louder. The nurse looked up, hair askew and she smiled politely at him, despite being the same familiar face at the counter for the past several months, days, years even.

Still, she always asked the same thing.

"Your name please?"

"Rex Indigo Pendragon," he shuffled nervously, sinking even more into the hoodie. He focused more on the fidget cube inside his left hand in his pocket.

"Who are you visiting?"

"Falc- I mean, Violet Adonis Esprit."

The nurse looked at him with almost pity, as he caught himself on his mistake. Rex drew himself up and focused on the fidget cube. This happened. All the time. And consciously he noticed the smell weaving around him was not the sterilized air, and he wanted to get lost in it. But he had to stay on track.

"Any other visitors?"

"Yeah. Him. Jared Inizio-..."

The nurse looked at him with intensifying pity. Rex fiddled with the fidget cube again, shifting his gaze to the man looking around him as if the hospital was another planet. He took a deep breath, and Rex sighed, knowing that Jared had taken in a breath of fake air.

"Oh, Mr. Pendragon. I'm sorry, but a Ms. Cypress is visiting at the moment," the nurse said, reaching for the phone, "please hold on while I ask the nurses to ask her to lea-"

"No, no. I know her. Please let Jared see both of them," Rex cut in, casting a look at Jared.

The nurse looked at Rex, then Jared.

"Alright, Mr. Pendragon. I know you know the way. And I'm sorry for your loss," the nurse whispered.

Rex simply turned, his light running shoes making no sound as Jared looked at him, face filled with fascination and awe. Both their footsteps contrast in the tense environment, Rex's silence with Jared's squeaky flip-flops. Jared wore a light blue cotton shirt with a white jacket and khakis. His hands were in his khaki pockets, as he walked casually after Rex. Rex, meanwhile, sunk in deep into the hoodie he wore, pulling slightly on the white shirt and sweatpants he wore. He folded up the ratty poster neatly and put it in his pocket, returning his hands to their hoodie pockets.

"So, who are these people?" Jared asked, as he saw Rex slowing to a stop in front of a door.

"A friend's inside. But also, someone who means so much to you... she's here in the first place," Rex answered, almost cryptically. He pushed his black rectangular glasses up his face.

"So... I knew them," Jared concluded, rocking a little on the balls of his feet and making a squeaking noise with his flip-flops.

"Yeah, you did," Rex closed his eyes, left hand reaching out for the cold metal handle, "don't let the sound get to you, okay?"