Lumanti (Memory)

Memory Lane

"Shoot, I need to go pick up Sara from her work. Her car is stuck at repairs. I am running late. I will see you tomorrow all right." Rianne hugged Lumanti and rushed to pick up Sara from her work leaving Lumanti alone with her thoughts. She tried very hard to get a glimpse into those days, through the words of Rianne, but it was as if her mind was shut off and wouldn't let out any picture. All the story of her that Rianne just told her seemed just a story to her. She couldn't relate to it or even feel like it was hers or it had happened in her past. A tear escaped from eyes without her knowing and she quickly wiped it away. She tried to remember pushing herself but soon started getting frustrated. She was pacing up and down in her room, trying very hard not to throw anything at her sight. She dug her head into a pillow and screamed into it to muffle her sound, then she let all her tears pour out of her eyes. She sat up resting her head against the bed and tears continue to make its way out. She didn't try to stop. This one year has been extremely hard for her. Her study was delayed, she didn't remember most parts of her life, she had to catch up on things she had learnt and most of all she does not remember that how she met love of her life or was it even the love she wanted. Even after learning all the truth, she was not able to grasp it. She couldn't actually believe in them or comprehend them.

The ringtone on her phone brought her back to the reality. Aaron was calling her. She wiped her tears and cleared her throat before picking up the call and said, "Hello."

"Were you crying? Are you okay?"

Her voice was still coarse from all the crying and despite her attempt at hiding the reality, he found out. She insisted, "No. I am not."

"T, please tell me whats wrong? I know from your voice that you were crying."

Her voice began to crack as she spoke, "Ri told me how we met and how we fell in love. I am trying to remember it so hard but I can't I just.. just."

"Hey, hey, T, don't pressure yourself into this. It is ok. It was in past. Like I said, we will make new memories."

"No.. I want to remember. I want to feel them. How is it fair to you? How is it fair to me?"

"Don't worry about me. If you would like, I can come right now."

"No, no. It is alright. I am fine. Don't come, plus you have work tomorrow."

"So do you and you are exhausting yourself."

"But can you please send me one picture of us together?"

"Do you think it is a good idea."

"Please, I don't think I will ever remember them, but I want to know what it looked like though I cannot remember what it felt like. Maybe looking at it can help me trigger the memories."

"Sure, will you stop crying if I send you a picture now."

"Ok," she said in a small squeaky voice.

"I have sent one to you now. Can you check it?"

It was a picture of him and her together sitting in a park bench looking at each other smiling.

"Yep, got it."

"Ryan took this picture. I don't know if you remember him. Our friends organized a barbie at the park and we were just sitting there in the bench talking with each other instead of helping so he took that picture but later he told me that 'you guys are really in love, huh? You look at each other with love in the eyes.'"

"You don't see the same love in me now do you?" She interrupted.

"Well, I am hoping to see it."

"Me too."

"Don't worry about it too much alright. You better rest now and did you take your medicines?"

"Ya, I am going to. Thanks for the reminder."

"No problem."

"Good night."

"Good night. Take care. If you need anything I am just a call away."

She felt good after talking to him and stared long at the picture that he sent before dozing off. She dreamt of them both in that barbie party preparing barbeque, laughing with friends and playing games.

Next morning, she got up, freshen up and got herself ready for the work. She was still working at the same supermarket but was actively applying for internship opportunities.

After finishing her work, she returned home at evening and finished some of her chores and called Ri and told her that she couldn't be in for the movie night. Rianne was worried for a bit but then thought it must have been her study. The reason was partly her assignments but partly she just wanted to be on her own. Later Aaron called her asking about her day. She told him that she wanted to go to the park where the picture was taken. He offered to take her there, but she insisted that she wanted to go there by herself. He didn't argue. He simply said, "If you would like to do that then sure but please let me know if I should be there."

She agreed and went to the park next day after her work. She stayed there for a long time to jog her memory. It was a beautiful park with green grass and children were playing nearby. She walked around for a bit and with smooth breeze passing her by she felt at ease; better than yesterday. She reached by the river and sat on bench by the pathway. She felt strange familiarity of the place and soaked into the beautiful weather staring towards the horizon. When sun left for the night sky to arrive, she got up and drove back towards her apartment. She didn't realise that she got missed calls from Aaron. She was too immersed in the place to realise her phone ringing.

She called him back as soon as she reached her place. "Hey, why didn't you pick up my call?"

"Sorry, I didn't realise. You didn't call Ri, did you?"

"No I was about to though but are you okay?"

"Ya I am fine. More than fine actually. I feel more calm now."

"Wow, that's great. Tell me about it."

"Well, I walked around a bit, there were few families. I reached the bench by the river. There was strange familiarity in that place. I couldn't understand."

"Hmm. That's nice, right?"

"Of course. How is your prep for that welcoming International Students going on?

"Welcome Party? Honestly it is falling apart. I am handling all by myself and I don't know how I will manage everything by weekend."

"I can help if you would like?"

"You would? That would be great actually."

"Then let me know what I can do?"

"I need to book caterers, shop for decorations, drinks, invite, food.."

"I think you said that already. Ok wait, ok, take a breath. Meet me at Uni lounge tomorrow at 5 and we will take it from there."

"Ok, cool, sounds like a plan. Ok I will see you tomorrow."