Romans & histoires As We Go On Remember

“You should head back. They will wonder where you’ve gone. There’s a river nearby, where you can wash yourself. In case my scent is on you.” “You need to be more careful. If I can find you, so can they. There are more workers and soldiers coming.” She sighed, “it’s the fucking memories. I can’t control when they come back. It’s like those witches opened up the floodgates and the memories keep on coming through.” If what she was saying was true, then Mona was one of the strongest women, hell, people, I knew. To keep going after all this? “Is there anyone you can trust?” I asked her.

“Until my last breath, your presence by my side is the one thing that I don't want to lose. I want you to start understanding that maybe you used to, but I want you to remember it always.” “Because by remembering it, by holding on to what we have, I know that deep down it's somehow going to work out. No matter how twisted and sick it might be…”

And for the first time, I’m afraid. Because a thought slowly, methodically devours me. What if I had been there that night? What if it was me she saw? What if I don’t remember? I lower my head, broken. And I understand. What we prefer to forget… Is sometimes what destroys us the most.

Only consumption. Let him in. The thought is horrifying. Suicidal. Necessary. I don’t fight the breach. I open the door. Not to the prison. To the memory . The deepest vault. Not of pain. Of before . Sunlight through oak leaves. His laugh. Rough hands gentle on my skin. The smell of earth and him. Love. I wrap the psychic invitation in it. Like poisonous honey. Remember? Remember us?

She placed her parents in the rescue narrative as if she were reciting a script. Rowan listened, face still. When she reached the cabin scene, he asked, “What color was the rag.” She blinked. “Blue.” “We never owned a blue rag,” Rowan said. “The infirmary uses white linen.” Her smile held. “You’re misremembering. Trauma—” He opened the folder and slid the ledgers and bank receipts toward her. “Then correct the ledger. Correct the witnesses. Explain the transfers.” She didn’t touch the papers. “Rowan, if you’ve convinced yourself—”

Unknown number. Old Mill Road. Truth awaits.

I will, Adrian. My last memory of you… I would never forget it.

“Sorry, these cookies were baked for my friend. For this lady to just take one without asking, don’t you think that’s a little rude?” Samantha, sitting beside me, bared her teeth like a little leopard. “That’s right, apologize! Didn’t your parents ever teach you not to take other people’s things without permission?” Ashley shrank back in fright, hiding behind Sean. Her voice was soft and timid as she said, “My parents are both gone. No one ever taught me that. Besides, there are so many cookies here, I only had a tiny piece. Why are you being so aggressive?”

“Hello mami Can I speak to Bobby Cross the ocean I’m feelin very lonely Him ah sleep Mami wake him for me I’m on the phone I wanna talk to my baby Phone call doesn’t help when your feelin lonely Him cah tell you things make you feel sexy I’m on romantic call I’m talkin to my baby down in ah mi yard I’m on a romantic call My man patra nah go take the prowl Watch this” “I remember this song, but I don’t know from where.” “That’s normal. Sometimes small things come back out of nowhere. That’s a good sign. It means that your memory is coming back.”

"Then let’s go." "Let’s go." "Wait, Joshua." "Yes?" "Are you sure we’re not forgetting anything?" "We aren't forgetting anything." "