Plastic Memories Novels & Stories

"The trauma from the plane crash caused significant swelling here and here. That swelling compressed the areas responsible for certain memory functions." "But if the swelling went down years ago, why did my memories only start returning recently?" Dr. Reyes smiled. "Memory isn't stored in just one place in the brain. It's distributed across multiple systems. Think of it like... a complex network of roads. The crash blocked some major highways, but over time, your brain built detours." Eleanor shifted beside me. "And these detours finally connected?" "Exactly." He nodded approvingly. "Certain triggers—places, faces, smells, emotions—can create new pathways or strengthen existing ones."

Before this table. Something I don’t yet understand, but that my body recognizes. And that look. That look she gives me unwittingly. Like a burn. Like a memory. A flash runs through me. A dim light. Rumpled sheets. Warm skin. A name whispered in the shadows. But everything is blurry. Distant. Like drowned underwater. I furrow my brows. Why is this memory so blurry? Why is it coming back now? Lucas breaks the moment. — And your car, Alexandre? How are you recovering from your accident two months ago?

"Because once the memory extractor starts, the high-frequency pulses will make every bone in your body feel like it has been crushed a thousand times over. After that, you will not get another chance to explain yourself." My face went white. I thrashed against the hands holding me. "Claire, no! "You cannot extract my memories!" Claire seized my wrist, her teeth clenched. "Now you're afraid? "Too bad. "I have to get justice for Lily." Tears blurred my vision. "Claire, please listen to me. My memories cannot be shown. You will regret this." Claire laughed once, sharp and bitter. Her eyes were bloodshot when she leaned closer. "Regret?

Moss added. Blanche went silent, she felt like she was defeated even before the war started. Moss explained the data of the microchip, it shows how Hent struggle to fight back when the organization was taking her memory, she’s saying Blanche’s name, she’s trying not to forget. But she forget. She’s a robot. “Are you going to tell her how you two fought?” That memory was also deleted, she’s starting anew but the way she recognized Blanche when someone’s trying to harm her proved that robots also had secret memories that can’t be deleted. Like memory that cannot be forgotten.

**** ~ Flashback ~ Before heading to the library, Evelina and Rissa are on their way to the opposite end of the class to the library. Evelina walks and she stops from her path, she just remembers that there was something she forgot. Seeing Evelina's reaction stop, Rissa asks her. "Eve, what's wrong? Is there anything you left in the classroom?" "No, I forgot something. That actually, I wanted to return the book in the library," she replied.

Her mind paved the way for different thoughts that made her feel she was a bad person. She closed her eyes and took in a deep, long breath. She released the breath and opened her eyes, motivating herself. “Everything is fine,” She remembered Malachi’s words, and a smile found its way to display on her face. “I am a good person. My smile glitters people’s lives. I should continue to be generous…” She cracked up and suddenly burst into a laughter that lasted for a minute. After she stopped laughing, she wondered what was wrong that would warrant such laughter, but she couldn’t give herself an answer.

Memories began to flood his thoughts, like a reel of moments frozen in time. One particular memory stood out—a snapshot of him and Andrea, their faces adorned with smiles, indulging in ice cream. He couldn't resist the urge to relive that moment. With a few taps on his phone, he brought up the cherished selfie. The image of the young girl with her radiant smile and striking resemblance to Maiari filled his screen.

Felix stated. His tone grew soft and conscious, making Travis look at him, eyes narrowed. "What else are you talking about?" Travis asked. "You need a person," Felix said, leaning forward, elbows on his knee. Travis blinked. "A person?" he asked. "Yes. Someone connected to the memories you’re struggling to access. Emotional memory isn’t stored the same way factual memory is. Faces, voices, shared experiences—they act as anchors. Sometimes the brain needs an external trigger to unlock what it's protecting," Felix explained.

And closed it with a sigh. “Did you not want to read anything?” Tristan asked me puzzled. I smiled at him, feeling my lip crack a little as I did “I did.” I saw the confusion on his face and giggled “I have a photographic memory. I can recall information at any time just by looking at it. Kind of like pulling out a photograph to look at whenever you want to. I retain facts and conversations and recall them easily.” His mouth formed an ‘O’ as he processed the information.

I whispered, fear tightening my throat. "Memory loss, especially due to trauma, is unpredictable. Some memories may come back in flashes, triggered by a smell, a sound, or a place. Others may never return. The goal isn't necessarily to force the memories back but to heal and find peace, whether or not those memories resurface." I nodded slowly, trying to absorb her words. "So, what do we do now? How do we start?"