Retained Vs Lost

Memory is a tricky beast; musings on what was remembered vs what was forgotten after an assault. Non-graphic.

Strange, the things you still remember,

like a milkshake and fries for dipping,

the taste of strawberries and grease;

and crystal prisms in slow-motion,

the grassy tang of rain scented air;

and the ache in your feet,

a reminder of those streets you walked.

 

Strange, the things that stick,

like the shape of his hair,

a loose black curtain to hide his secrets;

and a mother's advice left untaken,

a bitter pill in 20/20 hindsight;

and denim overalls for a tomboy frame,

damp with shame and grief.

 

Awkward, the things you forget,

like the colour of his eyes,

though he stared right into yours;

and the length of your hair,

though he pulled it, just once;

and even the colour of his skin,

though you'd known him for years.

 

Awkward, the things you lose,

like memory in sequence,

what happened when, or first, or next;

and 12 years not spent running,

too afraid to tackle one day in the rain;

and the innocence of a girl-woman,

young enough to trust in him.

 

Heartbreaking, that last missing piece--

the you that could have been.

Author's Note

As always, all polite/relevant reviews are welcome - including constructive critique, grammar and spelling corrections. I'd also be particularly interested if you could offer any title suggestions for this one. Finally, thank you for taking the time to read/leave a review!

Reviews

[Marie Anzalone]

The mind plays tricks when there is trauma... it focuses on small details- curtains, the sound of birdsong, the way the leaves looked in the sun, how many bumps in the road- and forces others into recess, where they cannot hurt. This is powerful, because you've outlined the healing process that starts with remembrance of the event, and shifts the focus so all the details come across hazy, like old faded black and white images. Beautiful and transcendent.