As cliché as it sounds, I woke up to the repetitive sound of the alarm from an annoying clock. Although I still don't want to wake up because the bed is so comfortable, I feel like I should, so I open my eyes and...
"Where am I?", that's the first thought that I had. I think I even said that out loud.
As if it's not weird enough to wake up in a stranger's room, there's writing on the wall directly in front of me that says, "HEY, CALM DOWN. EVERYTHING'S FINE!".
My brows meet. Somehow, that doesn't help, and it made me even more nervous. I observe the whole room and I'm guessing I am either in a room owned by an artistic picture hoarder or a kidnapper? To my left, there are pictures on the white wall, a lot of them, arranged neatly, and is decorated with square colored paper and other art stuff. And to the right side of the room is a study table, and at the end of the wall is a door, which I'm guessing is the way out.
I notice a small table at the side of the bed that I am currently in. There was a phone on it with a sticky note. I grab the phone and read the note.
"hey, open your phone and go to Recordings and listen to the very first recording. trust me. (or yourself, i guess?)"
Okay... this is getting weirder. So this is my phone... according to this note.. but i don't remember buying or getting this phone. I clicked it and it lights up, showing today's time and date over a plain black background.
7:48 AM
3 August 2027
I scrunched my face. Did I mess up when I set the time and date of this phone? It's just 2024, 18th of May. I must have been drunk when I did this, that's why i can't remember getting this phone, I laughed.
I try open the phone and now I'm convinced this is really mine because my fingerprint opened it. Woohoo!
I decided to follow the note's instructions, because I feel that this will give me answers or any idea where I am, or rather I'm hoping that it will. I mean am I kidnapped? Did I hook up with someone last night? I mean I look decent now and properly dressed. Or did I tresspass someone else's home?Oh my god, did I? My eyes widen. That last one made me cringe. I hope I did not.
Wait. Why am I more concerned whether I tresspassed rather than the idea that maybe I was kidnapped?
Anyways, I should get back on the phone. As the note instructed, I opened the Recording app and went to the list of recordings.
I scroll up and down, and see the list was labeled with dates. Why dates? From the latest date of recording, 2 August 2021, to former days. I don't get why this phone is in the future already. I am very confused.
I tapped the first recording, at the very bottom of the list, labeled, "LISTEN", and well, listened..
•••
"Hey, you're probably weirded out by this whole thing. But you're fine. Well, for the most part, you are fine. We're fine. You're in your own house."
•••
I hear a familiar voice.. then it hit me... its.. MY voice. The voice on the recording is mine.
•••
"Anyway, first things first, you suffer from Anterograde Amnesia. Let's get that out there once and for all. That's why you don't remember this phone, this room, the years that passed...
(pause)
"Well, the thing is, we've been in an accident that kinda broke our brain, so now we can't store memories in it. Simply put, Inverse from the usual amnesia that you see in dramas, you'll still remember your life from before the accident but.. you can't form new memories anymore."
•••
I'm speechless. How..? why..?
•••
"I know you're probably confused and scared right now. But like I said, it's fine. We're fine. At least you're alive. You've managed to live independently for three years! Amazing, right? You still call Mom every day, but you know what I mean. I mean I am you, so I do know you.. myself.. uhmmm haha you should probably call your Mom now. She'll know what to do and tell you.
"And you should also listen to the latest recording on this phone. This has been our way to catch up with everything that's happened, for the three years that passed. Every day, you record a voice log recapping everything that happened in your day. Think of it like this phone is our brain where we store our memories. It's frustrating and weird, I know, but it's better than no memories.
"We're going to be just fine, William. Everything's gonna be great.
"You're probably starving, go eat!"
•••
The recorded audio ends and I sigh. My heart felt kinda heavy, and my eyes teary. I don't know what to say or even think. My mind is empty. My stomach growled and well, it's empty too.
"Well, that definitely did answer more questions than I asked. Woooh!", I said with a sad laugh, stood up from the bed.