Prologue
"Amnesia"
Since I was about ten, I was involved in competitive swimming competitions. As a result of this, an unfortunate event happened. This time was the time that I not only lost, but underestimated my stroke count at the same time that my goggles' strap broke. I thought I had five strokes instead of three, and ran into the end of the pool, rendering myself unconscious.
I got a concussion, and a rare disease labeled as 'retrograde amnesia.' The doctors told me that I would most-likely re-gain my childhood memories in a matter of weeks, or months. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. I knew functions, how to speak, walk, write, play backgammon even. But, I couldn't, for the life of me, remember the life of me.
I couldn't remember any of my memories, or even people. I didn't know my own mother, my sister or my best friend. I could remember the name of the Aztec Emperor, but not my Aunt Emily. It was so scary and confusing waking up to those people, not knowing who they were, or who I was.
The doctors then prodded in and proceeded in to ask difficult questions like what my name was or when I was born. None of which I knew the answers to. I was so confused and tired, my head ached and my heart swam. I was still wondering who the beautiful boy was that had been holding my hand, leaving it so warm and tingly. The one thing I was curious about most was the strange boy from the hospital room with the warm hands. I had asked several times that day about him, but no one really answered me. They told me he was 'family friend.' Puzzled, I asked about his family, only to be met with another round of "um..."
He was a very attractive, wise and humorous fellow. He enjoyed children and cartoons, but could turn around and have an in-depth conversation about politics or the Revolutionary War all in one minute. His friends were those of my cousins and my Uncle's friends, he was always around, and... yet he appeared to have no other friends, no girlfriend, no life. I was curious about him, but it was awkward for me at first. I didn't know this boy. Of course, he had known me for years, but I don't have the fortunate memories to prove it. He was not my friend or family, and he was certainly nothing more than a friend. Whenever I would question about things that I observed he would shift his eyes and make a quick excuse and scamper off to who knows where.
I bet most people don't worry about strange things like loosing all of their personal memories. I bet I didn't ever think about it either. Otherwise I would have something like "self-remembering DVDs" with a compressed summary of things all people should know about their lives. I know it would make MY life so much easier...