Forgotten
“…Two men walking up a hill, one disappears and ones left standing still…”
Colette came running into the restaurant. “So sorry I am late! You wouldn’t believe how crazy work is right now!” She breathed. Her friends laughed, chuckling over the fact that the library was busy. It was more probable that Colette had her nose stuck in a book and had lost track of time. Her boyfriend Adam said, “It’s no problem. I ordered you some water.” She smiled her thanks and looked at the other three. “So, what’s the plans?”
“Derrick and I talked it over. We want to backpack it to California; hitchhike and have an adventure! Which means we’ll be camping on the ground and eating as we go.” Adam answered, his mind already on the trip the four had planned for their summer trip. Brenna looked at her friends and sighed.
“I’m not going to be able to make it you guys.”
“Why not?”
“Work is crazy right now. Plus, since we are going to take our time, there is no way I can afford that and still be back in time for my sister’s wedding in July. I’m sorry.” Brenna looked disappointed and Colette decided then that she too would stay.
“I’ll stay with you. That way the guys can have a boy trip and not worry so much about safety.” Adam was about to protest when Derrick agreed it was a good idea. So the boys prepared to leave the next week.
*
Adam smiled. “What do you think of the freedom, man?” He asked Derrick. “No cellphones, no females, just us and nature!”
Derrick laughed. “I like it, but I do miss the girls. Where are we anyway?”
Adam shrugged. “Somewhere in Arizona’s deserts I guess.” There was nothing in sight for miles on end.
Derrick gestured, “It’s a far cry from Birmingham, isn’t it?”
Adam agreed, sneezing loudly. “AH-CHOO!” He shook his head. “Whoa, that was a big sneeze. Stupid dust.” He turned to Derrick. He wasn’t anywhere. Adam looked left and right, turning in circles. “Derrick! Where are you? This isn’t funny!” Adam continued to look, running around, trying to find him. Suddenly, nothing in sight wasn’t so adventurous, it was scary. “This isn’t funny man! Stop playing around.” But Derrick wasn’t playing, he was simply gone.
Adam hurried through the desert, trying to find a town. Finally, he came upon a town: Welcome to Hackberry, Population: 42. Adam passed the sign, running up to the first person he saw. “My friend disappeared. Please…” He passed out.
Immediately, people surrounded him and took him to the doctor’s house. Hours later, Adam woke up to strangers staring at him. He sat up quickly. “Who are you? Where am I? What happened?” He fired these questions at the nearest man, who happened to be the doctor. “Now, sonny, that is what we would like to know.” Adam suddenly remembered his friend. “Where’s Derrick?” He asked.
“Who’s Derrick?”
“My friend. The one who went poof.” With that statement, Adam told the story. After the story, Adam remembered his manners. “Thank you for helping me. What is your name?”
The man got up quickly and asked, “I forgot. Do you have a headache? Let me get you some medicine and warm milk. It will make you feel better.”
Adam smiled. “Thank you.”
Over the course of the next two weeks, he continued to ask questions around town. There were no celebrations, no parties. Only work and the avoidance of questions. Adam knew that he would need to find a job soon. He was ready to leave town. He found a job at a local music store, smiling as he remembered how he and Derrick had worked there while Brenna worked at a little café and Colette, the library.
Weeks passed and he began to stop asking questions. He didn’t ask the names or family members; he didn’t ask about births and deaths; he simply lived his life day to day, working to earn money to leave.
Eleven months passed. No questions were asked, no memories beheld. He had become part of the town. He worked at the music store, could name every artist and song.
He was number 43.
Someone new passed through the store. They talked about music. Suddenly, the man said, “By the way, my name is Blake. What’s your name?” He looked at the stranger. “I forgot to mention. I have a new album by that artist. Would you care to look?” And led the way.
The man soon left, the same as he was, thinking some about the strange little town he had passed through and the boy he had met. The boy, however, gave no thought to the man or what he himself used to think about the town. After all, he was not the same.
*
Colette opened a box to what she thought was books she had lost two months ago and instead found pictures of the group: Brenna, Adam, Derrick and herself. She flipped through slowly, smiling and laughing. Later she wrote in her journal: “I still remember that night three years ago when Derrick retold the story of Adam’s disappearance. We were still in mourning, after all, though he had been missing a year, we had high hopes he would wander back and go: “April Fools!” in the middle of July. Derrick says I am hopeless and need to move on in life. But being pregnant, I wonder if my child will up and disappear on me. Is there a parallel universe out there somewhere that causes one to forget? I hope so. Because then Adam wouldn’t be truly gone.”
“…Two men walking up a hill, one disappears and ones left standing still…”