PROMPT:

Structure: I was given (6) Use mostly verbs, but I changed to (10) turn the majority of your sentences into questions

Content: I was given (6) Shift/limit: tell your story from the point of view of being blind of deaf

Free for All: I was given (10) trick your story, turn it into an echo, or make it excessive, but I changed to (6) Give your story amnesia

 

Where did I live before I came to New York? I remember the warm, soft sand, the fishy smell and the refreshingly cool salty water… so did I live by the sea? How old was I when I moved there? Like nine or ten? Then I must have lived there for like eight years, right? How come I can’t remember a single name, a single place, not even my home…but the beach? The sea must have meant so much to me.

Isn’t it strange that the sea was the only thing I remember? Isn’t it strange for me to forget eight years of memory just like that? What was the city’s name? Why did I move there? Who were my friends? Did I have friends? What happened to me? What made me lose my memories?

Why is the sea the only thing I remember? Is it the clue to my lost memories? I remember sitting on the beach at night with my feet in the water. How do waves sound like? Were there stars above my head? Was it quiet? Was it dark? To me everything is always quiet and dark. I could only smell the fishy odor in the sea breeze; I could only taste the salty water splashed onto my face; I could only feel the warmth of the sun lingering in the sand grains; I could only feel the waves washing over my feet again and again; I could only feel peace in my soul; but I could not see or hear anything.

There’s one more thing I remember clearly about. I remember a hand guiding me onto the beach. But who was it? When was it? How old was I? I remember as we walked, I started to smell barbeque. Were there more people? Suddenly the person stopped, and I could feel strong heat coming at my face. Was it fire? Perhaps the fire for barbeque. But it was huge was it a bonfire? Was it bright? How tall was it? Were there cracking sounds of the woods? Did people sing and dance around it? I hoped I could see and hear so badly. It must have looked like a fallen star that collapsed into the beach, though I don’t know how exactly stars look like. Why do I remember a sense of sadness? Why was there a short pause – why did the silence I lived in became quieter and heavier for a moment? Why did the wind stop too? Why do I remember feeling tears running across my face? The hand never let go of mine until I got home safely. Who was it? Why did the person take me to the beach? Why was there a bonfire? Was there an important event? I don’t know, I can’t remember.

Where was it? How old was I? Who were there? … Why do I feel like if I put my feet back into the water I’ll remember everything?