“Why?” was the only thing running through my mind, searching for the meaning. Any. But I should have known there was none. I should have realized all his collections from garbage dumps were the memories thrown out by others. Unspoilt childhoods, uninterrupted school years, enduring love; all unburnt objects, unbroken, possessed by happiness.
I hadn’t understood that he couldn’t afford to remember, that he needed to forget the ones of his own. It was still all there, as if it was yesterday – cries, gunshots, cracking bones, the smell of smoke. And then screaming silence through the years.
Image courtesy of Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Ese' s Voice 
Dear Ese,
When the past is too painful to remember some are prone to reinvent themselves and their memories. You’ve captured this well in a hundred words. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This reminds me so much of a neighbour of mine. He was a serial hoarder, it got so bad that when the council came to clear his home (he was moved to a elderly home) they retrieved 50 bicycles, hundreds of wedding shoes for men and women, items he had taken from gym changing rooms (nothing of value just peoples shower bottles and shampoo) and he always went to the charity shops and pilfered the bags of items that people would leave as a donation. Whose memories was he keeping? It’s sad because one experience had triggered him to keep and collect all these things, the lorry load of bikes they found was immense and struck a cord with me particularly, because when I was little, he’s always be outside fixing an old bike and then riding off on it… I feel like it was romantic but tragic.
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Wow that is sort of tragic, to want to reinvent ones initial memories which make you who you are….nice work
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Wow, that’s quite a story. What a unique idea, to create new memories to overlay original ones that are too painful to think about. That last line is a killer; great job.
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A very psychological take on the prompt. Excellent.
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When I looked at Rochelle’s collection, all I could think about was the Holocaust and all the young lives snuffed out so horribly, the toys collected by others, something you would definitely like to forget, so maybe that is what he is hiding from…or trying to forget!
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A nice voice to story telling. I enjoy the narration and the bitter-sweet taste the ending left in my mouth.
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Your story rings with a sad truth at least your main character has found a world to hide his pain
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I guess sometimes an imagined past is much more pleasant than a real one. This was thought-provoking and touching.
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The coping mechanisms of humans may not be as fantastic as animals, but they can be just as effective.
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This story is brilliant, very seamless and believable.
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What and original take.. using other peoples memories to forget one’s own. To common today with all war-refuges and more shattered sould being made every day.
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I love this story, the tiny mementos of other, happier lives. Very well done.
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Sad and disturbing. This man needs help. They both do.
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This was beautifully done, poignant. Brava!
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wow. this was wonderfully done. it’s original and part scary, part heartbreaking.
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I’m with all the sensitive and previous comments – this is touching beyond measure…
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Powerful and beautifully executed with great control. Well done.
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Hello Ese, that was very powerful and evocative, and leaves me looking forward to next week. Nice Job. 🙂
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WOW! This was a tale within a tale and a lot of ground to cover in a flash – you achieved this well, there is a whole life we can imagine from this short piece. Great take. Harrowing, but great!
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Dear Ese, I wonder how many people have taken the memories of others because their own are too painful to hold. You have me thinking.
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This is so powerful and yet sad in that memory goes.
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What a deeply, touching story. I can feel the anguish.
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Sorry, hit “post comment” before removing comma. 😦
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