Memories Part 1

As their vision cleared, Alexis and Hekate found themselves at the edge of a dirt road, the city lights could be seen in the distant and parked between some trees of a forest sat and beat old sedan. Hekate giggled as she pulled Alexis with her as she strutted towards the passenger door, smiling noticing a fog covering the windows. “Hmmm, what do we have here was little Robbie being a naughty boy?”

Reaching the car she opened the door, and climbed onto the front bench seat and pulling Alexis in behind her. In the back seat, Robbie and a young lady sat cuddling in post coital bliss. Hekate pouted, “Aww we are too late for the show.” Then glancing to Alexis, “So who is this?”

Alexis blushed brightly as she attempted to look away, “I’m so sorry we didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Hekate chuckled, “They can’t see or hear us dear, this is your memory, we are just watching it play out. So tell me who is she? She is kind of cute in a mousey sort of way.”

Continuing to blush, Alexis blinked again, “I’m sorry, I should have known.”

Hekate chided, “Stop being sorry for things you can’t control. Now out with it, who is the girl?”

Nodding, she finally answered, “Trinity Carson, we dated through High School. Or I mean she dated that me, I mean not the me now.”

Hekate wrapped an arm around her, “It’s okay dear, I understand. But let’s see why this memory was so important to you.”

The couple still cuddling in each others arms when, Trinity broke the silence, “Robbie, I need to tell you something.”

The boy tensed up, looking at her nervously.

She leaned in to give him a quick kiss, “don’t worry silly it is nothing bad.” Then leaning back and smiling, “I got the letter back today, I was accepted and with a full scholarship.”

Robbie froze as he stared at her, “You mean to that school?”

She nodded cheerfully, “Yes, Dawnay University of Minds and Technology, they have the top Computer Science program in the country.”

Blinking he shifted nervously, “But they are halfway across the country?”

Smiling she nodded, “yes, but we can talk everyday on the phone, and I will be home for the holidays. Hey I know why don’t you come with me, I am sure you can get a job there as easy as here and we can live together. We wouldn’t have to drive out to some back woods for some alone time.”

He shifted nervously, “I, I guess we could do that.”

She smiled even broader as she threw herself on top of him hugging him tightly, “Oh Robbie, I love you so much. This will be amazing.”

Slowly the memory began to fade, leaving the two viewers in a gray mist.

Hekate blinked now looking over to him, “Alexis what happened? It looked like you really did care for one another.”

Alexis looked down to her feet, wrapping her arms around herself, “It was never going to work, I would have just brought her down with me. She deserves so much better.”

Before Hekate could object a new memory began to fade in. This time they found themselves standing in a high school cafeteria, where the students were standing around many putting on their caps and gowns as they prepared for the graduation ceremony.

Scanning the room, Hekate finally found who she was looking for in the corner of the room, off away from the other students. Pulling Alexis along with her, they made their way over to the couple.

Trinity was sitting on the bench of the table dressed in her gown with her mortarboard sitting on the table behind her. Robbie was standing in front of her, taking a deep breath as he worked up the courage to say something.

The girl smiling at him gazed up adoringly, “What is it Robbie, is something wrong?”

His hands gripped the sides of his gown as he firmly declared, “I can’t do this anymore, Trinity we’re through, I’m sorry but it’s over.” Spinning on his heels and marching away leaving the girl stunned in his wake.

She reached out a hand, “Wait, Why, Robbie, please…” tears forming in the corner of her eyes as he ignored her pleads.

Just then the teacher supervising the students echoed from the doorway, “okay, everyone lets form up in your lines. It’s time for the ceremony.”

They watched through the ceremony and afterwards when Robbie, hurried off, not giving Trinity a chance to catch up and confront him.

As the scene slowly faded to gray again, Robbie was driving away with Trinity in tears watching him.

Hekate glanced over to Alexis, who had tears running down her own cheeks and hugging herself tightly. Wanting to say something but knowing this was not the end of the memory yet so she held her tongue.

As the next episode took shape, Robbie sat alone in a dark bedroom, his back against the headboard and knees up against his chest. His eyes bloodshot and swollen, as he rocked. His voice cracked as he spoke to himself, “It’s for the best. If I went with her, I would just hold her back, and she would hate me for it. It’s better this way, now she can find someone that can make her, make happy. And she won’t just throw me away when they come along.” Fresh tears rolled down his cheeks as he sat there.

With that Hekate realized they had seen everything they need to see today, and stepped behind the weeping Alexis. Pulling her out of the memory and back into reality.

There they sat facing one another, tears began to pour down Alexis’s cheeks, this time for real and not just imagined.

Hekate frowned as she opened her own eyes, shaking her head, “Dear you really were a fool won’t you?”

Alexis just broke down leaning forward, as she shook her head, “I know but it was for the best. I mean look what I’ve become, I would have destroyed her life too.”

Anger welled up in Hekate’s eyes, as she brought a hand up and across Alexis’s cheek. “Don’t feel sorry for yourself, it was your decision, your lack of faith in others. The fact you don’t believe you deserve to be happy, so you sabotage any chance you have at it. We love you dear, but this self pity you choose to embrace is unacceptable. You are now my daughter, so act like it.”

Shock was across Fidelisa’s face as she could only wonder what happened in the memory.

Hekate grabbed Alexis by the shoulders, her voice sharp with urgency. “Damn it, girl, say something!”

Alexis remained silent, her body limp and unresponsive, tears streaming down her cheeks. The emotional weight of reliving the memories and the strain of their bonding had left her utterly drained.

Hekate’s grip tightened as she gave her a firm shake, desperation flickering in her eyes. “Don’t do this,” she muttered, her voice softening despite herself. But Alexis was a rag doll in her hands, utterly spent.

Guilt gnawed at Hekate as she cursed under her breath. I pushed too hard. Damn it, did I break her? Her jaw clenched, and for a moment, doubt clouded her resolve. But the thought was fleeting, replaced by grim determination. No. If I don’t push her, she’ll never survive what’s coming.

With a frustrated growl, Hekate scooped Alexis into her arms, the girl’s weight light but the burden on Hekate’s heart heavy. Turning sharply, she fixed Fidelisa with a commanding gaze. “Wait here. Once she’s resting, we need to talk.”

Without another word, Hekate strode out of the room, Alexis cradled against her chest.