Chapter 2

The snow fell heavier and heavier.

I slowly crouched down, curling into the shallow pit just like my sister had done.

The icy snow instantly soaked through my clothes.

So, this was how cold it was.

I deserved this. How could I have forgotten something so important?

But I was just sick.

The doctor said it was a rare, progressive memory disorder.

It was like something was slowly eating away at the hippocampus in my brain.

New memories couldn't stay, and old memories were disappearing one by one.

My mom called it an eraser.

But I didn't know why there was an eraser in my head.

I only knew that I could remember something in the morning, but by noon, it would be gone.

My mom said I was an idiot.

Maybe I was.

The sky grew darker.

In the distance, the town lights flickered on, and I could hear occasional festive poppers.

It was time to go home.

I tried to move my stiff legs.

But the moment I stood up, that familiar, empty feeling washed over me again.

I blinked, looking around.

The trees were white. The road was white.

I turned around, then turned back.

What... what was I supposed to do just now?

Go home.

Right, go home.

But where... where was my home?

My heart suddenly raced.

I pressed my hand against my chest, gasping for air.

Think.

Today is New Year's Eve. My sister wanted to play hide-and-seek. Then my mom slapped me...

And then what?

I couldn't remember.

Whatever.

I'll just wait here.

They will realize I haven't come home, and they will come find me.

Just like they found my sister.

I hugged my knees in the pit, counting the distant fireworks. One, two... by the time I reached seventeen, I forgot what came before.

Finally, the midnight bells began to chime.

Fireworks exploded in the sky, lighting up the entire world.

It was so beautiful.

On past holidays, my dad would light sparklers for me and tell me to make a wish.

But what did I wish for?

I forgot that, too.

I curled myself tighter.

I knew I was supposed to be freezing, but suddenly, I felt incredibly hot.

I took off my coat, then my sweater.

But the heat was unbearable.

By the time I was down to just my T-shirt, I felt like I was floating.

With another blink, I was back home.

The cartoons were still playing on the TV. My mom was sitting on the couch, holding my sister, feeding her warm milk from a spoon.

"Good girl, Joy. Take another sip. It'll warm you up."

My sister's cheeks had regained their color. Wrapped in a thick blanket, only her eyes were showing.

"Where is Elena?" my sister suddenly asked.

My mom's hand paused. "Don't talk about her."

"But she isn't back yet..."

"She deserves it! Let her feel what it's like to freeze in the snow. She's old enough to know better, yet she can't even look after her own sister."

I wanted to walk over and say I was sorry, but I floated right through the coffee table.

I froze.

"Elena isn't back yet," my dad said, standing by the window, looking out. "The snow is getting really heavy..."

"Now you're worried?" My mom didn't even look up. "What if something really happened to Joy today? Huh? What would we have done?"

My dad remained silent.

"She did it on purpose! She's jealous of her sister, so she pretended to forget! That disease... who knows if it's even real? The doctor said they'd never seen such a strange case..."

"The doctor said it was a physical brain lesion," my dad whispered.

"A brain lesion that only makes her forget her sister but nothing else? She remembers to watch TV, but forgets to look for her sister?"

My mom's voice rose sharply. "She just hates us for having a second child! She hates that we gave our love to Joy!"

Frightened, my sister shrank back into our mom's arms.

My mom instantly softened her voice, patting her back.

"Shh, don't be scared. Mommy isn't mad at you... My sweet Joy..."

My dad stood there for a long time before finally turning away from the window.

"When she gets back, I need to have a serious talk with her."

"Talk about what? How she almost killed her sister?"

My mom scoffed. "If you ask me, we should just put her in a care home. She can't remember anything anyway. What difference does it make where she lives?"

My dad didn't answer.

I stood beside them and opened my mouth.

"I..."

No sound came out.

I reached out to touch my mom's shoulder, but my hand passed straight through her body.

Ah. I was dead.

Well, that was fine.

This way, I wouldn't have to forget anything ever again.