Selling Memories
In a time when memories can be bought and sold, can love survive?
After the Great Discovery in 2060, advances in science progressed at an astonishing rate. Each year brought countless new discoveries in technology and biology.
One of the most significant and controversial discoveries was the extraction of memory. Scientists had found a way to remove memories from the brain and store them. Then implant them into the minds of other people.
Naturally, scientists promoted the benefits of ME (memory extraction). ME could be used to help trauma victims, removing horrible memories. It could also be used in court cases to recover incriminating memories from the accused. Although lawyers argued that memories could be untrustworthy.
Scientists also claimed that an entire lifetime’s worth of memories could be stored for posterity. “Imagine having Einstein’s or Leonardo da Vinci’s memories stored,” they said. It didn’t really matter. Once the ME genie was out of the bottle, it was impossible to put it back.
As these things usually progress, ME became a source of income for many. College graduates discovered that they could sell most of their academic knowledge once they got jobs, as they needed precious little of it in the workplace.
Elderly people sold their memories to supplement their government income. Their early memories were very popular among young people who wanted to experience the past. Although the process often left the elderly with few memories by the time they died.
Businesses sprang up selling memories as a form of entertainment. People around the world participated in every conceivable activity with the intention of selling their memories. Often, to purchase other memories.
Playton woke up on New Year's Eve and looked at his media panel. The media were hyping the new year. But all Playton could think about was his wife, Melissa, leaving him at the beginning of the year. The divorce was messy, as Playton didn’t want it. He still loved Melissa. Playton had been miserable ever since.
The following day, Playton went to Memory Adventures. A popular playground for the well-off, where anyone with enough money could buy the memories of others. There were two entrances, Buy and Sell. Playton went through the Sell door.
“Good morning. How may I help you?” an agent at the counter inquired.
“I want to sell the memory of my ex-wife.”
“Which ones? Honeymoon memories are very popular.”
“All of them. I want to forget her completely.”
“Very well. Follow me.”
The counter agent led Playton down a hallway to an office. There he took a seat at a desk across from a smartly-dressed woman.
“This gentleman would like to sell the entire memory of his ex-wife,” the counter agent said to the woman.
“Your name please?” The woman asked.
“Playton Pierce.”
“Is it your intention to remove all memories of your ex-wife?”
“Yes.”
“You realize, it will be as if you never knew her? And there will be large gaps in your memory?”
“I don’t care. I can’t take this pain anymore.”
The woman spoke Playton’s request into her computer and then said, “Very well, Sir. Read and sign this contract, and we can begin the process.”
Playton was taken into a room where he laid on a bed. An attendant placed Playton’s head in a padded clamp, then a machine moved in place over his head.
“Think about your ex-wife. It will help the machine calibrate to extract the correct memories,” the attendant said.
Playton thought about Melissa and began to cry. The attendant wiped away his tears with a tissue.
“Tears are common in these cases. But soon, the pain will be erased,” the attendant said.
The procedure was silent and painless. After 5 minutes, the machine moved away, and the attendant unclamped Playton’s head.
“You’re all done. Do you remember what you came here to forget?” The attendant asked.
Playton thought for a moment and said, “No.”
“Alright, come with me.”
Playton was taken back to the office with the smartly-dressed woman.
“The procedure was a success, Mr. Pierce. This sealed envelope contains is an account of your transaction today. I strongly urge you to place it in a safe location. If you change your mind, you can retrieve your memories within 90 days. Afterward, they become the property of Memory Adventures. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Playton replied.
“Thank you, and have a good rest of your day.”
“Thank you. Goodbye,” Playton said and left the building.
As Playton walked away, he looked at the sealed envelope. He was a little curious to see what was inside, but thought, If I wanted to forget those memories bad enough to sell them, why would I want to get them back.
He tossed the envelope in a trash can and got in his vehicle.
Melissa worked at a large real estate office in town. She had always had an independent streak and was ambitious on top of it. Melissa had met Playton in high school. He was charming and sweet, and they quickly became sweethearts. She loved everything about him, except for his lack of ambition. He seemed content to work as a mechanic and not even try to make a name for himself. Nonetheless, she said yes when he proposed right after graduation.
The first year was bliss. They were crazy in love with each other. But then Melissa allowed the seed of a thought to enter her mind. Over the next three years, the idea that there might be better options for her if she weren’t married grew. As Melissa’s desire for freedom increased, she grew more distant from Playton. He often said he felt her pulling away from him. Melissa tried to discount it, but she knew it was true.
Eventually, Melissa talked herself into leaving Playton. She told herself she no longer loved him and would be happier without him.
At first, Melissa was relieved and excited about her new freedom. She dated several successful and ambitious men. Unfortunately, she quickly grew tired of them as they had little time for her. And none of them seemed to love her as deeply as Playton. She remembered how he looked at her and how it made her feel.
Melissa began to feel that her work ambitions were hollow and unfulfilling without someone to share them with. Without someone to love. She started missing Playton.
By the new year, Melissa was miserable. She wanted to reconcile with Playton, but would he have her back? She hurt him badly. She knew it. Could he forgive her? She decided to reach out and see. She picked up her phone and dialed Playton’s number.
Playton’s phone rang, and he looked at the display. It said Melissa and showed a photo of an attractive woman wearing a hat in the snow. That’s odd, he thought, I don’t know anyone named Melissa. He didn’t accept the call. Probably some scam, he thought.
Melissa tried several more times over the week, but Playton didn’t accept any of her calls.
Is he still so mad that he won’t even talk to me? She thought.
She almost gave up, but then decided to visit him in person.
Melissa drove her vehicle to the garage where Playton worked and went inside. Playton was standing behind the counter. He looked up and said, “Can I help you, ma’am?”
Melissa gave him a funny look and said, “I was wondering if we could talk.”
“Sure, but I am not interested in buying anything.”
“What are you doing, Playton? Is this some kind of payback for the way I treated you?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t understand. Do I know you?”
“Fine. I guess I deserve that. I just came to say I’m sorry, and I truly am. I will leave you alone now.”
Playton gave her a strange look.
Melissa turned and left. When she got back to her vehicle, she began sobbing. She couldn’t remember the last time she cried, but she couldn’t stop now.
Melissa returned to her office. Her coworker and best friend, Alisa, saw her and said, “What happened to you? You look awful. Have you been crying?”
“I went to see Playton today. He acted like he didn’t even know me.”
“Maybe he doesn’t.”
“What do you mean?”
“Maybe he went to one of those memory abstraction places and erased you from his memory.”
“What? Why would he do that?”
“Well, he was devastated when you left him.”
“That’s pretty extreme. I can’t imagine it.”
“I know the owner of Memory Adventures. I will ask him to check and see if Playton visited.”
Melissa thought for a second and said, “I hope you’re wrong, but I would appreciate it if you could find out.”
Two days later, Alisa got a phone call. After the call, she walked over to Melissa.
“I’m sorry, Mel, Playton did visit Memory Adventures and had you removed.”
Melissa broke down again. Alisa took her in an embrace.
“Don’t cry. Memory Adventures assured me they can replace the memories.”
Mellisa pulled away and said, “No. I won’t put him through that pain again.”
“Do you love him?”
“Yes.”
“You know he loves you.”
“Not anymore. He doesn’t even remember me. I ruined everything and broke his heart. Why would he want that pain back? And how could I ask him to?”
“I’m sorry, Mel.”
A week later, Alisa jumped up from her desk and nearly ran to Melissa’s office.
“You are not going to believe this. Playton wants to sell his house. I scheduled a meeting for 1:00 at his house. With you as the agent.”
“What?”
“This is your chance. A do-over. Go win him back.”
Melissa grabbed Alisa and hugged her.
“Thank you. I have to go home and change.”
“Go get him, girl,” Alisa said.
The following day, Payton was talking to Jerod, a new mechanic the shop had recently hired.
“I met the most amazing woman yesterday. She is selling my house.”
Thanks for reading and responding. You make it fun.
Mark
I am going to guess that you have NOT seen the movie “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”? Similar starting premise, but it went in a different direction. Yours is much more Markish (you sentimental romantic!).
Very cleverly written.