Time Can't Make Me Forget

by Jordan Solis

One by one the line grew along the way, numbers blinked white then black. Please enter pin. Jamie stared at the screen as the distance in her mind grew by the second. Why did you leave me here? I want to sing and dance with you and your old-timey records. Or were they tapes? A zebra-striped card stuck out, faded and partly chipped. You always loved zebras. Footsteps, another now waited. No, they were colored horses to you. The hums of the machine covered the sound of tears and sudden, shallow gasps of air. Her beating heart screamed in agony. Nothing could hide the tremble of her hands. The world felt cold, empty, colorless, each finger ached as Jamie pressed each number. 1 lost, 4 began, 3 remained. Voice cracking alongside the pain, "I love you." The screen went blank, seconds became eternal hours as it returned. Incorrect pin. Footsteps, her body felt numb once again. Please mom, what was it? Tears began to fall once again, Jamie whispered and pleaded, "Anything, please give me something. You always answered. Why can’t you do it again? Just one more time…please." More footsteps, more people, the world was colder, emptier, duller, yet someone was humming an old tune. It’s so familiar, the way you'd speak, so tenderly. I know that song! Looking back to see who was performing, it was all empty, no one was there, the sun felt warm as Jamie took a deep breath. Please enter pin.