The Stream

Simply put, he was lost. He sat in befuddled amusement on the small rotted wood bench that was next to the stream. He knew this place. It was very familiar to him, like that photograph sitting on the top shelf of his mothers bookcase. he wiped the sweat from his brow, hot and sticky and much too thick for the bleak fall weather. he did know this place, but like that photograph it felt like a shadow. A place forgotten, or maybe never really known. He slowly got to his feet and his head and bright lights pounded him back down to the bench. The wood creaked.

It was just bizarre and altogether goofy to be so confused. Even when the fog briefly lifted there were questions to be answered, items that seemed out of place. Most of his days of late had been filled with the monotonous routine that comes with living. One day passes, then the next passes and they continue to pass in succession. Without any event to attach to them they all fade in the fog of time. The unnatural and cruel fog of time. it sweeps away all things, he knew this, but why then do memories flood back from long ago. Faces and names from half a lifetime ago seem vivid yet any memory of this damn stream is vague and obscure. The water babbled over the rocks mocking his confusion. He slammed his fist into his knee. He knew this shouldn't be so difficult. he had dealt with more complex ideas, he had dedicated his life to more complex ideas. Now he just needed to remember where he was going. It shouldn't be this difficult

His mother's picture was there on top of the small book shelf in her room. He and his brothers sat there with  goofy looks on on their faces, fishing poles dangling in the water of the great river. They had often fished there on hot summer days. 

He heard a woman approach from further up the bank of the stream. She waved her hand and smiled at him. he instinctively smiled back. As she drew closer her expression changed to one of concern, and fear.

"Don, you're bleeding. What happened to your head?" he rubbed his forehead. Still damp but more sticky, more thick. 

"Oh, I must have gotten confused" She helped him to his feet, and examined his head.

"Well lets get you back up to the house, and clean you up." she leaned in and kissed him.

"then we'll get you into the office to have that checked out". he felt himself smile as he walked beside her. She was warmth, she was kindness, she was happiness, she was love. He knew these things, no memories were necessary.