Recently I have been thinking about why memories are so important. How memories affect our actions and decisions. The following is a short story on the importance of memories.
A Letter to my Beloved Katie Patterson….
Dear Katie Patterson,
As I sit on my worn out couch in my living room, I watch the window, I notice some birds anxiously fluttering outside in the chilly autumn breeze. Suddenly memories of you flood into my mind. I think of May 4th 1995. It seems like forever ago, however, it is still fresh in my mind, as if it was just yesterday that you were beside me.
We were sitting in my car and I was driving, we were heading home from a late-night concert. The roads were dark and empty; all you could hear was roaring engine and the rain hitting the windshield. We were both significantly drunk from the concert. While I was driving you put your shivering hand on mine and then looked at me with the universe in your eyes. You broke the silence by saying “I don’t know if it’s just the vodka talking or that I have just gone completely insane, but time on earth is unpredictable, it can all end at any given moment but even if it was going to end today, I would be content because today was our day and it couldn’t have been better”. I chuckled at your remark, then you turned on the car radio and you promptly fell asleep on the leather car seat.
When I think back to that memory, I think about what you said. There is never enough time and we never seem to realize that until the last minute. And the scariest thing is, all we can do is try to live freely and make the most out of every moment. Time is something you cannot buy, and yet we never grasp it long enough to truly say we lived our life to the fullest. Except for you, Katie Patterson. You lived your life to the fullest.
You knew your time on earth could have ended at any given moment, and you were ready to let it all go without hesitation. You simply accepted the fact that life was only but temporary. You loved when we just sat in the grass at night gazing at the stars, you loved when we got your favourite ice cream from the store across the street, you loved simply sitting in the car in pure silence, beside each other. You loved it all, so you made the most of every moment, and basked in the glory of life. You understood the simple fact that life was all about taking risks.
Somehow, you always seemed to be aware of how serious the situation was, and still managed to be optimistic. Like how Johnny accidently deleted your essay that you spent 3 hours on and all you did in response was laugh hysterically at the mistake of not saving it in the first place. You made me realize how precious life truly is. How crying, being angry or depressed is all a waste of time.
You were truly one of a kind. You taught me life is just a game. Where the poor can win and the rich can lose. A game where death is not a loss, but a celebration of a life well spent. And Katie, you won the game of life. You didn’t need money or power to accomplish what you became. You have taught me values that are forever engraved on my heart. You taught me to be kind yet fearful. And to never be afraid of the future, for we can only plan the present. And still I will remain strong. Even if the memories will haunt me for the rest of my days. The memories of that fatal car crash we had on May 14th 1995.
