The Journal of Memories

I woke up to the buzzing of my alarm.

Ugh, is it Sunday already?

Dragging myself out of bed, I threw on some clothes and made my way downstairs. My mom was sitting at the table, drinking her coffee, while my dad was packing his things for work. He seemed to be flustered this morning as his glasses were hanging down on his nose and his shirt and tie were wrinkled instead of ironed, like normal. His short, black hair was messy like he just got out of bed. He picked up his backpack and started heading towards the door.

He must be really stressed.

“Wait dad! You forgot your journal.”

He ran back over to the table and picked up the worn out book, “Thanks, I would have been in serious trouble if I would’ve forgotten about this.” He chuckled and hugged me before making his way back to the door, “See you guys tonight!”

When the door closed, my mom picked up his coffee mug and began cleaning up their breakfast dishes. Walking into the kitchen she yelled back to me, “So are you still going out to breakfast with Henry this morning?”

I walked into the kitchen, picking up a towel to help dry the dishes off, “Yeah if you don’t need my help around here.”

She tied her long, brown hair into a messy ponytail, “Don’t worry about me. Go have fun today. I was actually thinking of going out to get groceries anyways.”

We fell into silence for a bit, washing away at the dishes. My mom broke first, “So... do you like anyone at school?”

I threw my head back and sighed, “Oh god, don’t get into this. Please.”

She laughed at me, “What? You barely ever come out of your room without a book in your hand. Just tell me. I promise I won’t tell....”

I shook my head, “You are almost as bad as Henry.”

“Please...,” She gave me these puppy dog eyes that made me laugh.

“Fine... there is this one girl that is really nice.”

My mom looked surprised as she turned the tap off, “Wait! I thought you were gay.”

I laughed, “I am bisexual so yeah kind of.”

“Oh... Well do I get anymore details?”

I smirked, “Nope.”

She turned the tap back on, “Well, thanks for telling me.”

I glanced down at my watch.

Shit, I was supposed to leave five minutes ago.

I am not the best at getting to places on time.

“Hey, I have to get going.”

She looked over at the clock, “Oh, already... Well I hope you have a good time. Don’t worry about getting home at a certain time, you can take as much as you want.”

I gave her a hug then walked towards the door, “Thank you. I will see you later.”

“I love you!”

I grabbed my leather jacket with my keys and ran out to my bike. My neighbors black labrador came running to the fence with her tale wagging. She jumped up so her front legs were on the top of the fence.

This dog is so crazy sometimes.

She licked my arm as I pet her silky fur, “Hey Macy! You’re such a good girl!”

I love dogs even though my parents won’t let me have one.

“Macy!”

My neighbor, Josh, walked out onto the porch, with a leash in his hand, “Oh hey Ben! I was just about to take her for a walk. Do you want to come with?”

Alright, you can do this just a simple response, then go.

“Sorry, I was just about to go meet my friend for breakfast. I promise next time though.”

He smiled, “Alright. Have a nice day.”

Nailed it! One point for the socially awkward teen!

“You too.”

Still don’t enjoy talking.

I threw my leg over my Harley and threw on my helmet. Then, I was speeding off again to a coffee shop by Central Park. It’s a small shop but cozy. It is the only coffee shop that I know of that actually has all people servicing you and making the coffee. I normally go there to read a book or to relax but once in awhile Henry meets me for breakfast there.

As I pulled up, Henry was standing outside with his robot. He looked mad but I knew he was just playing around, “Dude! I have been waiting a million years for you!”

I turned off my bike and jumped off, “I am ten minutes late.”

He threw his arm around my shoulders and chuckled, “Okayyy. Maybe not a million.”

I nudged him off me, “You are so weird sometimes.”

He flashed me a smiled, “I am always weird!”

We both walked into the shop and sat down on the couches. A waitress quickly came over and took our orders. Henry looked down at his robot sitting next to the coffee table, “Why do you always come here? It’s weird. I always get the feeling they don’t like robots.”

I scoffed, “Well I think that is because all the other coffee shop workers in this city were replaced by robots. I wouldn’t like them either if they were the whole reason I lost my job.”

“It’s just weird though. This is how the world works now. We have moved on and improved.”

I laughed to myself, “This doesn’t seem like an improvement, more of a step back. Like half the people in the world now don’t even look away from their holograms anymore.”

He thought for a second, “Yeah I guess you are kind of right...”

The waitress came back with our drinks and placed them on the table, “Let me know if you need anything else.”

I gave her a smile, “Thank you.”

Henry noticed and immediately had a look in his eye, “I saw you smile at her.”

“What?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, mister. That’s the girl from school you like.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” I picked up a mug, taking a sip of coffee.

“Sure...”

I looked over the waitress again. Her short, blonde hair was styled into a pixie cut and was almost white looking. She is pretty tall and skinny but, honestly, she probably has better muscles than me. She had a bright smile, like my mom’s, when she would talk to customers. I could not even imagine her job being taken over by a robot. She was so airy and social unlike a machine. But I am so socially awkward and shy to talk to her.

Why do I have to be so socially awkward? Damn you brain!

“Heeellloooo? Earth to Benjamin!” Henry was waving a hand in front of my face, “Dude you are totally into her! Go talk to her!”

“Oh god no! Remember I am antisocial.”

“Now you are just making excuses!”

That is kind of true.

I sighed, “Whatever, can we talk about something else now?”

“Fine... Did you understand the homework for chemistry?”

“Yeah it was easy. You just balance the equations.”

He threw his hands up, “Well sorry Mr. Smarty Pants. Not all of us are as great as you.”

I laughed, “Damn, name calling. I am hurt.”

He laughed too, “Can you send me pictures of it?”

“Why don’t you just tell your robot to do it for you?”

“His writing is way to neat! It is like a typewriter!”

“Well duh! He is a machine, not human.”

He finished up the last of his coffee, “Well I have to get going. My mom said I have to meet her at her work today since I am still ‘grounded’.”

“That sucks. I will see you later then right?”

He got up and put the money down for his coffee, “Yeah see you later. Come on little guy.”

His robot woke up from sleep mode and followed him out the door. A few minutes after he left. I finished my cup and threw money down for a tip. I grabbed my jacket and began to walk out to my bike.

“Wait!”

Shit... please don’t be her. Please don’t be her.

I turned around to see the waitress, “You left twenty dollars for a tip. You must have put down the wrong amount on accident.”

Damn it is her!

“Oh, no I meant to do that.”

“But... I really didn’t do that much.”

I smiled, “Don’t worry about it. Thank you for the coffee and have a nice day.”

She smiled back, “You too,” then she disappeared back into the shop.

Holy shit! I actually talked to her!

I walked to my bike and began to drive back home.

When, I pulled up I saw my mom’s car was gone.

She must still be out.

I began to walk up my steps then out of nowhere...

BOOM!

The whole ground shook beneath me.

What the hell was that?

BOOM!

The one was bigger.

I looked up at the sky and saw smoke and even some fire over the tops of the buildings.

BOOM! BOOM!

Something is really wrong!

The noises seemed to be getting closer and each cloud of smoke was in a different part of the city. People along the sidewalks have began to stop and watch the smoke too.

There was a very large plane that was flying closer. It opened a hatch and dropped something. Then, seconds later...

BOOM!

Holy shit! Someone is bombing us!

This one was very close and people began to run in the opposite direction. Panic was beginning to spread among everyone. A few moments later the smoke began to spread like fog. It flowed through the alleys and streets. I was frozen in place and couldn’t think straight.

What is this? Why is someone bombing the city?

The smoke reached where I was standing and I breathed in but was unable to take a breath. My eyes were tearing up and I was coughing. I heard the people around me beginning to choke and cry for help.

This isn’t just regular smoke!

My mind was rushing with thoughts and my legs gave out, sending me to the ground. I didn’t have the strength to get up and I couldn’t see anything anymore. My hearing cut out so all I heard was ringing. My body was paralyzed as I couldn’t move. My skin was tingling and my eyes started to close. I struggled to fight against it but my body relaxed shutting everything down and pulling my eyelids closed. My eyes finally closed and the world went to the dreadful color of black.