Chapter 326: Elsewhere
Many memories made in childhood were often forgotten. That was just the way that human beings were built. It was nearly impossible to retain memories of every little thing that went on during a lifetime. As people grew, things that used to be important went to the back of the shelf and were eventually forgotten.
Things like favorite colors, favorite toys, and even friends we used to see every day at kindergarten faded from memory. Replaced by bigger, brighter memories that were easier to retain.
Those memories were often the ones that held a very strong emotional connection. For example, Derek’s grandmother had died when he was four years old. He did not remember everything about the old woman given that he had been so young. But he recalled golden glass frames, a warm laugh, and a wrinkled hand clutching his own smaller one as they had walked through the manor gardens. And also the feeling of safety, and happiness that came with those memories. If he was still able to recall bits and pieces of his grandmother from when he was four years old. Then there was no way that a twelve year old Derek would not have been able to remember, having met Emily and her mother before.
And that was not the only thing that did not make sense. Derek’s father had died of an accidental overdose. So how on earth could their mothers have met that day? From what he knew, Emily’s father had died of cancer. Comparing the two stories, Derek’s dad would have died at the manor and Emily’s in hospital. So how on earth could they have been together when they breathed their last? Things were not making sense, and Derek did not like not knowing what was going on.
But getting information from their mothers was proving close to impossible. In fact, impossible was putting it lightly.
It was as though when it came to that particular topic, the two women had taken a vow of silence. And every time they tried to speak on it. They were reminded of their promise, and they instantly clammed up. Derek watched as Emily threw question after question at them trying to get them to crack.
And sometimes it almost seemed as though she were about to succeed. One of their parents would open their mouths, say a few words. Then they would just freeze up, going silent and leaning against the other for support. Their eyes far away, lost in memories.
When it came to the story of his father’s death. Derek had always believed it to be an open and shut case, but clearly he had been wrong. His father was having trouble sleeping. He took some sleeping pills and never woke up. That was the story that he had been given, and he never had reason to question it.
But now that Derek actually thought on it. He was beginning to wonder how many of the memories that he had around that time were authentic. And how many of them had come because something had been repeated to him so many times. That he had accepted it as the truth.
Memories could be be altered, especially if false information was fed in, while an event was still fresh.
It was a heck of a thing to consider. But it was not a possibility that Derek could just throw out.
If their mothers said that they met all those years ago. Then most likely Derek had also met Emily back then too. So why did he not remember, and why did she also have no memories of that encounter?