The Memory Bracelet

“It’s going to be fun Jay, come on!” my friend Nicholas said, pulling me in the direction of the antique store. I never cared for historical items or antiques, and I especially didn’t want this to be the last place we had time for today. Regardless, I figured I didn’t have a choice in the matter. I haven’t seen Nick in forever, and I wasn’t in the mood to argue with him. Together we walked into “Mr. Z’s Antiques of Antiquity”.

The store was about what I expected. A semi-random assortment of outdated furniture, clocks, and a concerning amount of plates. Must and dust hung in the air like the spirits of the item’s previous owners. Nick excitedly ran to the plates (something I couldn’t fathom) while I strolled around, trying to avoid the owner’s hawk-like gaze. As if anyone would want to steal something from this place. 

The owner in question, who I assumed was Mr. Z, looked like someone who would run an antique store. He was a small bespectacled old man. However, age had not dimmed his piercing blue eyes. They were trained on me as intently as a wolf’s on prey. I tried to ignore him, but I found that the holes he was drilling into my back were too painful. “Fine,” I thought, “if it’s a staring match he wants it’s a staring match he’ll get”. I turned abruptly in his direction, and that’s when I saw it. 

Behind Mr. Z, slightly to the right of his shoulder, was a lamp. It shone gold - not some kind of gaudy gold that an out-of-touch old person would decorate their house with, gold like the metal people have killed for. I felt something in me, some kind of desire. I wanted that lamp, needed that lamp. I strolled up to where he was standing, as casually as I could.

“The lamp, how much is it?” I inquired. 

“Lamp?” Mr. Z responded. I would have been annoyed, if not for the fact he really didn’t seem to know what I was referring to. 

“That lamp, behind you”

The old man turned around and started. “Oh dear, how long has that been there? I suppose I could part with it for $50”. 

It took effort to contain my excitement. A small part of me was confused. Isn’t it just a lamp? What am I getting so worked up about? Almost as soon as I had the thought, Nick slid up to me holding about six plates. Each of them had a different hand-painted bird on them.

“Jay, you’re buying something?” he asked.

“What’s it to you?” I retorted, with more vitriol than I was intending. 

Nick’s eyes widened. “I was just asking, geez…”

I felt a little bad, but I was much more focused on the lamp. “I’ll take it!” I said. I scanned my credit card without a second thought. Mr. Z bagged it for me, and I stepped aside while Nick took care of his plates. 

I checked my phone to see a notification from Tony, my Hinge match. “Excited for our date tonight :3” From what I could tell based on our conversations over the past week, Tony was a very sweet person.

“I bet I’m more excited!” I texted back. Tony reacted with a heart emoji, and I put my phone in my pocket. 

“Ready to go?” Nick asked. 

I nodded my agreement. I had to get back to my apartment and get ready for my date after all. 

The first five minutes of the car ride were very awkward. I broke the silence. “I’m sorry I snapped in the antique store Nick”

Nick breathed out, and the tension eased. “It’s ok. What was that about though?”

“I don’t know. I guess I was embarrassed? Buying something from an antique store?”

Nick looked askance at me, but to my relief he didn’t press matters. We lapsed into a much more comfortable conversation, and he soon dropped me off at my apartment with vague promises of getting together again soon. 

As soon as he was out of sight I rushed into my room and took out the lamp. It shone, reflecting the light of the sun. I sat down on the floor and admired it. Such perfect craftsmanship, such perfect condition. A feeling rose in my chest, the same feeling I get when I’m held by someone I love. I was tempted to rub it. The rational part of me scoffed. How silly and childish of me!

I didn’t even realize I was rubbing it until the genie appeared. There was no fanfare, no dramatic entrance. Just a guy standing in front of me looking mildly bored. 

“One wish,” he declared apathetically.

“I thought I get three”

“You thought wrong. Please, make it fast. You just woke me up from such an amazing dream and I don’t want to lose it. Actually…” the genie squinted its eyes “...it’s too late. Whatever. Make the damn wish kid. I got places to be”

“Places to be?? You live in a lamp!” I exclaimed.

“Um, actually, it’s called a Kharuf. And there’s a whole world in there.”

As interested as I was in this newfound lore, I could tell the genie was running out of what little patience it had to begin with. Thankfully, like every other person on Earth, I have put thought into what I would wish for should I ever run into this scenario. “I wish for a bracelet that, whenever I rub it, erases the memory of whatever I’m thinking of”. 

The genie waved his hand indifferently. A gold bracelet appeared on my wrist, adorned with carvings in a language I assumed was Arabic. The skin under it felt a little itchy, I subconsciously rubbed the bracelet against my wrist. 

I was sitting in my room and there was a genie in front of me. “Woah, a genie!” I exclaimed. Its eyes widened. “Dude, we just had this conversation.” 

“We did?”

The genie nodded, seeming to understand something. “Yes, rub that bracelet and think of me”. 

Dumbfounded, I rubbed the bracelet as it disappeared back into its lamp. 

I was sitting in my room holding the lamp I bought at the antique store. It was a really pretty lamp. I looked down and yelped. There was a bracelet on my arm! Mr. Z must have slipped it into my bag with the lamp as a purchase bonus. That’s so nice of him! It’s a little itchy though. 

I get a notification on my phone and notice the time. 5:30. I have to meet Tony at 6! I rush to get ready. For some reason, I can’t seem to remember what I’m thinking about. I would think about Tony, my mind would shift elsewhere, and then I’d come to in the middle of doing something - throwing on my outfit, shaving, putting on makeup.

Thankfully it’s a relatively short drive to the restaurant I’m meeting Tony at, and it’s only 6:05 when I arrive. My waiter shows me to my table, and I sit down and smile. 

“Hey Tony! It’s great to finally meet you in person”

“You too Jay!” Tony responds, smiling. Our waiter appears, giving us both wine. 

“You ordered wine for us!” I exclaimed. “That’s so nice of you.”

Tony looked confused. “Jay, you ordered wine with me. Five minutes ago”. 

I laugh, a little perplexed. Some strange red drink was in front of me. I tasted it. It was really bitter. 

“So, tell me about your life,” Tony said. 

I open my mouth, and close it. I realize I don’t remember anything about my life. Where memories and stories would be, it’s just a black void. “Haha, it’s, you know, life”. I say awkwardly, stalling for time. 

Tony laughs just as awkwardly. “You know, like, where are you from?”

I’m panicking, trying to remember. There’s nothing in my mind. And my damn bracelet won’t stop itching. I rub it, looking at Tony.

I’m sitting in an unfamiliar place with a stranger across from me. I stand up abruptly. The stranger looks faintly nervous. “What are you doing?” they ask. 

“Who are you??” I yell, scared. This is too real to be a dream. This is real life. My heart is pounding. Everybody is looking at me. “Who are you people?! Where am I?!”

My breath is coming in short bursts. I can't stop fidgeting with my bracelet. “Hoin!” I yell. I realize I forgot how to communicate. I continue to rub my bracelet, the only tangible thing on me. Strange figures and objects surround me. Uncanny faces, with expressions I don’t recognize. I sink to the ground, crying. What’s happening to me? Who am I?