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Silence. That’s all Ellowyn could hear. Silence. The world was bumbling around him, but he didn’t, couldn’t, process any of it. The world was a show on mute. The lyrics of a sound without a beat. Maybe it was because of the headphones resting on his ears. Maybe it was because of the feelings flashing through his mind. Not only was there no sound, there was no warmth.
He felt freezing. Whether it was because of his condition or because the area around him was actually cold he didn’t know. All he knew was that he was freezing. Maybe it was because of the concerned looks of the attendants. Or maybe it was because of the floor he was sitting on. All he knew was the freezing feeling seeping into him. The silence and the freezing feeling was accompanied by a blurriness. Even with his glasses, it was blurry. Lights too bright and colors too dull.
Chime!
Silence.
Chime!
Insistent silence.
..Lo..yo- can’t ig-r me for-..
Constant silence.
“Ellowyn, come airhead I have emotions too y’know. The least you could do is pay attention to me.”
The silence subsided. The freezing feeling subsided. Within their places came the sound of the bumbling world. In their places came the warmth of computers, coffee machines, and general warmth of being in a crowd. Most importantly in their place came the annoying tinkling noise of Neura’s voice coming through his headphones.
To the side of him sat Neura, all long black hair and frighteningly bright yellow sweater in all. They sat with their knees to their chest and their head laying on them. Ellowyn could see them through all his unblurred clarity. They looked concerned.
“Did you say something?” Ellowyn asked in a meek voice.
Neura looked at them almost exasperated. They motioned to the cafe around them.
“Can you name 3 things you see for me?” they questioned.
Ellowyn took a shaky breath, “blue lights, laptops, and coffee machines.“
“Great. Now do you remember why we’re here?”
Blank. His mind ran blank. Not a single reason coming to his mind. Neura, seeming to get this based on the abashed look on his face, sighed.
“If you can’t remember then let's go.”
Ellowyn nodded. He got up and took off his glasses. The world was still clear. He moved his headphones to his shoulders. The chimes and tinkling voice came to a stop. He started to walk to the door of the cafe. As he walked he noticed photos of him on the walls. Pale skin and bright orange hair. Besides him stood people like him. Pale skin and orange hair. He stopped. Observing. The attendants of the cafe seemed to stop with him. Nervous. He continued to the door.
An internet cafe.
A color scheme of blues and yellows.
Tinkering sounds bursted all around him.
He stopped in the middle of the doorway. He looked back at the corner he had sat in. A family picture and diplomas of invention accomplishments covered the walls. Walls covered in memories. Memories he couldn’t remember. He started to walk back in the cafe before a tinkling chime sounded from the headphones wrapped around his shoulders.
“Right, I don't remember why I’m here. You’re right, Neura. We were just leaving”
He turned and walked out of the cafe. Alone.
Alone, with not a single speckle of yellow or black hair next to him.