When Words Run Out of Time

Samiyah

Things seem to be going smoothly. I've been able to explain, and they seem to be understanding. Let me cook.

"Under the frontal lobe is the temporal lobe," I gesture to an area highlighted yellow. "It's for language understanding... and memory."

"Whatever is going on with 抖阴社区r that is affecting us must have either been an incident outside or inside the brain, something they'd likely remember, meaning the very reason all this is happening could be found in a memory. Maybe multiple, depending on what it is."

I suck in my breath. Here comes the hard part.

"My plan is to essentially access 抖阴社区r's memories, and use them to figure out what's happening and then make a plan on how to fix it."

Austin raises his hand, but his hesitation tells me he's already second-guessing himself. I nod at him anyway.

"I do not understand," he says, voice flat, but his eyes are wide, searching mine for any sign that this is real. His words hang in the air, and the room stills. Some of the others glance at each other, expressions tight with confusion. A few nod slowly, unsure, the uncertainty distinct in the air.

"I know," I tell them. "But you will."

Thankfully, I anticipated this, and have an explanation prepared. Even if they did understand I'd explain anyway.

"Think about it," I urge. "We are essentially thoughts, right? We are a product of imagination. As characters, in order to stay in existence as long as 抖阴社区r does, they would need to remember us. Because of that, wouldn't it make sense for us to be able to exist in an area of the mind dealing with memories?"

Finally, I allow myself a collection of moments to rest my voice and allow them to fully process what I'm saying. Most look confused, understandably.

Busaba's muttering to herself. Austin is muttering to Juno, who occasionally mutters a few words back along with hand squeezes. Amani had seemed to have stopped rubbing her face, but slowly starts again as she thinks. Lukas is staring into space, as if he's contemplating the great complexities of life and existence. In a way, he could be.

"Wait, wait, wait," Lex breaks the quiet. "I understand what you're saying... mostly, but could you please explain how we would get to 抖阴社区r's memories? Once again, this isn't Inside Out, so we can't just press a button and have them delivered to us."

A true stage manager is prepared for anything. So, yes, I anticipated a question like this too. I take a deep breath so I can be prepared to talk some more.

"In order to access 抖阴社区r's memories, I'd have to essentially travel to the memory part of the brain. I would be somehow moving from this part of the brain to that one, finding the memories, and coming back," I explain.

Lex nods, absorbing this information. Then he frowns.

"Hold up– what do you mean 'I'?"

I blink. Was that part not–

"Jesus FUCKING Christ, Samiyah, you can NOT be telling me you plan on going on your own."

"Well, I-"

"You're SERIOUS?!" Busaba exclaims. Now everyone is getting riled up.

The room erupts in noise. People are standing, shouting over each other, their voices overlapping in a chaotic mess of confusion and frustration. Faces twist in anger, concern, and disbelief, and I can't keep track of who's saying what anymore.

I feel the panic creeping up my throat. My hands shake as I raise two fingers to my mouth, trying to block out the noise for just a second.

Then I whistle—a sharp, ear-splitting sound that cuts through the chaos like a knife. Silence follows instantly, the sudden quiet ringing in my ears.