I felt the
attack almost at noon, when I was going up the stairs at my office. This time it
was a hard attack, or a quicker one, but with the normal sequence: a tingle in my
arms, a pain in my feet, visual difficulties and lack of balance. As usual, I took
a deeply breath, stopped going up and put my hand over the railing. I became
then physically stable and I breathed two more times until continuing my step
up.
When I reach
the upper flat, I went directly to the lift and take it to the lower floor and
the main entrance. Once out, I lighted a cigarette and breathed the smoke deeply
and started to walk around. Suddenly, I felt that the attack was much harder
than usual. At this moment, I felt that I didn't recognize where I was.
I continued
walking over the sidewalk trying to remember what was happening. It is clear
that I was suffering another episode of lack of short time memory. This wasn't
unusual. These episodes were part of my live since several years ago. But this
time, it was being stronger. At that moment, I didn’t remember my name, where I
was, or which building I was leaving off.
A man
crossed with me, stopped, and started to talk to me:
- How are
you doing? There is a lot of time that I didn't see you.
I smiled
and, very carefully, responded:
- Well, as
usual, you know. And how are you?
- Good
enough and very busy, as usual too. I have tried to call you several times, but
I haven’t got time. Are you going to have a coffee?
- Yes, for
sure. Do you like to have one?
- Of
course, but I don't have too much time. I have a meeting in twenty minutes.
- Twenty
minutes is enough for a coffee.
I smiled again,
while I was trying to remember the name of this man. I supposed that he was a
friend of mine, but I cannot reach a name for him.
He
continued speaking while we were walking; talking about the projects and the
problems in which he was involved. So, we went to the coffee shop, had the
coffee and went back to the building. All the time I was very polite, smiling frequently
and using small expressions as “Really?” “What a pity!” “I can believe it” “It
is always the same”.
When we came
back to the office building I gave him a little excuse and keep me outdoors for
smoking. Then I turned back to the sidewalk and started to walk away from the
building.
The attack
was ongoing and the pain in my right foot was increasing. I felt that I was
limping a lot. I kept my pace as steady as possible and at the same time I was
trying to remember the name of my colleague, or perhaps my friend. I was sure
that he had been a person very close of mine, but at that moment I didn't have any
idea about our relationship; neither about him. Well, in fact, I didn't have any idea
about me at that moment.
When I
started to cross the street in the next square, I heard a scream and turned back.
I saw my friend running towards me and screaming. Then I recognised him for a
second, until the car passed over me.
The last I
heard was his cry. But at this moment I was smiling again while I was remembering the
good times we had enjoyed together long time ago.
JL Llorente
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario