KC1

~KC1~

Forgetting. It’s hard to imagine

Have you ever imagined what it’s like to forget? I forget things all the time, and

Picture a man who

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to forget? Not to forget where you put your car keys, because you do that all the time. You simply don’t focus enough when you put them down, relegating the knowledge of their location to your short term memory. Given enough time that memory will vanish into the ether. No, I’m talking about things much more serious than that.

But then nobody takes anything seriously these days. Youth running around relaxing, partying, without even a thought for what we’ve done for them. What I’ve done for them - what I’m doing for them.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be forgotten? It’s easier than you think.

First, they have to forget you.

NI/SDE1

~NI/SDE1~

#1: Sleep Deprivation Experiment - 28/10/2013:08:00AM-29/10/2013:02:00PM

Theory: Hallucinations caused by sleep deprivation will only occur past 24 hours of non-sleep, but generally at less than 48 hours.

Starting hour: 08:00 AM on 28/10/2013

Ending hour: 02:00 PM on 29/10/2013

Experiment: Testing subject will go for a target of 30 hours without sleep. At every hour past 12 hours, a comment will be made to ensure that the subject did not fall asleep, and to report on the experience noted at the time in question.

Variables:

Sugar - from food

Microsleep - ~30s to a minute of sleep, involuntary

Melatonin levels - research shows that 2 hours of exposure to a computer/tablet screen before sleep reduces melatonin levels by 22% (melatonin is a hormone in the body that regulates sleep and circadian rhythms with regards to sleep [the ‘internal clock]). Minimum 2 hours of exposure to screen will be used, with no maximum.

Further experiments will isolate other variables for more accurate testing; however, this first test will determine the general time scale on which we are looking at for hallucinations to occur under normal conditions.

12 hour mark: Complete

Comment: A usual day’s time is ending now, it’s 08:11 PM. The work begins now. Not many effects of deprivation are being felt, as not much time has passed.

~HH1~

~HH1~

My head hurts. I raise my hand to it, find a bump the size of my fist. Ouch. No wonder I’ve got a pounding headache.

My hand. I can’t see it. When did it get so dark? Why does my head hurt so much? Because of the bump… I can’t think straight. Whatever hit me did a good job of it, because now I have no idea what’s going on.

I grope around in the blackness for a bit, find a wall and stick to it. The longer I follow it, though, the longer I get the feeling I’m being watched. But that’s ridiculous. It’s pitch black and I can’t see a thing. How could anyone else? I’m paranoid. Must be the head.

I think about sitting down. I’m hopelessly lost. But can you be lost if you never knew where you were in the first place?

It’s not home, that’s for sure. I can’t hear Ella watching her three-year-old cartoons, I can’t hear the whining hum of my dad out in the garden. In fact I can’t hear very much at all.

Light, in the distance. The faint glow lets me see I’m in a corridor, thin and running a long way down. I can see enough to start heading towards it.

I reach the source and see a candle. It’s freshly lit - not much wax has run down its side yet. It seems to be some kind of kitchen, complete with table, chairs and napkins laid out cleanly, folded neatly. Seated for five. Each chair is seated in front of a plate with knives, forks and spoons all ready for them. All that’s missing is the food.

Food. Hunger stirs inside me. When did I last eat? I had a chicken sandwich at two, and that was… I don’t remember how long ago. I check my left wrist and find my watch gone. I check my pocket. My phone, my iPod, everything is gone.

Looking back at the table there’s something I’ve missed. A note lies in the middle of the plates. An envelope addressed to Sam. Addressed to me.

The candle is fading despite it having only just been lit. I open the note and begin to read.