One Memory Never Forgotten

Malachi’s apartment was sleek and luxurious. The kind of place you wouldn’t want to touch anything in fear it would all break.

Malachi made his money as a hedgefund manager working too many hours for an awful boss. He loved it. However, the true key to his success (in his mind at least) was a solid routine. His morning, afternoon, and evenings were the exact same boring rudimentary actions every single day.

Except today.

While Malachi was in the middle of his morning yoga practice he heard a knock at his door.

“Are you Malachi Dranger?” the man asked as Malachi answered.

“What’s this all about?” he asked harshly.

“Package for you sir, just sign here.”

Malachi signed and the man rushed away. “Hmm, wasn’t expecting a package,” Malachi thought.

The package was sent to Malachi, but it was the return address that made him feel like he was seeing a ghost.

“Delores Dranger.” His own mother had passed away exactly one year prior. When Malachi read his own dead mother’s name, he dropped the package in shock.

Malachi didn’t hate his mother, deep down he loved her. He just never made time for her with the job and all. She had been left with quite an inheritance from her own family, but Malachi never saw a dime. He’d always held it against her that he had to pay for college himself and make a name for himself. The final straw was when his own mother left him nothing in her will. Malachi cursed his own mother that day and didn’t even attend the funeral.

“Maybe this is the inheritance at long last!” Malachi was hesitant but excited by the thought of becoming rich. He rushed into the kitchen and ripped the little brown paper box open like a child on Christmas morning.

The box was filled with packing peanuts and an envelope lying on top. He opened it and read it.

“Malachi,

If you are reading this, I must have died a year ago on this day.

It brings me tears to see the man you’ve become. I don’t know where your father and I went wrong, but I’m hoping that this last attempt will make you see the truth.

Malachi, this is your inheritance.

To fully receive this parting gift, you must first reach your final destination.

Inside this box is a timer. This will show how much time is left for you to reach the location.

This is my parting clue: midnight blue, midnight clear, tonight you’ll see green waves in the hue.

I love you,

Your Mother”

Malachi stood staring at the letter with his mouth wide open. “I can’t believe you, mother; even after death you’re up to your old tricks.” Malachi’s mother always did scavenger hunts when he was a kid for Christmas presents and birthday presents as if he liked them. He didn’t even like gifts half the time; all he wanted was cash. “Ridiculous,” he scoffed. Malachi reached into the box and pulled the timer out.

“23:45:36”

“Almost 24 hours, ok. Where do I go?”

Malachi thought for a long time about all the different clues and experiences they’d had over the years.

“Oh my gosh, the Northern Lights!” He recalled the family trip to Iceland they took decades ago. Malachi paced for a bit contemplating the decision; then he looked back at the ticking timer and made the phone call.

“I’m not coming into the office today, Mr. Daily.”

“If you don’t come in for the quarterly reports, Malachi, then that’s it! You’ll be fired! Now stop playing around and get your -”

Malachi hung up the phone on his boss. He’d finally received his inheritance; he was going to be rich, he didn’t need that job anymore.

He bought the plane ticket and made it to the airport with plenty of time. His flight was 7 hours which would leave Malachi with 4 hours to find the final destination and receive his fortune!

Malachi sat in first class next to a random person he planned on not talking to. The stranger, unfortunately, ruined this plan. “Hey, there. My name’s Steve. Why are you going to Iceland?”

“Um. Tourist.” Malachi said with little enthusiasm.

“Nice! Well, I’m going to take a nap and try to beat the jet lag. Good night, Malachi.”

Hearing those words gave Malachi instant relief. He didn’t even question that the stranger somehow knew his name.

The roar of the plane landing startled the two men awake. Steve stretched and yawned, “Morning, Malachi!”

Malachi’s eyes shot open like he was being woken up by a screaming child. “Hey, Steve, why don’t we sit in silence and uh...meditate.”

Steve nudged him with his elbow, which Malachi detested. “Hah! Good one, man. Come on, the doors are open. First-class gets out first.” Steve chuckled to himself, “I guess that’s why they call it first class.”

Malachi rolled his eyes and the two left the plane. Malachi grabbed his phone to order an Uber as fast as he could, but that annoying voice spoke up again.

“No, no. I’ve already got the Uber, man.”

Malachi looked up and stared at Steve with a sudden look of fear. “That’s...that’s ok. I’ve got some stuff to do.”

“Tourist stuff?” He asked, calling the bluff.

“Um, yea.”

“Don’t you want to see green waves in the hue tonight?”

Malachi’s eyes shot open and the color washed from his face. “Wha-”

“Just follow me, Malachi. Your next task awaits.”

Malachi followed the stranger out of the airport and into an Uber. They drove into downtown Reykjavík and checked into the Tower Suites.

When they entered the room and were alone Malachi exploded. “What is going on here!?”

“Calm down, Malachi.”

“No!” Malachi pushed Steve into the wall, “how do you know my name and why am I here!?”

Steve looked dismayed, “so you really don’t remember?”

Letting go of his grip, Malachi asked, “remember what?”

“Me.”

Malachi blew him off with a wave of a hand. “No, should I?”

“I guess I just figured you’d remember your childhood bestfriend. We’ve grown up a bit, but gosh, man.” A flash of memories swarmed into Malachi’s head, sending him to the floor in agonizing pain. He and his family had come to Iceland on a 2 week trip; he remembered that. But what had escaped his memory was his best friend, Steve. He was there the whole time! “Ste--Steve?”

“Yea, buddy,” he said, extending his arm to help Malachi up.

“Is it really you?”

“Yes. Now, listen. We don’t have much time. You still have the timer, right?”

“Yea. I’m just- What’s happening?”

“Nevermind all that. Your mom wanted me to recreate the whole trip for you. This is my task on your adventure.”

Malachi had dozens of questions, but Steve wouldn’t answer them. They went around the city recreating their childhood trip. They visited a lot of the same restaurants, watched street performers, visited the Hallgrímskirkja church, and got lost in the city streets. By dinner time, they were both exhausted and ended up grabbing dinner at Grillmarkaðurinn. It was the best day Malachi had had in years.

“I remember this place, Steve! Grillmarkandurinshmergin? Remember we’d call it that!”

“And you insisted on trying to order a burgershermginflurgin!” The two burst out in laughter as they reached the now annoyed hostess.

The two ate their meal and laughed about the good times they had growing up. Malachi was so happy to remember the joys in his early life. “Where did it all go, man? What happened to us?”

“Never mind that right now. Let’s just enjoy a nice meal. We need to make it out to see the lights soon.”

After their jovial dinner, they wandered outside and made their way to the Grótta lighthouse. The two climbed the stairs to the top to sit out and admire the view. “Ugh, I’m too old for this, Steve.”

“Almost there, man.”

They sat out on the edge as the sunset and the beautiful green lights overhead streamed into the midnight sky. “Oh, Steve. This is absolutley breathtaking.”

“It brings back good feelings, doesn’t it, Malachi?”

The two sat in silence basking in God’s raw beauty. Malachi had tears rolling down his face. “That’s it, Steve. I don’t want anything else. I don’t need my mom’s inheritance anymore. Just forget it.”

“Well, there is actually one more thing, Malachi,” Steve said.

“No, I’m telling you. This is exactly what I needed. I gotta be honest with you, Steve.” Malachi looked down feeling ashamed. “I am addicted to work and money and power. Have been for some time. Maybe all my life.”

“Just trust me, Malachi.” Malachi looked over inquisitively. “This is the last thing your mother wanted you to have.”

Malachi grabbed the letter Steve had and opened it.

“Malachi,

My dear boy.

It brings me tears to see the man you’ve become. I believe we have failed you. The doctor’s all said there was nothing we could do. The accident was just that, an accident. But we couldn’t help but feel responsible.” Malachi was confused, his heart beat faster as he read on.

“I truly hope that you followed my clue, that you learned the importance of life, and that it will snap you out of the delusion. That you will reach the final destination once and for all.

With love,

You Mother.”

“Steve, I’m confused, what’s this all about?”

“Malachi, listen, man. One year ago to this day, where were you?”

“I...I went to work like most days.” He said as if it was difficult to remember. “I found out my mother died; where were you? That’s the better question.”

“I was at your mother’s funeral. Malachi, where were you, though?” He asked with a stern inflection. “Malachi, you remembered the Iceland trip. What else do you remember? What about college? Tell me about that.”

“I...I..” Malachi had a hard time recalling his college career. He knew he went to Harvard, but he couldn’t remember anything about the experience. He broke down in tears, “I don’t remember anything! What’s happening to me?”

Steve hugged his best friend, “It’s ok, Malachi. Let it go. Let the memories come back. Come back to reality.” He held Malachi up and looked him in the eyes. “Where were you this morning? Where are you now?”

All of a sudden, like a curtain burst into flames, reality flooded in. Malachi remembered everything. That morning he woke up to an orderly giving him his meds. He was wearing a robe and slippers; not a suit and tie. There was no knock on the door or morning yoga. It was Steve interrupting their group sharing session.

Steve had visited Malachi every day of his life since Malachi was hit by that bus in the Iceland streets. Malachi had lost touch with reality; he’d been sent into a delusional state the doctors said would last forever.

“I...I remember it all!” Malachi exclaimed looking around at the empty theater room. The video of the northern lights was still playing on the big screen. “We’re in Baltimore! There was an accident! And you’re Steve! You’re my best friend!”

“Yes, brother! You remember!”

The two men embraced. Steve called the doctor in who was shocked his antics had worked. It took Steve months to convince the doctor to let him try, and even then they only had 24 hours.

After that day, Malachi began treatment again. It took time, but he made a full recovery. The day he left the hospital, he was delighted to see Steve waiting for him. Over the next few years, the two lived together as roommates, something they had dreamed of as kids.

They took an actual trip to Iceland later that year and recreated their childhood memories.

“Steve,” Malachi said sitting on the actual Grótta lighthouse. “Thank you.”