Long Forgotten Memories

Were they dreams or long forgotten memories?

“Where are these coming from?” Alvin stopped talking when Doctor Hendricks made silent hushing motions. The hypnosis session was being recorded so it could be reviewed and discussed later.

The sound of her husband’s voice made Sarah’s eyes flutter. She was waking up. “Alvin?” Her voice wasn’t her own. The foreign accent was strong, words slipping into a language not spoken in thousands of years. “It’s all right to come back, Sarah. Take deep breaths, hold them, breathe out. That’s it. You are feeling rested, calm and peaceful.”

Alvin watched the transformation in Sarah’s face. The hard regal lines tightening her jaw softened. Tear filled eyes were wiped. His wife coughed, clearing her throat. “I dreamed the same dream, Doctor Hendricks. Why? What is going on in my head?”

“Lets go into the conference room. I’ll set up the video and we’ll see what happens when your present meets your past.” Doctor Hendricks patted her arm reassuringly. Alvin clung close as a shadow to his wife as she got to her feet and led the way to the familiar room.

She flopped down in a chair, allowed Alvin to hold her hand, and spoke. “You’re talking about my hypothetical past with some hidden message my unconscious and preconscious mind is trying to bring up.”

Doctor Hendrix adjusted the sound on the session’s recording. “Let’s take it through from the beginning.”

His voice took command in the opening frames of the video. It sounded like he had a bad taste in his mouth., “How old are you now, Sarah?”

What sounded like Gibberish to Alvin spewed out of Sarah’s mouth. Doctor Hendricks nodded, fingers flying to the A.I. interpreter on his laptop. English came out of its speakers. “I am not Sarah. I am Queen Kabuda, ruler of Samaria.”

“There was such a person 2300 years ago. She created a three generation dynasty in the oldest known civilization.” Doctor Hendricks had done his research. “In that regard, we are not talking dreams, that is a fact. Sarah fluently speaking ancient Sumarian is also a fact.”

“Reincarnation? That is what you are implying.” Alvin rubbed his face. Sarah nodded to herself. She squeezed her husband’s hand. No words escaped her mouth. She needed to hear Doctor Hendrick’s confirmation of what she knew to be true.

“Actual memories of another life have repeatedly been reported for patients under hypnosis. This is the strongest case for such. I’m putting my career on the line for saying this.”

Alvin wanted to argue but his mouth was so dry his tongue stuck to the top of his mouth. Sarah took one look and gave him the glass of water at her side. “Fast forward to her, er, my long forgotten memories, Doctor.”

Hendricks did so. The A.I. interpreter stuttered and then began translating again. “My earliest memories are of my father warning me of what would cause my death. He drew his knife and cut my palm. This is your lifeblood, it is the people you have been given power to rule over. To heal the cut you must bring the people together. Our religion does that. Become a high priestess and any cuts in our social fabric can be healed. You will rule with success. Think you are all powerful and forget the will of the people, then your kingdom along with you, will perish.”

“Sarah may have been a ruler a long time ago but she is a wife, a mother, and a hair stylist in this one,” reminded Alvin.

“I’m also on the city council. They’ve been pushing me to run for higher office,” Sarah quietly said. “They’ve got financial backers and the religious community ready to back the offer .”

“You’re serious.” Alvin felt like his life was falling apart.

The long forgotten memories of Queen Kabuda,ruler of Samaria will guide her,” Doctor Hendricks said with conviction in his voice. “I’ll help when Sarah needs to find her.”

It felt like two against one. “What about our kids?” Alvin drew out his last straw.

The voice of Queen Kabuda answered. The A.I. interpreter went into action. “Love grows with challenges met. It withers without such stimulation. That is what my mother told me when my first love abandoned me.”

Sarah looked surprised at the words coming out of her mouth. “She won’t take over my life, will she?”

“Only when a crisis point needs resolving. I suggest, Queen Kabuda, that you talk to Sarah in her mind, not speak in public. This is a different time and place.”

Sarah laughed somewhat giddily. “She said you are wise. She agrees.”

It was the last time Queen Kabuda spoke in public, but Alvin never got used to seeing Sarah’s jaw tighten in that regal manner that changed her face. He knew when Queen Kabuda lived again.

Wc 792
Contest Prompt

Write a short story or poem entitled "Long Forgotten Memories" and use History as one genre..}