A Unique Reflection on Memories and Joyful Moments
Written on
Chapter 1: The Enigma of Leap Days
The recent writing prompt from The Accidental Monster sparked a realization within me: I have no recollection of my past Leap Days. It’s peculiar. I can place myself in those years: in 2020, I was at home searching for a job post-gap year, disrupted by the pandemic; in 2016, I was navigating university life; and in 2012, I was in school, enjoying the more relaxed atmosphere of my GCSE years (unless it coincided with half term, which is unclear).
Yet, the specifics escape me. There are no standout memories.
This absence of detail is typical for me, and I’m not particularly alarmed by it.
This is simply how my mind operates, distinct from how others remember. For instance, if I were to ask a friend about that specific Leap Day in 2012, she’d likely recall something—perhaps the day of the week or our class schedule if it was a school day.
My brain prioritizes what is essential. Back then, that meant focusing on academics; now, my retained knowledge is more random, as I no longer need certain facts to thrive. I might not remember how to balance chemical equations, but I can still quote from Wuthering Heights. What I value from those GCSE years isn’t a particular memory but more a general sentiment: a time when I began to flourish again.
Clearly, if I can’t pinpoint any specifics from these Leap Days, it indicates that nothing particularly significant occurred—nothing that I felt needed to be imprinted in my memory. The events weren't traumatic enough to be forgotten, yet they also lacked the impact to be unforgettable.
Thus, these Leap Days, which should be remarkable, appear to have been rather mundane for me.
Making a Fresh Start
This Leap Day, I aim to create a meaningful adult memory. I’ve chosen a positive experience.
And it must be memorable. Lately, I’ve encountered some frustrations…
I believed I had completed my novel.
This project represents my current aspirations in my writing career. I finished it well before the deadline I set for myself, too. I was elated—Competent Colquitt had returned after a period of burnout! Hooray!
Then, I realized I hadn’t truly finished. I’ve misplaced several chapters. The worst part? I may have to withdraw my novel from a competition I entered—a significant setback to the reputation I’m trying to establish.
What fickle creatures we can be!
~ Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights
I’m missing over 10,000 words. I haven’t given up searching for them; I know where they should be. Just when I felt a surge of optimism, it all came crashing down…
I’ve been in a foul mood for an entire week. At least I can only blame myself.
Best Girl
This time, my cherished Leap Day memory isn’t related to my writing but to my dog—my dear DOG! As a child, I yearned for one, believing it would never come true. Sometimes, dreams do come to fruition…
Now, I have a puppy. At her tender age, she’s still learning how to behave.
Today, we engaged in a game of tug. I held her toy just out of reach until she sat, then rewarded her with a treat followed by the fun of tugging.
Before that, she tried jumping for the toy, and… yes, that’s the moment I’m recalling: the pure joy of play. Her ears flapped as she moved, and her fur is incredibly soft.
It’s the little moments that matter, right?
I’m treasuring this lovely memory on this rare and special day.
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