1.11. Was it a Success? – Henry’s Viewpoint

You are back in Henry’s skin, after the operation and you are still in the hospital.

The seizures have all but stopped but something strange has happened. You know how to eat, how to breathe. You know who your parents are and you know that JFK is president. But whenever a nurse enters the room you have no idea who she is.

The nurse tells you her name and it is new to you. You greet her with a smile. She tells you that she’s met you several times since you’ve been in the hospital, but you have no memories of meeting her previously.

Scoville comes to see you for the first time since your operation and he reluctantly tells you that things haven’t gone to plan. You recognise him and give a smile of thanks for the seizures stopping. You can clearly remember the attacks, but they seem like a distant memory.

Scoville explains that he’s seen you several times since the operation.

News To You

This is news to you.

You’re feeling so much better and you want to go home.

Scoville looks you in the eyes and says that is isn’t possible as more medical professionals need to study you further.

Sadness seeps from your eyes and spreads across your face.

A distant memory of yesterday flashes before you and sense that you’ve experienced this sadness before.

You feel the pain all over again.

You try to grasp onto the memories but they are all a murmuring echo that you can’t quite hear.

Scoville introduces you to the other medical professionals and you meet them for the first time.

They all tell you that they’ve met you before.

Again, this is more news to you.

What has happened to you?

Scoville tells you that you’ve been in the hospital for several days and he’s ready to tell you what he’s suspected in those several days.

He looks at you with a grim expression and you prepare for the worst.

“Henry,” Scoville says, “You are completely unable to form any new memories since the operation. Your memory before the operation is fine but after the operation You are unable to form any Long Term Memories.”

The news devastates you and you collapse in a convulsion of tears.

You cry yourself to sleep. When you awake you’re not sure if the operation went well or not. A nurse who you haven’t seen before is the first to see you with a glass of water.

You put the glass to your lips and feel the fluid refresh you.

Scoville enters the room and you’re thankful to see him.

You’re unware this has happened before.

He tells you that you’ve been in the hospital for several days and he’s ready to tell you what he’s suspected in those several days. He looks at you with a grim expression and you prepare for the worst.

“Henry,” Scoville says, “You are completely unable to form any new memories since the operation. Your memory before the operation is fine but after the operation You are unable to form any long term memories.”

You cry yourself to sleep.

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