1 December 2016 (Thursday), 2 p.m.

The last month of the year. You'd think that I'm practically in the clear from any bad stuff, right?

Yesterday, I went to see my usual doctor after I left the cyber cafe. The conversation went like this...

Doctor : Based on the scans, your brain activity has decreased since your last MRI. However, it is still slightly above average. You are not having amnesia.

Jinho : Then how come I've been forgetting things? This almost never happened before!

Doctor : My only conclusion is that you are naturally adapting to your stress levels, like your PTSD.

Jinho : What do you mean?

The doctor took his time to find the words that could properly explain my condition. I didn't rush him, but it made me more nervous the longer this dragged out.

Doctor : Do you know how people normally get PTSD?

Jinho : Trauma?

Doctor : Correct. Traumatic events. This commonly occurs to soldiers or war veterans. However, you got hit in a car accident and remembered it ever since because of your exceptional memory. To simplify it, your mind has learned to suppress those memories to cure your PTSD. By doing this, your panic attacks will surely stop for good.

I was very sad to hear that my memory span is changing, but I was also very happy to hear that I was being cured naturally. Even hearing him mentioning about the accident didn't bother me anymore. My mind hardly became stimulated anymore by it.

However, I was worried about another thing.

Jinho : But what about non-traumatic events? I'm forgetting those too.

Doctor : Oh... like what? Do you mind sharing a bit?

Jinho : Just recently, my friend invited me to eat a certain food that I don't like, but she didn't know about it. A long time ago, I told her I liked it for the sake of socializing, but now I forgot about that and I think she's mad at me for lying.

The doctor was very curious about the situation. Eventually, he had deduced a possibility.

Doctor : How long ago was this?

Jinho : About... two months ago.

The doctor chuckled as he tried to get rid of the smile on his face. I was confused as to what happened.

Doctor : It's perfectly normal to forget such a small lie after two months!

Jinho : It is?

Doctor : Yes, Jinho. There is nothing wrong with you. You just have to let this fix itself naturally.

Again, I was glad that I'm getting better, but at the cost of my memory? It probably sounds stupid, considering I will still have the same amount of brain function as everyone else, but I felt that my memory was what made me special. What made me... me.

The doctor saw my long face and tried to cheer me up.

Doctor : Stay in my office for as long as you need. You need some time to process this.

Jinho : Are you sure?

Doctor : I am. I just told you that you're getting better, but you're not smiling at all. Until you do, it's my recommendation that you stay here and talk to me for as long as you want.

I smiled as he successfully cheered me up. I admired his dedication to help his patients.

Jinho : Is this your policy? If your patient isn't smiling, he's still deemed sick?

The doctor laughed as I made a joke. He's relieved to see my humor was still alive.

Doctor : My sunbae always told me that a smile is the proof of good health. So always smile, for yourself and for others.

Jinho : Yes, doctor!

Doctor : Just so you know, it's not impossible for you to regain your incredible memory once you completely overcome this trial.

And