Thanks for the Memories

Content Warning: Strong Language, Death

The old adage says that time is money. In this case that’s true but not in the traditional sense. More often than not people use this to express time as in the present or future, but for today’s society the time in reference is that of the past. 

Philip Langsly looked down at the picture of his daughter when she was three. Her name? Taylor Langsly. In the picture she stood on a chair, hovering her head over the Thomas the Train birthday cake with three tall candles towering over Thomas. It was her favorite show at the time. It’s funny how things change so quickly in life. Your interest, your age, and even if you’re rotting in or on this place we call Earth. Because also not long after this party, Taylor died in a car crash. This was one of his last memories he had with her. 

A single tear moistened the picture in front of him. He stared at it knowing that soon he would no longer have this picture. Taking everything in, Philip pulled out his phone and took a snapshot of what laid out before him. He knows that this would be a long shot but he took it anyway. However in no matter the situation the AI always knew what you have in your possession and it always gets deleted. 

The AI. That fucker. It was created because of inflation. The value of currency in every country was shaken on a day to day basis due to ravaging wars that left most of the world desolate. In return, however, this meant that money was hard to come back, making it nearly obsolete for 93% of the world. Those that did have money decided to utilize what they had to purchase the AI system. With that quickly came more wars but fifty years after the fight for the AI it was determined that the project and the AI itself was to be shut down. 

The AI, of course being the AI that it is, overthrew the plan and decided to take control of the planet for itself. Holding the world hostage. However, because of its very limited and quick upstart, the AI knew very little about human motivation. Or even about humans at all. So to fix the inflation crisis and to support what the AI was lacking, it was decided that there was one thing that everyone was of abundance of. Memories. 

This quickly became the payment system for any and all needs. It didn’t matter how valuable the memory was. A memory for any item or need that the human subject desired. This could be of the form of a physical object but also the AI was testing a approach that was in the later stages of completion. It meant that the test subject was sedated and would place probes on the scalp. The whole operation would take 3 days to complete. The AI would need to determine first which exact event to erase and would override it with nothingness. To be safe the AI would erase the day completely. What is one day in the grand scheme of things?

Volunteers came from everywhere to be the guinea pig in hopes that it would fail. If it did, the subject got to keep the memories and the item they desired; if not they’d lose it as normal. However, this was bad for the overall population because as each new test subject failed, the AI was better at fixing the problem. Now it currently has a 98.77% success rate. To everyone 98.77% still sounded better than a 100% loss of a physical object. This was particularly true for Philip - so much so that he had tried away almost every single non-important memory he held. Memories like what he had for dinner the night before and what his wife wore and one would think you could just remember one days clothing and cuisine to pay any and all future debts. Unfortunately, a long lasting effect is that any memory that is of the same event becomes hazy. You think you had chicken pot pie when you really had pepperoni pizza. Your whole life becomes a big blur. Now that it came to the primary ones, Philip wasn’t willing for those to become a lie as well. So instead he’s trying to go with the more traditional route. 

A picture of his daughter for the payoff of part of his mortgage. On his way into the bank, he cursed the AI with each step. 

But as much as Philip despised the AI for the current payment system, he also knew that what the AI was doing, also had a positive impact. Families started spending more time together because with each moment that passed, new memories were created to be spent. This only works if you have a family to make memories with. For Philip the passing of his daughter led to a divorce. But it also led to Philip isolating himself. 

Also negative memories were often spent first. But you can only survive on these memories for so long. 

But there were also many more negatives that came along with it outside of the more obvious drawbacks to the AI’s approach. There are times where memories needed to be plucked in a particular order. You see if there was a memory that helped create a secondary memory down the road then that memory would no longer exist as well. For example, lets say you buy your first car. Upon purchasing said car, you get in a car wreck. You need to pay for a lawyer and decide to pay for the first meeting with your lawyer with the memory of you buying your car. So you do but with that so went the memory of the car wreck to begin with.

Philip took careful consideration of the memories he chose when paying for his needs. His approach often meant working backwards in time. Erase the more recent ones in order for the earlier ones to stay in tact. So here he was ready to exchange this picture. Although this was one of his last memories, it would ensure that he would keep majority of his memories of his daughter. Yes, when it came to physical objects it more or less didn’t matter. Because although the picture was to no longer exist, doesn’t mean the memory wasn’t ingrained in your head to be erased later. However, Philip wasn’t one to take the risk. So even with physical objects it too went back in time.

But then that begs the question, what is the role of an occupation in today’s society. Why work when you could be making memories? The AI has plans for this as well. He devised a point system, for every hour you work you get a point. After so many points your next payment is decreased by one memory. This of course has a max of 10 saved memories.

Unfortunately for Philip, there would be no discount as he was currently in the unemployment line.

Philip clutched the cold metallic door handle and pulled the door toward him. 

Am I willing to part with this? I could waste a moment in time that was of lesser important. He could but then he would hate to be in a moment of desperation and this picture would only mean a loaf of bread or on my dry cleaning. He would rather have this picture be used for something important. So even after its existence it served a purpose. 

The problem was is that he needed this exchange. The exchange of 1000 memories in exchange for his house. This would incur on a monthly payment and if a payment was not made, the cost would double. Each month he would be in to exchange twenty memories so that his debt would be paid in a little over four years. Yes it was a short period of time but again it was easy for four years of memories to change to eight. And for those eight to change to sixteen. So he would make an event on the first of each month to bring in the memories he made from the previous month. 

Yes this scared Philip a little bit because again after so long things become hazy. Is it possible that these four years may end up being forgotten altogether? And if so what was the purpose of having home you couldn’t remember spending time in?

But the reward was too much. I mean imagine your status if you cannot afford to live in a world where memories are your payment. How terrible of a person must you be? 

“Can I help you?” The tall lady behind the counter addressed him. He hadn’t realized he had made it this far and at this point he had to go with it. 

“Yes. I need to talk to one of your payment specialist to discuss paying off a loan for my house. I’ve got my first months payment with me. We just need to sign the last of the papers.” The lady from behind the counter lifted a finger and took the phone situated next to her, off its stationary position. 

“Hello, are you available? We have a client here asking about his loan. Okay, I’ll tell him you will be right down.” The woman put the phone back down in its resting spot. 

“Mr. Langsly? My name is Morgan Lancaster. We’ve talked over the phone.” A short astute man with a strong receding hairline approach from behind the teller. 

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Philip half lied to the man. It probably would have been if they had met in any other circumstance. But instead he is following this man to his office to release a precious memory. The two traversed a series of hallways and past many offices until we stopped at one office in particular. 

“Here’s mine.” He gestured his hand toward the interior of his office. Pictures of his family was found on his desk. Pictures he wondered Mr. Lancaster would ever part with. 

Philip’s leg began to falter under the realization that this was it. An important memory that will soon be just in his head. Philip’s hand found the leather upholstery before sitting down. 

“I know this process is hard for everyone that walks into my office so we advise everyone to take this water.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.” Philip took a swig of his water. It eased him to know that it seems as if the bank was handling this with care.

“There is not much we have to do today as you have already sent most of the forms to us through email. However theres two final forms I need to have you sign. The first of which is a sort of an understanding of what we are doing here and the second is the final confirmation.” Morgan shuffled at his desk the many papers that were in drawer. It took him roughly thirty seconds to find the one he needed. 

“Here it is. Now before we get started I must preface that with every payment plan we have to inform each client that it is in their best interest to not, under any circumstances, erase the memories of today. If one does they risk the chance of forgetting our agreement incurring extreme interest quickly. We will do our best to keep in contact if you do miss a payment but many clients often mistake our mail as junk mail if one erases today.”

Philip had never thought of that. In fact when he was talking to the teller he was thinking of a memory to embed in his mind to forget of the possible mistake he was making today. But now after what was presented he is going to have live with this day forever. 

“Got it.”

Mr. Lancaster had flipped the paper around on his desk and while Philip was inspecting it a pen appeared from behind it. 

“We ask that you read this form and sign here indicating that you were informed of this warning. We hold no liability of any erasing of your choosing.”

Philip clicked the pen and signed on the dotted line. This wasn’t the important form so this one was easy for him to sign. But the nervousness of what to come had made his hands clammy. Next was the form that would sign away his life. Or at least one portion of it. 

“Alright and here is the important one. We ask that you take your time with this form. This one is the one that indicates that you are accepting all prior communications and terms. When you sign this your memory becomes the possession of the AI. There is no turning back after this.”

Philip heaved in a deep breath. He has come to terms with this prior to reaching the bank. Now there was only one good approach that will let this deal go through. The pen met the paper and Philip had placed his chicken scratch where it was designated to go. He ripped this one off like a band-aid.

Philip transferred the photograph to Mr. Lancaster.

“We understand that this could not have been easy. Thank you. You will meet us here every month on the fifteenth. You may make your payment early if you’d like; there’s no stopping you but as a reminder we are asking for 20 memories every month for the next four years and two months.”

Morgan had pulled something out of his desk. A device that everyone now was used to. The device took a scan of the photograph where the AI would search the Internet for any and all traces of said photo. The process took mere seconds and it was wiped from all platforms. 

Morgan had gotten out of his chair and made his way to the shredder.  

The payment was complete. It would be no more. He clicked on his phone and shuffled his way through only to find the picture he took earlier in the day to have vanished as well. The AI had done exactly what he had expected. The picture was wiped away from existence entirely. 

“Oh Mr. Langsly. We appreciate your cooperation however as of a month ago we have worked with cooperation with the AI. More of a testing facility for its new idea.” A shiver shot done Philips spine. This could literally mean anything. 

“And?” Philip stood up from the office chair. 

“And, well the AI sees no value in you keeping your memory in your head upon turning in your object. This may be damaging psychologically. In fact it has witnessed it many times where someone was driven mad after paying for something.” Philip has seen it too. Its been all over the news. Just last week a man turned in letterman jacket and quickly demands a refund after realizing the mistake. When a refund wasn’t permitted well said man goes on a murdering spree. He killed 10 people in all.

The loan specialist continued, “At this point the AI sees no need to take any risks when it comes to keeping these memories. I’m sorry Mr. Langsly but there’s no easy way to put this. We will be erasing this memory entirely as well. Yes there’s a 1.23% chance that you will keep this memory but the AI asks that we try.”

Philip stood up overshadowing the man that was sitting in his chair. His face was fiery red. 

“This is absolute bullshit. No one made me aware of this prior to the agreement.”

“Would that have changed your mind? Because if it had Mr. Langsly, maybe you should have chosen your memories a little more carefully.”

“I will kill you!” Philip began to feel off-balanced. Teetering his weight from his left foot to his right. He eventually found himself on the floor after one too many tries to regain his balance. 

Morgan got out of his chair and found himself behind Philip. He bent over and said two parting things before Philip lost all consciousness.

“The AI also asks for us to drug the water so that the process can be done effortlessly. I truly am sorry.”

Everything went black.

Philip woke up in a room he hadn’t remembered ever visiting. It was not a particularly large room but enough to hold a couch, two chairs, and a television set. Philip could feel his stomach pang. He needed food. He immediately pounced to his feet and went straight for the doorway. 

Outside was a below average sized man in a uniform. 

“Excuse me sir, can you tell me where I am?”

“You are at your Credit Union. You informed me that you were not feeling well and passed out.”

“Oh thank you for taking care of me. What’s your name so I can give you high regards to your manager.”

“Morgan, but that isn’t necessary.”

“Sure it is, well I’m starting to feel fine now, so I better be going.” Philip gave Morgan a firm handshake before leaving the bank altogether. Philip had a newfound appreciation for life, having passed out and all. Things could have been worse. As he backed out of his parking spot, he left one thing in the wind.

“Let’s get home to my wife and daughter.”

Because unfortunately for Philip, Taylor Langsly’s third birthday was also the day that she had died. He had not meant for him to forget this day altogether just the confiscation of the photo. Although that day was filled with ruin, these were also the last happy memories he had with her. One’s he never wanted to forget. But now he strode down Main street unbeknown of his daughters fate and the horror that he will have to live through for the second time.