Smell

The ability to experience life through all of ones senses is highly underrated, until one of them is no longer functioning. What would life be like without the sense of smell and what would become of the memories held in place by it? All of the books that have returned have brought a scent of their own, mostly indistinguishable. There is however, a distinct aroma of say, Marlboro or Lucky Strikes on this last one. Which brings back a memory, of waking up in the middle of the night, hearing heavy nothingness and following it into a darkened kitchen. Behind the glowing end of a cigarette sat my mother, wrapped up in her own thoughts. Shooed back into bed, the memory holds more meaning for me now, my mothers age and more.