They say the part of the brain that stores memories, is linked closest to our sense of smell. That's why people can unlock forgotten childhood memories, just by getting a whiff of something. That's what happened to me.
It was a cold Tuesday morning, I was heading into work. Walking across a shopping centre, my shoes squeaking on the tiles. I was considering turning back to pick up lunch from one of the eateries when the smell from the perfume shop stopped me. The poster in the window read Scent of the 70’s.
I inhaled deeply; sweet lemon, tangy bergamot, soft lavender, cutting anise and a dash of basil. Of course I couldn't identify the particular ingredients, I could only smell the whole picture.
I would have been six or seven, dressed in my favourite party dress, running away from my mum who was determined to attack my hair with a brush. I snuck into my parents room for shelter. But I walked into a cloud of fragrance. It was thick enough to fill my lungs and make my eyes water.
There he was. Stood facing a mirror, tightening his bow tie. He saw me enter and grinned as he turned to me. His arms reaching out to pick me up and lift me into the air. Laughter surrounding us and his face full of joy.
The memory made me tear up. I carried on walking to work smiling sadly to myself.
This is my entry to @jayna’s Micro Fiction Contest. Find out about it here.
Image from Unsplash.
