"I don't want to remember, but it won't disappear."
Mira wrote an unusually long sentence. In the psychology lab, Sora and Hiyori waited quietly.
Hiyori asked gently, "What kind of memory?"
Mira hesitated. Then slowly wrote. "Denied memory"
Sora tilted her head. "Denied?"
"Being denied by someone, maybe," Hiyori guessed.
Mira nodded. Then continued. "'You are wrong' 'You have no value'"
Sora gasped. "Who said such things to you?"
Mira didn't answer. Just stared out the window.
Hiyori began to explain quietly. "Negative memories remain stronger than positive ones."
"Why?" Sora asked.
"From an evolutionary psychology perspective, remembering danger was important for survival. But in modern times, it becomes a burden on the mind."
Mira wrote. "Negativity bias"
"Negativity bias," Sora translated.
Hiyori continued. "The human brain tends to remember bad events more strongly than good ones."
Sora thought. "So one denial cancels out multiple affirmations."
"Exactly," Hiyori nodded. "And denied memories distort self-image."
Mira opened a new page. "Am I worthless?"
Sora was surprised. "Mira, that's not true at all."
But Mira shook her head. "Memory says. 'You are worthless.'"
Hiyori said quietly, "That's the voice of memory. Not the voice of truth."
"Difference?" Mira wrote.
"Memory is an event in a specific past situation. But it doesn't define your essence."
Sora added, "Someone's past opinion doesn't determine your worth, Mira."
Mira pondered.
Hiyori continued. "In trauma research, there's a concept called memory reconsolidation."
"Reconsolidation?" Sora asked.
"Not rewriting memory, but giving it new meaning. Reviewing that experience from a different perspective."
Mira slowly wrote. "How?"
"First, objectify the memory. Separate the fact 'that person said that' from the interpretation 'I am worthless.'"
Sora understood. "Facts and interpretations are different."
"Yes. The fact of being denied doesn't change. But you can choose how to interpret it."
Mira asked, "But emotions?"
"Emotions are valid," Hiyori acknowledged. "You don't need to deny hurt feelings."
"But you don't need to be dominated by that hurt either," Sora continued.
Hiyori smiled. "Exactly. Feeling and being trapped by it are different."
Mira wrote in her notebook. "Memory is heavy. But can change how to carry it?"
"Beautiful metaphor," Hiyori acknowledged. "The weight might not change. But how you carry it can."
Sora suggested, "Mira, why don't you try giving that memory new meaning?"
"For example?"
"Because of that denial, Mira became sensitive to others' pain. Gained the power of empathy."
Mira had a realization.
Hiyori continued. "Wounds sometimes become gifts. Even if not completely healed, they become sources of growth."
Mira wiped her tears. Then wrote. "Scars are proof of having lived"
"Yes," Hiyori said gently. "Denied memories can't be erased. But that's not all that defines you."
Sora added, "Look at the Mira who's here now. Carrying wounds, yet moving forward."
Mira smiled slightly.
Hiyori said finally, "You don't need to carry memory's weight alone. It can be shared."
Mira closed her notebook. The denied memory is still there. But it feels a little lighter.
"Thank you," Mira said out loud. It was rare.
Sora and Hiyori smiled. Memories are heavy. But if carried together, they become a bit easier.