The Memory Police

by Yōko Ogawa

“In general,” he continued, “most things you worry about end up being no more than that—just worries.”

Important things remain important things, no matter how much the world changes,” said R. “Their essence doesn’t change.

“I remember hearing a saying long ago: ‘Men who start by burning books end by burning other men,’ ” I said.

And no matter how wonderful the memory, it vanishes if you leave it alone, if no one pays attention to it. They leave no trace, no evidence that they ever existed.