diff --git a/src/pyra/memory/__init__.py b/src/pyra/memory/__init__.py
index e69de29..6e8b5f8 100644
--- a/src/pyra/memory/__init__.py
+++ b/src/pyra/memory/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+from pyra.utils.paths import pyra_home
+
+_MEMORY_ROOT = pyra_home() / "memory"
diff --git a/src/pyra/memory/index.py b/src/pyra/memory/index.py
index 6d18069..470a2ca 100644
--- a/src/pyra/memory/index.py
+++ b/src/pyra/memory/index.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import datetime
 from pathlib import Path
 
-from pyra.utils.paths import pyra_home, safe_chmod
+from pyra.memory import _MEMORY_ROOT
+from pyra.utils.paths import safe_chmod
 
-_MEMORY_ROOT = pyra_home() / "memory"
 _INDEX_FILE = _MEMORY_ROOT / "MEMORY_INDEX.md"
 
 
diff --git a/src/pyra/memory/reader.py b/src/pyra/memory/reader.py
index 1a0be35..a0d78c0 100644
--- a/src/pyra/memory/reader.py
+++ b/src/pyra/memory/reader.py
@@ -2,10 +2,8 @@ import datetime
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from pathlib import Path
 
+from pyra.memory import _MEMORY_ROOT
 from pyra.security.boundaries import assert_safe_path
-from pyra.utils.paths import pyra_home
-
-_MEMORY_ROOT = pyra_home() / "memory"
 
 
 @dataclass
diff --git a/src/pyra/memory/writer.py b/src/pyra/memory/writer.py
index 3df61c9..6c2739a 100644
--- a/src/pyra/memory/writer.py
+++ b/src/pyra/memory/writer.py
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 
+from pyra.memory import _MEMORY_ROOT
 from pyra.memory.index import update_index
 from pyra.security.boundaries import assert_safe_path
-from pyra.utils.paths import pyra_home, safe_chmod
-
-_MEMORY_ROOT = pyra_home() / "memory"
+from pyra.utils.paths import safe_chmod
 
 
 def _resolve_and_validate(name: str) -> Path:
@@ -32,12 +31,12 @@ def write_memory(name: str, content: str) -> Path:
 
 def append_memory(name: str, content: str) -> Path:
     path = _resolve_and_validate(name)
+    path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
     if path.exists():
         existing = path.read_text()
         path.write_text(existing.rstrip() + "\n\n" + content)
     else:
         path.write_text(content)
-        path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
     safe_chmod(path, 0o600)
     update_index()
     return path