diff --git a/src/cya/memory/__init__.py b/src/cya/memory/__init__.py
index 84a4f40..5d6120d 100644
--- a/src/cya/memory/__init__.py
+++ b/src/cya/memory/__init__.py
@@ -17,27 +17,60 @@ in recall results.
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import json
 import sys
+import time
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any
 
 
 def _warn_not_connected(feature: str) -> None:
-    """Loud, visible marker that phase-memory is not yet wired."""
+    """Loud, visible marker that phase-memory is not yet wired (fallback path)."""
     msg = (
         f"[phase-memory] {feature} called — phase-memory not yet connected. "
-        "This is a no-op placeholder. Real implementation will come from the "
-        "phase-memory package. See T05 in workplan CYA-WP-0001."
+        "Falling back to local T02 json store (real phase graph in later slice). "
+        "See T02 in workplan CYA-WP-0002 and MemoryVision contract."
     )
     print(msg, file=sys.stderr)
 
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Real T02 backing (user-controlled, explainable, phase-ready)
+# Uses stdlib + optional phase_memory.models for structure.
+# Persists across cya invocations via ~/.config/cya/memory/<scope>.json
+# (user can inspect/edit; aligns with "user-controlled memory" principle).
+# When full phase-memory is wired, this backing is replaced by the graph/event store.
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def _mem_path(scope: str = "cwd") -> Path:
+    p = Path.home() / ".config" / "cya" / "memory"
+    p.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    return p / f"{scope}.json"
+
+
+def _load(scope: str) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
+    f = _mem_path(scope)
+    if f.exists():
+        try:
+            data = json.loads(f.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+            return data if isinstance(data, list) else []
+        except Exception:
+            return []
+    return []
+
+
+def _save(scope: str, items: list[dict[str, Any]]) -> None:
+    f = _mem_path(scope)
+    f.write_text(json.dumps(items, indent=2, default=str), encoding="utf-8")
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Explicit ports (the four capabilities from the workplan)
 # Refined in T01 per phase-memory architecture + interop + lifecycle.
-# These map to preference kind + graph/event + planner concepts.
+# Real (non-no-op) implementation added in T02: actual persist + recall across
+# invocations, with provenance for explainability. Still graceful.
 # See MemoryVision.md "cya ↔ phase-memory Integration Contract".
-# Implementations (T02+) will delegate to phase_memory.ports / planner / runtime.
-# Signatures preserve backward compat for callers while adding explain hooks.
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
@@ -51,13 +84,28 @@ def remember_preference(
 ) -> None:
     """Remember a user preference or workflow pattern (preference kind).
 
-    Delegates (T02+) to phase-memory profile execution / graph store.
-    Dry-run plans and policy checks come from phase-memory lifecycle.
+    Real T02: persists to user-controlled json (scoped).
+    Future: delegates to phase-memory profile execution / graph store + planner.
+    Dry-run plans and policy checks will come from phase-memory lifecycle.
     """
-    _warn_not_connected(
-        f"remember_preference({key!r}, scope={scope}, profile={profile})"
-    )
-    # No-op by design (T01 complete; real in T02)
+    try:
+        items = _load(scope)
+        item = {
+            "key": key,
+            "value": value,
+            "ts": time.time(),
+            "scope": scope,
+            "profile": profile,
+            "kind": "preference",
+        }
+        # avoid exact dups for same key in small stores
+        items = [i for i in items if i.get("key") != key]
+        items.append(item)
+        _save(scope, items)
+    except Exception as e:
+        _warn_not_connected(
+            f"remember_preference({key!r}, scope={scope}, profile={profile}) err={e}"
+        )
 
 
 def recall_preferences(
@@ -70,39 +118,77 @@ def recall_preferences(
 ) -> dict[str, Any]:
     """Recall relevant history / preferences for cwd + task (preference + context).
 
-    Returns structured payload with items, provenance, dry_run_plan, phase.
-    Enables explainability in orchestrator / --explain-context.
-    Will be replaced by real phase-memory retrieval + planner.
+    Real T02: loads from user-controlled scoped json.
+    Returns structured payload with items, provenance, phase for explain.
+    Future: real phase-memory retrieval + planner + dry_run_plan.
     """
-    _warn_not_connected(
-        f"recall_preferences(scope={scope}, task={task_class}, profile={profile})"
-    )
-    return {}
+    try:
+        items = _load(scope)
+        if kinds:
+            items = [i for i in items if i.get("kind") in kinds or not i.get("kind")]
+        items = items[-limit:]  # most recent
+        return {
+            "items": items,
+            "provenance": [
+                {
+                    "source": "cya-local-memory-json (T02; phase models ready)",
+                    "scope": scope,
+                    "count": len(items),
+                }
+            ],
+            "phase": "fluid",
+            "profile": profile,
+            "note": "real persist across invocations; full phase-memory graph/planner in later T02 slice",
+        }
+    except Exception as e:
+        _warn_not_connected(
+            f"recall_preferences(scope={scope}, task={task_class}, profile={profile}) err={e}"
+        )
+        return {}
 
 
 def forget(scope: str = "cwd", keys: list[str] | None = None, *, profile: str | None = None) -> None:
     """Forget / reset memory (scoped).
 
-    Delegates to phase-memory retention / lifecycle planner (dry-run first).
+    Real T02: removes from the user json.
+    Future: delegates to phase-memory retention / lifecycle planner (dry-run first).
     """
-    _warn_not_connected(f"forget(scope={scope}, keys={keys}, profile={profile})")
-    # No-op
+    try:
+        if not keys:
+            _save(scope, [])
+            return
+        items = _load(scope)
+        items = [i for i in items if i.get("key") not in keys]
+        _save(scope, items)
+    except Exception as e:
+        _warn_not_connected(f"forget(scope={scope}, keys={keys}, profile={profile}) err={e}")
 
 
 def export_memory(scope: str = "cwd", *, profile: str | None = None) -> dict[str, Any]:
     """Inspect / export current memory for this project or user.
 
-    Includes phase, provenance summary, policy notes for full transparency.
-    Used by CLI explain paths.
+    Real T02: returns the raw items + meta for full transparency (used by explain).
+    Includes phase, provenance summary, policy notes placeholder.
     """
-    _warn_not_connected(f"export_memory(scope={scope}, profile={profile})")
-    return {
-        "status": "phase-memory not connected (T05 no-op; T01 contract complete)",
-        "scope": scope,
-        "profile": profile,
-        "note": "Replace this module with real phase-memory ports (see MemoryVision contract).",
-        "phases": ["ephemeral", "fluid", "stabilized", "rigid"],
-    }
+    try:
+        items = _load(scope)
+        return {
+            "status": "real (T02 local json; phase ready)",
+            "scope": scope,
+            "profile": profile,
+            "count": len(items),
+            "items": items,
+            "phase": "fluid",
+            "provenance_summary": f"{len(items)} preference records from ~/.config/cya/memory/",
+            "note": "Replace this module with real phase-memory ports/graph (see MemoryVision contract). User can edit the json directly.",
+            "phases": ["ephemeral", "fluid", "stabilized", "rigid"],
+        }
+    except Exception as e:
+        _warn_not_connected(f"export_memory(scope={scope}, profile={profile}) err={e}")
+        return {
+            "status": "error",
+            "error": str(e),
+        }
 
 
 __all__ = [