บท 5: The Nightmare Returns
My mom's hand holds mine comfortably. We walk along the riverbank, and I can see the ducks floating on the water. I can feel the sun on my tiny shoulders. All my thoughts and feelings are so simple. I have no fear now with my mom standing next to me.
She hands me some bread and I throw it out to the ducks. They quack and start coming closer to get the crumbs. My giggle is so loud and high pitched the ducks start flapping their wings dramatically. It only makes me giggle louder.
While giggling I look over my shoulder to find my mom's reaction, But she's not there. She's gone. I'm not a child anymore. I look at my reflection in the water and I'm now a first-year student in college. My hair is in dreads and I'm wearing a choker. My signature college look. I stand up and begin to walk down the sidewalk when someone grabs me from behind and hugs me. Its Aj.
This was our first date. We'd been friends since kindergarten and only in college did, we both realize we had feelings for each other. I spin around and see her. She's younger and more vibrant than ever. Her hair long and flowing the way she used to keep it then. I run my fingers through her hair, and she closes her eyes to my touch. But then she vanishes before my eyes.
I'm not by the river anymore. I'm in the past farther in the past. A crowd begins to gather in front of me. I start making my way through until I can see what they are all looking at. A large pyre stands in the middle of the crowd and three women are tied up to it. She is there. My mother. I recognize her but she's different she is not the mother I know. But I can recognize her soul.
I get closer until she sees me. I can feel the warm tears rolling down my cheeks. Her mouth is moving but I can't hear what she is saying. I tried to read her lips, but I can't make out the words. I shake my head hoping she realizes that means I can't hear her. She repeats herself again. I still can't hear her.
Then men come to the pyre with torches and light the kindling at the bottom. The pyres smolder and eventually start to get stronger.
"Mother!!!! No! Stop!!!!!" My feet have a mind of their own as I run towards the fire. She shakes her head trying to stop me.
Again, she repeats what she said, and I think I can hear some of it. I'm getting closer. Closer. Finally, I can hear her voice.
"VIOLET! WAKE UP!"
I jolted awake. Sweat is pouring down my face and my bedding is soaked. I ran my hand through my hair and whipped the blankets off me. I could tell that I was burning up. Hopefully I didn't have a fever. I looked over to Aj's side of the bed and she wasn't there.
What time is it? I looked at my bedside clock and it read 12:01. I sighed and slowly got up. I wondered where Aj was. The only place I could think she'd be was in her studio room probably working on art.
I went to the room which was just down the hall from ours. The light was on, and the door was ajar. I could hear the soft sounds of Tash Sultana playing and I quietly knocked before I pushed the door open.
I looked around and didn't see her right away until I lowered my head to the floor. She was lying in a pool of dark liquid. "Please Gods, let that be paint", I thought and ran to her side. It wasn't paint. I grabbed her wrist searching for a pulse. I could feel a faint beating on my fingertips. She was alive!
I quickly gathered myself and ran to my bedroom to get my phone. I dialed 911 and explained the situation as calmly as I could. They asked if I knew where the blood was coming from. I realized I never looked for a wound. I ran back to the room and froze. The phone fell to the floor and bounced. You could hear the operator saying 'Hello, Ma'am" over and over.
Aj was sitting at her easel with paint brush in hand. She was startled by me dropping the phone and quickly spun around.
"Violet!?" she saw my face and ran to me grabbing my arms. "Violet!? What's wrong? Are you ok?"
The operator was speaking, and I heard "We are sending an ambulance and squad car!"
I was still. Aj was holding me now when only moments ago I was covered in her blood. What the hell was that? A dream? A nightmare? Was I sleep walking?
All I knew was something was about to change our lives completely. I wasn't sure I was prepared for it.
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