He approached the porch swing where Josie sat and joined her without saying a word. They swung together in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. Josie appreciated having family like Damien, his presence alone comforted her, there was no need for words.
She stared out at the brightly lit lawn. The sun was already heating the day; it was going to be another scorcher. Within an instant, Josie’s view changed. She no longer looked at her front lawn and driveway with her and Damien’s cars parked near the house. Instead, she saw a large home rising in front of her, white and stately looking with a long curving drive leading to it. Bright blue skies framed it across the top and a landscape of beautiful flowers on the bottom. The air smelled of the sea. The image lasted for a few seconds before it disappeared.
Josie’s overtired mind tried to make sense of it. What were these things she was seeing? Her stomach became queasy and her head ached. Not wanting to panic Damien, she tried her best to recover in silence. A few minutes passed, and she hadn’t recovered. “Hey, I’m going to lay down for a little while, I don’t feel so good.”
“You’re sick? Do you need anything?”
“No, just my touchy stomach, probably my poor diet yesterday,” she gave a weak smile, heading inside and up to her room. She laid down on the bed, closing her eyes, hoping it would help dull the pain in her head. It did nothing to stop the pain. Her stomach still rolled as though she were on a roller coaster. She considered retrieving some medication from the bathroom but she was too sick to move. She laid still on her back, hoping the sensation would soon pass.
Opening her eyes and turning her head she spotted the music box. Her hand reached over to caress the top of it. After a moment, she opened it. The small box’s music filled the air. She lay on her side, staring at it. Reaching over after a few moments, she removed the necklace from the box, clutching it to her chest. After about ten minutes, she began to recover. Her head still had a dull ache but the queasiness in her stomach had started to pass. Thank goodness, she thought.
She closed her eyes again, her stomach and head beginning to ease. She began to relax, particularly now that the sensation that she may vomit at any moment had passed. She took a few deep breaths, relaxing as the cool air from the air conditioning unit blew on her as the unit kicked on. The tinkling music continued to fill her mind and lulled her off to sleep.
Josie bolted upright; she’d had the dream again, and it had produced its usual side effects: labored breathing, soaking sweat, quickened pulse and a racing heart. She clenched her fists as she took long, deep breaths to calm her nerves. She looked at her palms, they were damp and sweaty. The dream had been different this time, she recalled, prompted by the clamminess on her palms. She remembered the usual: running through the cave, walls damp, being chased, but this time there was more. After hearing Celine’s name being called she had run toward a small ray of light. As she neared, she looked down at her hands. Blood covered them. She had awoken before she determined the source of the blood. She concluded that was a good thing.
She wasn’t sure how much more she could take. The almost constant sleepless nights coupled with the terrible dreams and now the strange visions. She considered calling the therapist despite it being the weekend to request those sleeping pills. She was loath to do it; she solved nothing if she medicated her problems away. How long would she need to use pills before she was “cured?”
She glanced over at the little music box, still playing cheerfully away. She remembered having removed the necklace from it before falling asleep. She found it lying under the covers, discarded during her sleep. She placed it back in the music box. She caught sight of the business card she had placed inside. Picking it up, she turned it over, reading the note again. Her eyes clouded with tears. She needed help, but she didn’t know where to get it. She didn’t want to tell her therapist she was having visions, fearing she’d end up in a straitjacket locked away in a psychiatric ward somewhere. The man who gave her this note seemed to understand. Or was he just as crazy as she was? Why did the prospect of confiding in him appeal to her so much more than getting professional help?
She sniffled, letting a few tears fall to her cheeks. She heard a knock on the door. She wiped her face, sniffled again, and called out, “Yeah?”
Damien poked his head in. “Didn’t wake you, did I?”
“No,” she said, “I was getting up.” She discreetly put the business card back into the music box and closed it, standing up from her bed.
“Did you get any sleep?” he asked, entering the room.
“Yes, I did.”
“That’s good! How about a quiet movie day on the couch? It’s going to be a real scorcher out there today and there’s some severe weather blowing in this afternoon. Sounds like a great day for watching a scary movie to me!”
“Scary movie? I see enough of those when I sleep!”
“Rom-com? Action? Anything, Jos, you can pick,” he said, trying to be supportive.
“I’m kidding. Maybe if I’m scared out of my wits, my mind will snap back into place.”
“Nothing is wrong with your mind, Josie, you’re just stressed out or whatever. I’m sure Dr. Reed can help you. In the meantime, maybe call him for a prescription or try an over-the-counter sleep aid.”
“I’m fine, D. I’ll just wait for the appointment. What movie do you want to watch? And is it too early for popcorn?”
“You can have whatever
