Chapter 2
"Dad!" I woke with a start, sweat pouring from me. My heart was once again racing and my breathing was furious. I turned to the side table and went to turn on the lamp but let out a small yelp when I caught the figure of someone in the doorway. I turned the light on frantically and looked back over at the door. It was closed, there was no one there.
I sat shaking, trying to bring myself out of the panic my nightmare had left me in.
This was nothing new for me. I had had night terrors almost every night since I was 15 and should have become accustomed to them by now. But no, it was always the same. The same dream warping around my subconscious, drowning me in fear. Tonight's was different though. It was the same dream but there was something new to it. Someone new.
The dream always started the same. I would be with my dad in the hospice, holding his hand and reading him his favourite book - The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman. He would be sleeping soundly while I read to him. Birds would be singing outside and the soft sunlight would pool over us. Then in an instant his eyes would shoot open and they would be black. Fully jet black. He would slowly turn to me and an ear piercing scream would come from him, despite him not opening his mouth. Usually that would be when I woke up in a state.
But this time, his eyes shot open but he didn't look at me. Instead he slowly sat up and looked at the foot of his bed. At the man standing there staring back at him with his own cold black eyes. I knew it the instant I dreamt it. It was the man from earlier that day who had been stood outside my hospital room. In the dream the man turned to me and stretched out his arm as if he was trying to force choke me or something. I heard his deep voice whisper "Melissa. Run! ". That's when I woke up calling out for my Dad.
I thought for sure I was losing my mind, seeing things. It would make sense. Surely there is only so much trauma one person can go through in 22 years before they break. I had to have hit that quota by now.
I grabbed my phone from the side table and checked the time. 5:34am. I knew there was no point trying to get back to sleep after that so I laid and scrolled numbly through social media. I checked twitter first and caught up on the mundane celebrity gossip. I didn't care about it personally but it gave me something to talk about with my dorm mates.
I switched over to Instagram and saw post after post of yet another night out for them. I swear they must have gone drinking every night for the last 3 weeks. I suppose that was part of being a freshman at 18. Being an older student had it's downsides, that's for sure.
I swiped down and saw a collection of images my roommate Cassie had posted. The first image had been of just her, looking stunning in her knee length white bodycon dress. Her long blonde hair cascading down her like a golden waterfall, her makeup as immaculate as ever. I double tapped it to like it and the little heart icon turned red.
The second photo was of her and her boyfriend, Ross. He had his arm wrapped around her shoulders but was looking over at someone else, with a sickening grin. She, however, had the sweetest smile on her face and my heart just ached for her. She knew that he was cheating on her with multiple other women but she was just too in it to let him go. She deserved better.
The third image she'd posted was a group shot of all of our dorm, looking rowdy at a nearby bar. They had clearly had had a good time. I dreaded to think about their hangovers today, somewhat relieved I wasn't there to deal with their foul hungover attitudes.
It suddenly hit me that they didn't notice I hadn't been at the dorm. Or perhaps from the lack of direct messages in my inbox, they just didn't care. I couldn't be too angry if they didn't. Since I had arrived at the campus I had tried to fit in with them - make conversation where I could, but I just never clicked with any of them. Maybe it was the age difference, or maybe it was our lack of common ground. I didn't mind though. I had been alone before I went to college and I would likely be alone after. My own company and my Aunts incessant nagging and worrying was more than enough for me.
After scrolling for a while longer I decided I wanted to get myself ready to leave. There was no way I was staying in this hospital longer than I needed to and in total honesty I was feeling a lot better. My headache had died down to a low throb, rather than the searing pain it had been last night. I climbed down from the bed and cringed when I realized I was in a hospital gown. I didn't like the thought of a stranger undressing me, for medical reasons or otherwise. I hoped it was Claire who had taken care of that.
I opened the side table drawer and pulled out the large zip lock bag that held my clothes and purse. I wondered about getting a shower but quickly realized I was in a hospital, not a hotel and shook the thought from my head.
I pulled on my jeans and light pink sweater that I'd had on yesterday, after wiping the gravel off of them. I must have landed on the pathway when I got hit. I opened my purse and grabbed the hair brush and pocket mirror I always carried. I hopped back on the bed and set to taming the wild mane on top of my head. Even gently pulling at my auburn hair with the hair brush hurt more than it should have. I reached down into my purse again to pull out a hair tie and pulled my hair back into a very loose low ponytail, making sure it wouldn't make my headache any worse.
I checked the time again, 7:44am. Right when I did there was a knock at the door and a new nurse walked in. She had a stern face and was not as welcoming as Claire had been yesterday.
"Breakfast. What do you want?" She snapped.
"Um, I'll take anything. I don't mind." I said, trying to keep on her good side, if she had one.
"Toast then." She said and walked back out the room as quickly as she had entered it.
I had wanted to ask about leaving but I guessed maybe she wasn't the best person to ask. I kept the thought to myself when she returned half an hour later with two slices of undercooked toast and a tiny packet of strawberry jelly. She had brought a bottle of orange juice too which I was thankful for. I'd never been big on water.
I managed about half a slice of toast before getting bored with it so set it to the side. Thankfully Doctor Weathers came on in around the same time.
"Good morning Miss Marks. How are you feeling today?" He asked, looking directly at me. He seemed a lot more chipper this morning, and I noted the dark circles around his eyes had lessened. He must have had a better night sleep than I had. I also noted he had an English accent and I thought it odd how I had missed that yesterday.
"Hi, Doctor Weathers. I feel much better today, thank you." I stated truthfully.
"That's good news, any pain?" He questioned.
"Um, not really. Just a dull throb but the pain killers worked a treat. I think maybe I feel ready to go home?" I said, another half question.
He glanced at my medical chart and muttered to himself how my 'obs' looked good.
"Agreed. I'll get started on your discharge notes. Do you have someone who can collect you?" He asked.
"Yes, I'll text my Aunt now. It'll take her around a half hour to get here, would that be enough time?" I said, making sure I could leave the second I was able to.
"Yes no problem at all. I'll be back shortly." he said and left the room again.
I texted Erica with a massive sense of relief that I could get back to my life.
Hi Erica. All good to go! :-) Please come get me asap! I need a shower x
She replied almost instantly.
OMG Melly!!! I am so glad you are okay sweetie! I am on my way ILY! Erica Marks XXX
Why she felt the need to end every single text message with her full god given name I had no idea. She was peculiar and had been since I could remember, but she was the closest family I had now. When Dad died I remember feeling so much relief that I got to live with Erica and not my dad's other sibling, Uncle Paul. He was never the nicest man.
Peculiarity aside, Erica could have been a saint. Especially during Dad's sickness and eventual death. She had been there every single day at the hospice making sure we had everything we needed. From his diagnosis to the second he took his last breath, she was there holding our hands and being the strength we so desperately needed. I'd never be able to repay her for what she had done for us.
Doctor Weathers walked into the room again pulling me from my nostalgia and handed me what felt like a years worth of paperwork.
"Sign here, and here, and you're free to go." He gave me a small smile as he handed me his pen.
I signed where he'd asked me to and sighed, feeling weirdly free. I couldn't wait to get back to the dorm and back to a sense of normalcy. I handed him back his pen and caught my Aunt Erica's small frame peek around the doorframe.
"Are we decent?" She teased, moving her hand from her eyes. Her face snapping to serious when she laid eyes on Doctor Weathers. "Oh Doctor, I'm glad I caught you. What's the diagnosis?"
"Just a light concussion. We've given her some pain killers and a night of R&R. She's good to go Ma'am." He smiled.
"Ooh R&R! I'll have to get myself checked in next" she said, winking at him.
He nodded at me and walked out of the room blushing at my Aunt's obvious lack of social queues.
"Are you all set Melly?" She asked while gently stroking the side of my face with the back of her hand. She made me feel so safe.
"Yah, I'm all packed. Let's get out of here". I smile, grabbing my purse and checking to see I hadn't forgot anything. "I can't wait to get back to the dorm."
"If you think I'm leaving you alone after the 24 hours I have just been through, you have another think coming. You're staying with me for a few days." She stated, adding "And that isn't up for debate, Melissa." when she saw the look of horror cross my face.
Great.