a pang in my heart.
“I was in my room, getting ready for work and thinking up a plan to get Eric out of his binge, when suddenly the Mardi Gras beads hanging on my mirror fell down and scattered all over the floor. I started picking them up. When I finished, I habitually glanced at the mirror and was stunned. She was there, looking at me.
She was standing right behind me and I was looking at her reflection staring back at me!” Sabrina paused to catch her breath and continued. “I turned around but she was gone. I thought it was just paranoia or a hallucinations – just the product of my exhausted brain. But soon it happened again. And this time, the vision was much clearer. Then I started hearing Alex’s voice. And I swear, there are other voices too, but I can’t make them out. They… they mumble something, but I don’t understand. It’s madness. ”
I smoked silently, unsure of how to tell her that everything that was happening to her was neither madness nor paranoia, nor the product of twisted imagination. I couldn’t find the right words to adequately explain this. Now I knew why she had glances crazy look in her eyes sometimes, strange, erratic gestures, and mood swings. It was Michelle, accompanied by Alex. And they clearly frightened her.
“Jack,” Sabrina called out softly, “do you think I’m going crazy? ”
I tried to gather my thoughts and even shook my head, hoping for some enlightenment that would help piece together the puzzle. However, everything only became more tangled.
“You say you can hear Alex’s voice,” I ignored her question.
“Yeah…” Sabrina still sounded uncertain.
“What does he say? Or what is he trying to communicate?” I knew Alex’s character well and was sure that Grandpa would never dream of scaring his granddaughter for no reason, especially now that he was dead.
“He also comes to you during the day now?” I pressed further.
“Lately – yes. And he says something about me being different, that I shouldn’t listen to them and never, under any circumstances, believe what they say. Also…”
She paused and glanced at me sideways.
“Yes?” My patience was wearing thin, and it must have shown.
“He said I should be around you and Eric,” she said, staring at me intently, as if trying to read my mind. A faint glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes, hoping that I would be able to unravel the mystery of her strange visions. “That only you know
the truth and can help me deal with it ,” she continued, leaning forward as if afraid to miss something important. “What does that mean? What truth and who is he talking about?”
I sighed deeply, feeling the weight of her expectant, cautious gaze on me, stood up, and started pacing the room. I mentally thanked her for not bringing up that brief conversation she had had with Eric when he was still drinking, namely what he had said about me doing the job better than him.
“I, I don’t know,” I said a near-truth. “And the pain?” I glanced at her stomach.
Sabrina hesitated for a moment, then looked out the window again.
“It only hurts when I try to ignore it.”Ì stared at Sabrina in bewilderment, not believing my ears. Could such a thing really be possible?
“So? ”
“Well… I pretend not to see. I try not to notice. I think pain is how she’s trying to get my attention. ”
I now watched Sabrina’s every move intently. Genuine shock reflected on my face.
“Can she physically affect you? ” I whispered in horror.
“Yeah, maybe,”
“So that means…” I started, “in the kitchen then and then today…”
“Yes. But when you or Eric are around, something changes. She can’t get too close and it doesn’t hurt as much as when I try to ignore her,” Sabrina fell silent and tucked her legs under her.
“So that’s why you’re always hovering around me.”
She blushed and nodded, about to say something when the front door slammed, making us both jump in surprise and turn towards the direction of the sound.
“Hey everyone! I’m home! ” Eric’s hoarse voice echoed from the hall.
“Jack!” Sabrina jumped to her feet and, coming up to me almost face to face, grabbed my hand and whispered excitedly: “Please, don’t tell him anything! I don’t even know why I decided to tell you all this nonsense. ”
“No, not nonsense. Sorry, I need to… figure some things out,” I muttered, stepping out of the room uncertainly and heading towards the kitchen, where Eric was making a racket.
I caught my friend rummaging in the fridge, hoping to find something he hadn’t already nibbled on. He was humming some tune to himself and making dancing moves, completely oblivious to my presence. I reached him in two steps and slammed the refrigerator door right in front of his surprised face.
“What the heck, Jack! Cut it out! ” Eric hissed, startled, glaring at me. “What’s going on? I got your message. ” He added.
I didn’t know what to do. Utter confusion? Bewilderment? Doubt? It all hit me at once like a tsunami. Maybe my parents would? Damn, my parents! I completely forgot about dinner with parents! I glanced at the clock frantically. I still had to write my report on the latest developments. But what am I supposed to write about now?
“Jack! What’s happening? Is she having another episode? ” Eric’s concerned voice seemed to be coming from a distance.
“Stay with her. Don’t go anywhere. Got it? I need to talk to Dad. ”
Eric looked at me in confusion, but nodded, not asking further questions.
“You think it’s all that serious, huh? ” he asked after a pause.
“I don’t know.” I could see from Eric’s displeased expression that he wasn’t satisfied my reply.
“I gotta go. ”
I walked out of the kitchen, grabbed my coat, nervously fumbling with car keys, and was about to grab the door handle when I heard Sabrina call me.
“Hey, you!” She leisurely emerged from the living room.
“I’m all ears, miss, ” I murmured. She smiled. Well I never! She does nothing but bestow smiles on my all day.
“Have you forgotten about our little bet? ”
“How could I?! ” I feigned offense and grinned playfully.
“Well, tomorrow then? ” Sabrina asked flirtily.
“Tomorrow it is. ”
I leisurely walked out onto the street and headed towards my car parked the back.
For some reason, I felt extremely queasy. What did Grandpa mean only Eric and I could help? I was at my wit’s end. But one thing I was sure of, Sabrina saw her mother, and the
