We take a drink and settle back on the couch. An idea comes to mind.
I run my finger around the top of my wineglass. “Since you came up with a plan for me, it’s my turn to recommend something to you.”
“Yeah? What?”
“You’ve been a great friend to me through the years, so let me throw you a going away party. We can invite all your hot boyfriends, and you can have a night where you’re the star of the show.”
“Now, this is one plan of yours I can get behind.”
“Good. It will give me something positive to focus on.”
A seriousness washes over her expression. “Dori, Jami is going to be alright. Hunter will find a way to go on without you. And you will get a new job you love as much as your last one. Try to stay positive about all of those things, not just a party you’re going to be throwing for me.”
“I’ll try.” I show her a warm smile. “You really are the best friend anyone could ever ask for. I’d be lost without you.”
“And vice versa. We need each other and always will.” She smacks her thigh with her palm. “Now, let’s get moving on the party plans. I have a lot of demands I’m going to make.”
I laugh and welcome the lighter topic. There’s nothing I need more than a night making jokes with my best friend.
If it weren’t for her, I’d be a crying mess. And God knows, my problems will still be here in the morning.
I wake in a cold sweat. My nightmare sits at the forefront of my mind.
Jami and I are hiking, and all seems well until he’s shot. He falls to the ground, bleeding out, and I’m by myself trying to save him.
I take my jacket and press it to his wound. The only problem is he’s been hit in multiple places. My heart pounds wildly. There’s nothing I can do to help him.
He reaches out to me. “Please, Dori. Help me. Don’t let me die.”
“I don’t know what to do, Jami.” Panic fills me.
“Stop the bleeding. Get someone.” His eyes fill with blood, and it pours out from the corners.
As I look around for something to assist me, I notice a blackbird perched on a tree. It watches as I try in vain to save Jami’s life. Its eyes are red and ominous, causing terror to seep through my insides.
My heart beats in triple time as I run away to escape the bird and leave Jami to fend for himself. Somehow, I end up in my office as if nothing has happened.
I know Jami is out in the woods dying, but I’m at work rushing around and trying to get my tasks done. No one will help me.
I’m running around and asking people questions that I can’t make sense of. Nobody will speak to me, and they all turn their backs on me when I address them.
Helplessness races through my veins. I’m all alone trying to fix a variety of projects. There’s a sense of terror. If I don’t succeed in my tasks, Jami will die.
In the next scene, I’m being held in a dark basement, forced to have sex with a man I don’t recognize. There’s a crowd of men gathered around, watching us.
It’s erotic, and I’m enjoying the physical sensation, but I know the only reason I’m doing it is to save Jami. I work to get myself to orgasm, but I can’t get there.
The man I’m having sex with transforms into Jami. He’s on top of me, laughing at me. The group of men close in on us, tearing Jami off me.
He’s thrown to the floor and dies as the men take me into their clutches. I jerk awake before they break me apart, limb by limb.
This is the same kind of dream I’ve had every night sinceour walk in the park when Jami was almost killed. I can’t stop them from invading my sleep.
I roll over and look at the clock. It reads 3:33 am. I throw back my covers and get out of bed. It’s too early to go to the hospital and check on Jami, but I won’t be able to go back to sleep.
I take my time showering and making something to eat while trying to calm my restless mind. My dream won’t let go of me, so I’m an anxious mess when I step out of my loft an hour later.
My security guard jumps when I open the door, causing me to jerk and whisper scream.
