Page 18 of Closer

Mom?

Another scream splits the air. Something falls. Hard. Loud.

Silence.

On shaking legs, I pad to the door. This time, the door handle gives way, but only a little.

“Lil. Sweetheart. Close your eyes.” She sounds exhausted. “I need you to close them. Remember the game we played? Hiding from the monsters?”

I nod.

“We’re going to play it. Okay?”

My hands shoot up, covering my eyes.

“Are your eyes closed?”

I nod. Silence.

“You need to talk to Mommy.”

“I’m scared.”

“I know. Just…” She sounds like she’s in pain. “Everything is alright. Are your eyes closed?”

“Yes.” I sob.

I hear the door creak, and she picks me up in her arms. “Keep them closed, and we’ll go to the beach. Didn’t you ask me to go there?”

I nod. Sniffling.

“Good. Keep them closed.” She kisses my cheek and starts walking.

To where? I don’t know.

I want to peak, but I can’t. My hands are—

Suddenly, we stumble to the ground.

“You little—”

My head snaps up.

“You okay?” Sarah’s hand gently squeezes my shoulder. “You were mumbling in your sleep.”

I blink, trying to orient myself. Books, Shelves, Library. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bad dream.”

“You sure? You look pretty shaken up.”

“I’m good, thanks.” I force a smile, but it feels brittle. “Stayed up late reading and wanted to take a little nap in my break.” If only it would have been a book and not my nightmares keeping me up all night.

“Oh, which book kept you up? Some new rec for me?”

“Pride and Prejudice, actually. Guess I’m a sucker for the classics.”

She chuckles. “Aren’t we all? Though I pegged you more as a Sense and Sensibility kind of gal.”

“Yeah. Both are good.” I hate lying to her, but I can’t bring myself to talk about the nightmares. They’re too raw, too real.

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