Page 117 of Loving the Legend
“In loving memory of Sidney David King.”
I jerk back and blink rapidly.
No! It can’t be!
A monstrous wave of despair slams into my chest. My legs buckle under its violent force. The harder I try to breathe, the more my chest caves in on itself. I try to ask Adam to call for help, but the words never reach my lips. Adam yells for help, but it’s too late. The last thing I see is an angry sky before my vision darkens.
I jolt awake, wheezing and clasping my cramping stomach. I kick away the sheets, lurch over the bed and vomit. My head throbs as I down the glass of water from the nightstand. I press on my throat to dull the sharp ache like it’s been raked with steel.
I check my phone for Sid's call, but he never called back. I dial him again, needing to know he’s okay. Every ring escalates the queasiness in my stomach.
“Hey babe, I was just calling you.”
“You’re okay?” I ask.
“I’m good. What’s wrong?”
“Fuck!” I sigh, dropping my head into my hands. “I just…fuck…”
I swipe my eyes as the vision of his name on the tombstone flashes through my mind.
“Baby, what’s wrong? Talk to me.”
You were dead. My heart gave out…I took my last breath.
My entire body trembles from grief, exhaustion, and terror.
“I’m sorry,” I croak. “It’s nothing…”
“Was it a nightmare?”
Shame burns through me. Why the fuck can’t I be normal?
“Yeah...I’m fine. Sorry. Let me hit you back.” I end the call, bury my head in my hands, and scream until I’m empty.
My phone vibrates, but I ignore it.
I fold myself into a ball and lie in the quiet darkness until I drift asleep.
I’m certain my head’s trying to kill me when I wake up to piss. It hurts to think. The smell of puke evokes memories of thenightmare. I drag myself to the bathroom to relieve myself. My entire body hurts. Opening the medicine cabinet, I twist off the cap of nighttime cough syrup and take a long swig. I remember the bottle of prescription sleeping pills that Adam asked me to throw away. He hated the way he felt on them. I held on to the bottle, figuring that they might help with my nightmares. I search around in my duffel until I find the bottle—eszopiclone. I swallow a few and throw the bottle in my medicine cabinet. I put the trash bin of vomit outside of my door, then crash back into bed.
“Shit!” I sigh when I remember how I left things with Sid. I retrieve my phone. It’s almost dead. God, there are so many of his missed calls. I pen a quick text to him.
Me: Sorry for the cryptic call. Had a nightmare. I fell back asleep. Feeling like shit. I’m gonna try to sleep some more. Will hit you up when I wake up.
The phone dies as soon as I hit send, so I have no way of knowing if the message went through. Damn. I’ll call him when I wake up. I throw the comforter over my head, and I’m knocked out again in no time.
I swallow,but gravel’s lodged in my throat. I try reaching for the water on my nightstand but can’t move. My entire body is paralyzed. I try to rip my eyes open, but they’re glued shut. There's a woman’s voice, but it sounds far away. Then everything goes quiet, and I drift back to sleep.
I’m awake again…has it been hours…or days? I try to reach for the glass of water that I know is sitting on my nightstand,but I still can’t move. I’m so thirsty. I try to lift my arms, but there’s heavy sand where my blood used to be.
There’s a woman’s voice again. My eyes are cemented shut. Help me! I try to speak, but my tongue is paralyzed too. I’ll never escape this.
It all fades to black again.
I gasp and jerk awake from the assault of a thousand sharp needles.
My nose burns as I huff to unplug it.
