DREAM
"No! I don't know you! Get away from me HELP!" The man hugged her tightly, whispering in her ear,
"Shhh, darling...it is just me. You are my beloved,my mate. We are fated to be together."
"No! I don't know you! Ahhh!"
His canines extended and he bit her soft spot between her neck and shoulder.
END OF DREAM
Belinda woke, panting.
"Again! ??? What is wrong with me!?" Belinda had had this same dream since she was 16. Now at 22 having completed her Masters degree in education, she thought she would be done with this damnable dream.
it was always the same, a tall mulatto, Filipino man would invade her dreams, claim he was her mate and bite her!
Who does that? What a damnable, fictional, werewolf creature? She really did have to stop watching horror films about werewolves,especially before bed.
But she did love a good werewolf movie!
Belinda shook her head.. She was soaking wet with sweat from the dream. So, she got up and walked to the on-suite to take a shower, shake the residual effects of the dream off and grab breakfast before she went for her final medical exam.
Belinda was signing a 1 year contract to teach teachers overseas. She had always longed to travel. And the Philippines had always captured her imagination. Yes, she was headed out soon, if this medical exam went well to the Republic of the Philippines.
Her father, whom she had few memories of at all, had been "lost" there researching her grandfather's military service...he served there during WW II and she wanted to see where her father had been lost and where her grandfather had served. Not everyone was happy about her going though.
"Belinda,why on earth would you want to go to the other end of the world to teach!? There are many schools here who need good teachers." Her mother did not understand at all why her daughter wanted to go 10,000 miles away from home to a rural,mountainous, isolated area in a foreign country. "You don't even speak their language!"
"Mother,I will be taught and their second language is English. And how hard can yet another language be to learn! I speak 7 and read 3 others! Really? I just believe I am being called to make a difference there. Please, can't you be supportive of my decision!" Belinda was frustrated almost to tears. For the past three months her mother and she have argued over this decision to be a Corps Volunteer.
"You are such a bleeding heart!" That was her mother's biggest insult. A "bleeding heart" to her mother meant she was an easy touch for any sob story. She wasn't. But her mother was a cold, aloof, intellectual who liked her wine chilled and her bathes hot. Belinda knew for a fact her mother had never camped out even one night. God forbid she not have all her so called "necessities" of life (all luxuries as far as Belinda was concerned).
Belinda knew there was no convincing her mother that this was a good decision for her. So, she decided to just smile and offer to agree to disagree. Her mother started to argue but sighed and turned back to the kitchen where she was finishing her homemade spaghetti sauce for Belinda's farewell meal. Belinda did love her mother's Italian meals. The best ever!
The door bell rung. Belinda went to open it and there stood Jim. Jim was Belinda's boyfriend, or was until she decided to take this contract. He was livid with her yet still he showed up for her farewell dinner.Somehow she thought her mother had a lot to do with Jim showing up tonight. "Hi, Jim. Come on in. How nice of you to come see me before I leave Thank you." Belinda tried to smile. "Jim,come on in!" her mother yelled from the kitchen. Jim walked right past Belinda to the kitchen with a bottle of wine (some fancy named wine... Belinda didn't care). "Hi, ma'am. I came because no one makes spaghetti as good as yours. And I figured with her leaving I won't be getting any more anytime soon." He glared at Belinda. It was going to be a long evening. Belinda sighed and just as she was about to go up to her room to avoid a huge argument the doorbell rung again. "Oh great," Belinda thought, "more trouble I am sure."
Sure enough it was her younger sister, Louisa. "Hi Sis!" Louisa called out loudly. Before Belinda could answer, her mother screamed out from the kitchen,"In here, darling!" Yep,Lousia was always mother's favorite child. Sigh. It was, indeed, going to be a very long night. Belinda was wondering who else Mother had invited tonight.
She didn't have to wonder for very long. The doorbell rang again. Belinda said, "I'll get it!" She opened it and saw...fun...fun...Jane and her husband, Tim. They were her mother's co-workers at the University. They too thought Belinda was nuts to take off for the Philippines. Tim shook Belinda's hand and said, "So, have you're considered my offer?" Belinda smiled but the smile did not reach her eyes. Mother was listening, "What offer, Tim?" She glared at Belinda. Tim cleared his throat and walked towards the kitchen with Jane on his arm."Oh, I just offered her a place in the department as a TA while she finished her PhD. She said she wasn't interested at this time." and shock his head at Belinda. Her mother stood with her hands on her hips and glared at Belinda. "Now WHY ON EARTH would you trun that offer down!" Belinda smiled weakly and excused herself. "Belinda Ann Roberts, I am speaking to you! Come back here!" Tim touched Anne's arm (Anne was Belinda's mother's given name). He shock his head back and forth as if to ask her to let it go. Anne sighed deeply. "She is going to go,isn't she?" Anne said to no one in particular.
Everyone looked at each other and shrugged. Jim spoke,"Yeah. I think she is. No stopping her now." Louisa took Jim's arm and began to fawn over him. "I am so sorry,Jim. Your heart must be broken. My sister is so selfish. I am just so sad for you." Jim smiled down at her and patted her hand."Thank you,Louisa. I appreciate that.It is difficult to send her off." The two walked out on the backpack. Belinda heard every word. "Oh well,Louisa has had a thing for Jim for years."Belinda mumbled under her breath as she walked up to her room. She shut her door and grabbed her airplane tickets and looked at the time again. It was probably about the 100th time today alone she looked at them. She checked that her passport, wallet and itinerary were all in her backpack and added the tickets. "Soon," she thought,"I will be out of here soon."
It seemed to Belinda all her mother wanted was her to obtain her PhD, settle down with Jim, have 2 children and a tenure secured teaching job. That was not what Belinda wanted at all. She wanted to see some of the world, help those less fortunate in some capacity and ...well... maybe even have an adventure or two along the way. She was just 22 years old and had her Master Degree already. She was no dummy and wanted a chance to shine separate from her mother's shadow.
Belinda looked at the clock, 6 pm. Mother would be calling her down any moment.Yep...like clock work. "Belinda Ann get down here! How rude. This dinner party is for you, you know."
Belinda rolled her eyes and opened her door and walked down to the hell that her mother called a dinner party. She smiled weakly. The others were all seated already. Belinda took the only open chair across from her mother. Everyone stopped talking and just stared at Belinda. Finally, Belinda broke the awkwardness and said, "Dig in!" She took a small portion of salad and a slice of garlic bread and passed the salad to Jane on her right. No one really spoke. It was one of the most awkward dinners ever. Just when Belinda was sure it could get much worse, she heard sniffing. Oh geez. It was Mother. She was pouring on the tears now. Talk about guilt tripping. Ugh. Belinda put down her fork. "Mother, what's wrong?"
Louisa burst out,"What's wrong?! You are so selfish you can't see how afraid and emotional mother is!? Really. You never care about anyone but yourself! " and she burst into tears as well. Jim patted her back and Jane got up to hug Belinda's mother. Tim sat there awkwardly and continued to eat. Belinda folded her napkin, placed it beside her plate. She stood and excused herself. She went upstairs, gathered her oversized suitcase and backpack, picked up her cellphone and called Molly. Molly answered immediately, " Ready?" "Yep!"
'Be there in a minute I am just parked up the street. I was waiting." Molly smiled and Belinda was really grateful for her friend. Belinda quietly slipped out the front door, pulled it shut behind her leaving the drama behind her. She would call her mother and sister from the airport and say goodbye.
"Hi Molly! You are a life savior!" Belinda was truly grateful and relieved they had set up the escape days before. Both Molly and Belinda figured Anne would try one last time to stop Belinda from leaving. And she did. She tried the carrot before the rabbit with the TA offer then tried making her jealous with Jim and Louisa. When that didn't work she went for the tears and guilt. sigh. "Yeah,Molly, it was just like we thought. I just excused myself and left after the waterworks started." "Sorry,Belinda." Molly reached over and touched her arm with without taking her eyes off the road. "You will be out of here before you know it." Molly chuckled. Belinda laughed out loud. "Yep. And I truly cannot wait! I have lived the life Mother wanted me to live until now.If I don't do it now I never will." Molly agreed and kept driving. They arrived at the airport in about an hour and a half.
Molly stopped along the curb for departures. "Belinda, I can park and stay with you for a while. I feel like a bad friend dropping you off and just leaving."
Molly looked sad. "Molly, you are the best friend and I promise I will write you and call whenever I can. I do have global service although I am told that cell service and Wi-Fi are sporadic on the island once I get there. But I will never forget you and I will be back before you know it! It's just a year contract." She reached across and hugged her friend. They both smiled at each other and then laughed. They got out and went to the back, pulled out Belinda's suitcase. Belinda secured her backpack on her front and strapped the security strap of her suitcase on her wrist. "Well, I am ready! I hope..." Molly pulled her in for one more hug. "God goes with you. You got this!"
Belinda took off for the security clearance area. Molly watched her best friend disappear then got in her car and drove home. Molly was deep down afraid for her friend. But she knew no one could stop her so she supported her. It was going to be lonely this next year.
Belinda passed through security with no glitches and went to the gate to wait. She sat down, pulled out her cell and decided to text her sister and mother instead of calling. She also texted Tim and Jane and, reluctantly, texted Jim. She decided to keep it simple. She just said thank you and see you later. The less she texted the better at this point.
It was time to board.
She had checked in her oversized suitcase and hoped it would arrive on the otherwise of the world on time. She had her backpack and in it she had her laptop, portable printer, a cell.phone charger, a change of clothes, pj's, and small containers of personal hygiene things, a journal, her Bible and a book called "Applied Anthropology." That was it. If her luggage got lost, she would be naked for a month! She chuckled at that crazy thought. She didn't have much money to replace clothing so she hoped and prayed her luggage would arrive safely.
Belinda settled in her seat. She placed her backpack under the seat in front of her and closed her eyes.