Even though it had been three days since the strange event at the makeshift thrift store, the puzzle still would not go away. My dorm room used to be a quiet place to study, but now it feels like the silence is loud. All the questions that lingered in my head were such a distraction that I didn't need. Plus, with all these textbooks all over the place, it just felt exhausting. While I was lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind was swimming aimlessly through a sea of confusion.
The midterm project that was due soon felt like an impossible mountain to climb. I looked away from the laptop and at the notes that were all over my desk, but the words were getting mixed up and making a pattern of symbols that I could not understand. However, my thoughts were stuck in that strange thrift store memory. That store seemed to go against all reality rules.
As I tried to concentrate on the task at hand, my thoughts kept returning to the yard sale and how it just appeared, with all the things I had thought I had misplaced, and then suddenly disappeared. Feelings of anger were bothering me, so I sighed and put my laptop down.
The soft light from the desk lamp filled the room, but it was not enough to get rid of the shadows of doubt. The room seemed to be hiding things that were just waiting to be found.
Unable to shake off the mental fog, I decided to lay down for a moment, hoping to clear my mind, and I slowly felt myself slipping away into a deep slumber.
*****
Soft whispers in the air, like soft voices in a vacuum space. Shadows moved around me, and it felt tense, like something important was happening. I saw something protruding from the ground, It looked dusty, almost glowing. I slowly inched closer to it. Igulped as I tried to convince myself to be brave. I touched it, and the air suddenly changed into an eerie atmosphere.
I looked around, trying to figure out where I was. The only thing I could see was this strange object. Strangely, it became more blurry the more I tried looking at it. I felt movements behind me. I turned my head sharply. Shadows danced in the dark.
The shadows cleared, revealing a mysterious figure. It had ancient eyes and spoke in a way that felt important but confusing. "The past is calling you," it said.
Before I could understand, the dream turned into pieces. Abruptly, I woke with a gasp, my heart pounding against the confines of my chest. Beads of sweat clung to my forehead, and my breaths came in ragged bursts. The transition from the dream world to reality left me kind of disoriented.
Ring! Ring! Ring! My phone shouted.
I jumped and placed a hand on my chest. "Damn it!" I cussed
I stood up from the bed, approaching the desk where I had left my phone charging. I picked it up, sweat still trickling down my forehead. The screen lit up with my sister Ellie's name. With a mix of curiosity and comfort, I answered the call.
"Hey, Emmy?" Ellie's voice, warm and familiar, reached through the phone.
A small smile tugged at my lips. "Hey, Ellie. It's been a bit strange lately, but I'm hanging in there. How about you?"
"Why are you breathing so deeply? Are you okay? Oh, wait, don't tell me you're having se.."
"Ellie!" I shricked, feeling my chicks starting to burn up from embarrassment. "Stop! Can you not?" I said, laughing. "I actually just woke up from a dream, probably a nightmare," A sigh escaped me.
"It's just been a weird few days. I had this dream, and it's been lingering in my head. Whispers, shadows, and a strange melody. It's hard to shake off. This weird thing had been going on for a while. It had been happening for weeks. As soon as I woke up, the dreams that were dancing on the edge of my awareness were gone. I shook my head to get rid of the haze that was still there."
Silence hung in the air for a moment before Ellie spoke, her worry evident. "Dreams like that? Have you been having them often? You sound like you're out of breath. Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yep! It's just that it's always like it was just erased from my memory."
Her words struck a chord, and I couldn't hold back anymore. "Yeah, I've been having these dreams. They're unsettling, like bits of a puzzle I can't figure out. And I wake up panting and sweating. It's been happening for a while now."
Concern deepened in Ellie's voice. "Em, you should talk to someone about this. A counselor or a doctor. Dreams like these can be a sign of stress or something else. Don't keep it to yourself."
I nodded, even though she couldn't see it through the phone. "Yeah, maybe you're right. It's just... I don't know. It feels like there's something more to all of this, something I can't quite grasp."
"Maybe hypnotherapy would help you,"
"It's fine, academics are taking too much of a toll on me right now to worry myself with dreams. I won't have time to go to therapy," I said, frowning.
"How are you sis? Everything okay?"
"Yep, I'm okay. Just checking on you. Clearly you needed it," she said softly. I felt a strong sense of appreciation. I smiled to myself.
As the talk went on, I felt a strong urge to tell her what had happened to Sarah and I three days ago. But then I decided against it. Ellie was the type of person who'd sleep with her light on after watching a horror movie because she's scared a monster would get her in the dark.
Ellie gently steered our conversation toward family. We talked about silly things we did as kids, how our parents helped us with schoolwork, and how our family was different from other families. There was a mix of comfort and longing when Mom and Dad were mentioned.
"So, how are Mom and Dad doing?" I asked, a hint of homesickness coloring my words.
Ellie's tone shifted slightly, with a subtle hesitation in her voice. "They're good, Em. Just busy with work, you know. How about you? Everything really okay there? You sound a bit far."
Her response felt guarded, a reminder that distance had created gaps in our shared experiences.
"Em, take care of yourself, okay? If things get overwhelming, don't hesitate to reach out. Family is always here for you."
I smiled slightly.
The phone call ended, leaving me with a mix of warmth and an unspoken understanding. The familial connection, like an invisible thread, tethered me to a sense of belonging.
After the call with Ellie, I was in my dorm room by myself, but I could still hear what we had talked about. Her concern had left a mark, and a nagging sense of urgency nudged me to take action. I needed to deal with the upsetting things that were casting a shadow over my life.
Driven by Ellie's advice, I opened my laptop and began searching for counseling services on campus. The counseling center at the university appeared to be a reliable option, as it provided sessions that were kept confidential and had the potential to offer the support that I so desperately required I realized that speaking with a professional might provide the clarity that I was looking for, so I made an appointment for the following day with a mixture of hope and trepidation
As I made my way through the various online resources, I felt a slight shift in the burden that was resting on my shoulders. It was as if I was taking a step toward regaining control over the enigmatic dreams that were haunting my nights and the mysterious occurrences that were associated with the thrift store.
After securing the appointment, I made an effort to completely submerge myself in my course of study, looking for a safe haven in the concrete world of academia. Throughout the course of the night, I found myself going through a cycle of contemplation and restlessness, with the dreamscape and Ellie's words playing over and over in my head like a permanent loop.
Despite my efforts, sleep proved elusive. The room, once a sanctuary for study and solitude, felt like a cocoon of uncertainty. As dawn painted the sky in soft hues, I found myself still awake, the weight of the unknown pressing on my consciousness.
The counseling appointment loomed on the horizon, a beacon of potential answers. I couldn't shake the feeling that seeking professional guidance might be the key to unraveling the mysteries that had taken root in my life. Little did I know that this journey would lead me into uncharted territories, unveiling secrets buried in the recesses of my mind and family history.