Chapter 23: Breathless

I concluded my conversation with my mother, and as soon as I was out of sight, I rushed to my room so I could call Haylee back.

I didn’t even bother to greet her as I asked, “Are you alone?”

“Yeah, why?” she asked, appearing slightly bewildered. “What’s up? I was just about to go to work.”

“Justin and I didn’t use protection last night,” I told her. “I was already on my period, though, so it should be fine, right?”

“I think you should be fine…,” Haylee said, sounding uncertain. “But I would not risk it. You need to get yourself a Plan B pill.”

“Don’t I need a prescription?” I asked, horrified at the thought of admitting to my mother that I had been so careless.

“No, you can get it over the counter—at least for now,” she informed me. “And you may want to take it easy afterwards. The last time I took one, I spent the day sitting on the toilet.”

I made a face. “Ugh, this isn’t worth it!” I whined. “I’m never having sex again.”

“Stop being so dramatic,” Haylee scolded me. “And while you are at the store, pick up some condoms and cover your lover.”

I returned downstairs to let my mother know that I was going to town.

“If you are going to the market, there are actually a few things I need.”

For a moment, I feared she was going to insist on us going together, but then she said, “I have to go to Bill’s Sign Shop to approve the final design for my new clinic sign, so if you can pick a few things up for me, I would appreciate it.”

“I can do that for you,” I said, attempting to keep my relief out of my tone. “Just text me a list.”

Before my mother had a chance to think of anything else to add, I gave her a peck on the cheek and informed her I was leaving.

“Be careful on your bike,” she warned me as I exited the house.

Except for some lost paint, my bike was otherwise in good condition and maneuvered well as I cruised into town. I recalled that the grocery store had a pharmacy, so that was where I decided to go.

The morning-after pills were easy to find, and after a quick google, I located the one that was determined the safest. I couldn’t say the same for condoms, which came in a selection of sizes, colors, and— to my surprise—flavors.

After selecting a brand that I recognized, I threw some hair bands and a heating pad in my cart to mask my purchases.

As I rolled my cart into the produce section, I checked my texts to see what my mother needed and noticed Justin had left me several messages.

I scrambled to text him back and didn’t notice a stock cart was in the aisle until I collided with it.

I leapt back in shock, but upon hearing a groan, I realized someone had been on the other side of the cart. I hurried to shove my phone back into my pocket and rushed around the stock cart.

“Oh my gosh,” I cried as the employee scrambled to get back on their feet. “I am so sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.”

Toby glared and his mouth contorted as he prepared to confront whoever had hit him, but once he realized it was me, his expression transformed.

“Dharma!” he exclaimed as he finished pulling himself up to his feet. “I would have thought you’d learned how to steer by now.”

“It was only a shopping cart, so I thought I would be safe,” I offered, relieved that he wasn’t injured.

“I’m glad I ran into you,” Toby informed me, then corrected himself, “Or that you ran into me. I was going to message you later and ask if you are free Wednesday. There is a 4-H fair in the next county, and I thought you would like to go.”

I had always loved attending the 4-H fairs back home. It was a fun affair with popcorn, cotton candy, and animal competitions. I had even been on a judging panel one season.

Though I really wanted to go, Justin had mentioned his father would be in town this week and hadn’t specified a day.

“I’m sorry, Toby, I’m busy this week.”

I felt a twang of guilt as Toby’s face expressed his disappointment. I searched my mind for something to say that would make him feel better, and that was when I had an inspired idea.

“My friend Haylee will be in town for the holiday weekend, and I will need to keep her entertained. Perhaps we can get together then?”

“I’ll be looking forward to it,” he affirmed. “Until then, try not to crash into anything.”

I promised as I collected my cart and offered him a little wave as I bypassed him.

I hurried to collect the items my mother had requested, then paid and stowed my items safely away into the little hatch area attached to my bike.

Finally, I whipped out my phone to reply to Justin.

I was amid sending him a long text, apologizing for my flakiness, when I heard his voice call me from a distance.

My head snapped up as I attempted to determine which direction it had come from, then I turned and spotted Justin crossing the parking lot with a shopping bag from the lawn care store that was on the strip.

“Hey there, stranger,” I quipped. “I was just texting you.”

Justin paused in front of me. His shirt was damp with sweat, the knees of his jeans were crusted with dirt, and his hair was a tangled mess. Though he had been well-groomed the night before, I thought I preferred him when he was a little dirty.

“I was starting to think you had regrets about last night and you were ghosting me,” he confessed, appearing slightly relieved.

I gaped at him in disbelief; never in my life had a boy ever seemed concerned I would reject him. Though I should have felt terrible for making him feel that way, I couldn’t help but feel flattered.

I revealed my phone to him to prove that I had intended on responding to him. He read the long, rambling apology and smiled as he handed me back my phone.

“Well, now that I know we are good, do you have plans tonight?” he asked. “There is a double feature at the drive-in, and all the snacks are half off.”

“You know I’m a sucker for cheap concession food,” I told him, but though I wanted to accept, I thought about Haylee’s warning about taking the Plan B pill and didn’t really want to spend my evening in a portable bathroom.

“I can’t,” I said. “At least not tonight.”

“Why?” Justin’s eyes suddenly widened. “Did your mother find out about us?”

“No!” I hissed, drawing closer to him so I wasn’t overheard. “We forgot to use protection, so I had to get a morning-after pill. Due to the side effects, it may be wise for me to stay home and close to a bathroom.”

“Is it safe?” Justin inquired, appearing concerned. “I don’t want you to take something that might hurt you.”

“It’s safe. The side effects are minor, but gross,” I said, making a face. “I’ll call you tonight between bathroom breaks.”

“I should be there with you,” Justin insisted. “I’m at fault as well. You shouldn’t have to suffer alone.”

I shook my head. “That isn’t necessary. Besides, if I do get sick, I don’t want you to see me like that.”

Justin laughed. “Stop being so vain, Dharma. Let me take care of you. Besides, what if you are in the bathroom and you run out of toilet paper?” he posed. “It may be handy to have me around.”

“Don’t you have to work?” I asked, pointing at the bag in his hand.

“I can call the client and reschedule. Load up your bike and ride home with me.”

I knew he wasn’t going to concede, so I did. “Okay. There is a bathroom in the den. My mother doesn’t go in there much, and I don’t think she would object to us hanging out as long as we aren’t behind closed doors.”

Justin clapped his hands together. “Now that’s settled, let’s load up your bike.”

I walked my bike over to Justin’s truck while he lowered the ramp, then I stood by and watched as he secured my bike behind his riding mower. Once he was done, I unloaded the bike’s hatch, worried that if we hit a bump, my purchases would be damaged.

My mother was still out when we arrived at the house. Justin lingered outside to unload my bike while I ran inside to unload my purchases, then I rejoined him in the foyer so I could lead the way to the den.

“This is pretty comfy,” he commented as we settled into my well-worn sofa. “I like it.”

I was about to snuggle in beside him, but then I realized that the pharmacy bag was still in the kitchen. “I left my pill in the kitchen. I’ll be back in a jiffy.”

“You should sit down,” he suggested. “I’ll go fetch your medication and some water.”

“If you insist.”

Though I didn’t like being waited on, his concern was endearing. I listened as he trotted down the hall and into the kitchen. I heard the fridge open and close and some dishes clatter.

I posed to check on him, but he returned with a tiny oval pill pinched between his forefinger and thumb in one hand and a water bottle in the other.

“I didn’t think it would be wise to leave the packaging lying around, so I opened it and tucked the trash in my pocket.”

“Good thinking,” I said, accepting the pill and washing it down with the proffered water.

“I need to check just one more thing.” Justin slipped into the bathroom, then returned a moment later and announced, “The toilet paper is well stocked and ready to roll.”

I laughed and patted the cushion beside me. “Now, sit down and relax.” When I spoke, my throat began to itch slightly, so I took another long swig of water and cleared it. “What movie do you want to watch?”

Justin grabbed the remote and propped a couch pillow behind his back, attempting to get comfortable on the stiff square.

“Those pillows are strictly decorative,” I said, noticing how he fidgeted. “I’m going to go upstairs and fetch us some proper pillows.”

“I’ll be happy to do it,” Justin interjected as he prepared to stand.

“My mother would throw a fit if she came home and found you upstairs,” I told him. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

“Maybe a blanket too?” he suggested sweetly. “One we can cuddle under.”

“Two pillows and one blanket,” I noted as I pretended to scrawl on a pad. “Coming right up.”

I trotted up the stairs. Though I was accustomed to running up and down the large staircase, I felt winded as I reached the top.

Panting, I dashed into my room to grab my pillows and the throw blanket that graced the foot of my bed. As I entered the hallway, I couldn’t help but notice the light in the pink room flickering like a distressed lightning bug.

Annoyed, I marched into the room to flip the light switch, but suddenly my chest was seized by a sharp pain and my heart began to thump in my chest.

I dropped the blankets and pillows and clutched my chest. I attempted to take a deep, slow breath, but as I inhaled, the air I received was sparse and I began to choke.

I stumbled down the hallway, attempting to catch my breath as I reached the stairs.

“Justin,” I managed to wheeze as I clutched the banister and began to descend the stairs.

Black dots swam in front of my eyes, and my vision began to flicker. Before I had a chance to comprehend what was happening, I lost my footing at the top of the stairs and fell.

Into a white room.

I stumbled and caught myself on the railing of what appeared to be a hospital bed.

Shaken, I attempted to clutch my chest, but when my palm failed to make contact, I was shocked to discover that my fingers were grasping nothing more than a transparent idea of my chest.

Though I should have been horrified, I was strangely calm as I thought, ~I must be dead~.

But at a sharp cry, my head snapped up, and I realized that I recognized the hospital bed’s occupant. “Rosie?”

Rosie didn’t respond. She looked a little older than her photos and was preoccupied by the bundle in her arms that had released the cry. What was going on?

First Dan and Karen.

Now Rosie?

I opened my mouth to call out to her again, but another voice interrupted.

“Ms. Pearson?”

To my surprise, Rosie looked up at the nurse who had called her by the strange name.

“I’m Nurse Jordon,” the nurse introduced herself. “We are having some trouble accessing your medical records, and I need a family history on file.”

“Of course,” Rosie responded, appearing apprehensive.

“I’m going to read a list of medical conditions. If a member of your family has ever been affected, I will need to know their relation to you and the severity of their illness,” the nurse instructed. “This will give the pediatrician a better idea of what to keep an eye on when caring for your little one.”

Rosie nodded, and the nurse proceeded to list off illnesses. Rosie responded “No” to all of the physical conditions, but when the nurse inquired about mental deficiencies, Rosie stopped her.

“My sister suffered from paranoid schizophrenia.”

“Was it severe?” the nurse pressed.

Rosie opened her mouth to reply, but her bottom lip began to tremble. She managed to keep it under control as she whispered, “Yes. Yes, it was.”

“Thank you. That will be all for now.”

Rosie nodded appreciatively as the nurse withdrew and left the room.

Once the nurse was gone, Rosie gazed down at the bundle in her arms. “I will never let the darkness that took my family take you too,” she promised the swaddled infant.

A tear traced down her cheek, and my heart went out to her at that moment. But then movement in the corner caught my attention.

A teenage boy approached the bed from where he had been seated in the corner of the room, unnoticed until now; he was blond, like Rosie, with boyish good looks.

Rosie didn’t look up at him as she asked, “Would you like to hold him, Jacob? He’s your nephew.”

As Jacob extended his arms to take the infant from her, I lifted my gaze and realized that a dark, sinister cloud floated over him. Over all of them. The same cloud that had shrouded Dan and Karen.

It had followed them…

I cried out to warn Rosie, but a force jerked me off my feet.