Jay.”
Stepping to him, I wrap my
arms around his warm chest and let his warmth seep into me, thawing me from the
inside out. “Thanks, Eli. I’ll always be here for you, too.” I give him one
final squeeze and release him.
“You’ll be fine. Just take
it one day at a time, and please, cage that bitchy beast.”
We both laugh and head to
the cafeteria for dinner.
That night, before letting
sleep claim me, my mind drifts. What I am going to do when I get home? Things will
never be the same.
My eyes flash open, taking
in my surroundings. I’m sitting on the concrete floor of the gym closet at
school. It’s a large closet with shelves that hold all the cheerleading art
supplies and banners. Paint, paper, and brushes encircle me. In my hand is a
brush, dripping with thick crimson paint. Well, at least I think it’s paint.
Realizing where I am, I immediately jump up as the door opens.
Coach Branch leans against
the door jamb with a crooked smile on his face. His dark brown eyes gleam, and
his thick brownish hair falls across one eye. His vile body is muscular from
his regular workouts. “What Jay? Aren’t you happy to see me? Haven’t you missed
me?”
Closing my eyes, I will
myself to wake up. It’s just a dream. I have to make myself fucking wake up. My
eyes snap open again when I hear his haunting laugh. My devil stands across
from me. He’s clad in a t-shirt and shorts, the same as Coach Branch’s,
replacing one evil bastard with another.
“Ah, my poor girl. Will you
ever learn? I live here in your thoughts and dreams, never to be abandoned. I
know your true nature and your evil ways. I know how you lie in bed at night as
your defiled body yearns, not for the dead boy in the cold ground, but another.
You know you deserve to be punished.”
Stepping inside, he closes
the door and turns toward me. I blink, only to find Coach Branch standing back
in front of me. Rage fills my mind as energy pours through my body. Fight or
die. Lunging toward him, I aim the end of the wood paint brush at his face, but
he disappears. From behind, I hear him laugh in my ear, “Fight me. I want you
to.” Screaming, I fling my arms out and fight back.
Tangled in my sheets, I
fight myself as I violently flail beneath them. Finally, I free my body from
the jumbled web and shove them to the floor. Breathing heavily, I fall back
onto my pillow. It was just a dream…. only a dream.
~~~~~~~
The next morning, I walk
down to Dr. Raines’s office. Her door is open. I knock in an effort to not
startle her, and she looks up.
“Hi, Jay. Come in and have
seat. What’s going on?
Taking a deep breath, I just
say it. “I’m ready to go home.” I don’t think I’ve ever seen Dr. Raines smile
that big.
“I think you are too. Of
course, I will set you up with a therapist closer to home. I think you should
meet with him or her weekly for now, and make sure you continue your medication
for the time being. I need to ask though; this doesn’t have anything to do with
Eli coming to see me this morning regarding the same thing, does it? Jay, I truly
believe you are ready, but I want you to leave because you believe that you
are.”
“Dr. Raines, I’m scared to
death to leave, but I know, with all my heart, that it’s time. I know there are
things and people that I need to deal with. I’m ready to do that now.”
“That’s all I needed to
hear. Just keep in mind that there are going to be hard days. Surround yourself
with people who care about you, and make sure to stay in daily contact with
them.”
I lean towards her for a
hug, and she envelops me. She speaks gently in my ear.
“Live, Jay. Live every day
like it’s your last. Treasure the moments you have, and make sure you make them
count. The trial is going to be hard on you and your family. Please know that
you can call me anytime.”
She releases me, and I step
back to thank her. “Thank you for listening.” She nods, and I leave her office
for
Stepping to him, I wrap my
arms around his warm chest and let his warmth seep into me, thawing me from the
inside out. “Thanks, Eli. I’ll always be here for you, too.” I give him one
final squeeze and release him.
“You’ll be fine. Just take
it one day at a time, and please, cage that bitchy beast.”
We both laugh and head to
the cafeteria for dinner.
That night, before letting
sleep claim me, my mind drifts. What I am going to do when I get home? Things will
never be the same.
My eyes flash open, taking
in my surroundings. I’m sitting on the concrete floor of the gym closet at
school. It’s a large closet with shelves that hold all the cheerleading art
supplies and banners. Paint, paper, and brushes encircle me. In my hand is a
brush, dripping with thick crimson paint. Well, at least I think it’s paint.
Realizing where I am, I immediately jump up as the door opens.
Coach Branch leans against
the door jamb with a crooked smile on his face. His dark brown eyes gleam, and
his thick brownish hair falls across one eye. His vile body is muscular from
his regular workouts. “What Jay? Aren’t you happy to see me? Haven’t you missed
me?”
Closing my eyes, I will
myself to wake up. It’s just a dream. I have to make myself fucking wake up. My
eyes snap open again when I hear his haunting laugh. My devil stands across
from me. He’s clad in a t-shirt and shorts, the same as Coach Branch’s,
replacing one evil bastard with another.
“Ah, my poor girl. Will you
ever learn? I live here in your thoughts and dreams, never to be abandoned. I
know your true nature and your evil ways. I know how you lie in bed at night as
your defiled body yearns, not for the dead boy in the cold ground, but another.
You know you deserve to be punished.”
Stepping inside, he closes
the door and turns toward me. I blink, only to find Coach Branch standing back
in front of me. Rage fills my mind as energy pours through my body. Fight or
die. Lunging toward him, I aim the end of the wood paint brush at his face, but
he disappears. From behind, I hear him laugh in my ear, “Fight me. I want you
to.” Screaming, I fling my arms out and fight back.
Tangled in my sheets, I
fight myself as I violently flail beneath them. Finally, I free my body from
the jumbled web and shove them to the floor. Breathing heavily, I fall back
onto my pillow. It was just a dream…. only a dream.
~~~~~~~
The next morning, I walk
down to Dr. Raines’s office. Her door is open. I knock in an effort to not
startle her, and she looks up.
“Hi, Jay. Come in and have
seat. What’s going on?
Taking a deep breath, I just
say it. “I’m ready to go home.” I don’t think I’ve ever seen Dr. Raines smile
that big.
“I think you are too. Of
course, I will set you up with a therapist closer to home. I think you should
meet with him or her weekly for now, and make sure you continue your medication
for the time being. I need to ask though; this doesn’t have anything to do with
Eli coming to see me this morning regarding the same thing, does it? Jay, I truly
believe you are ready, but I want you to leave because you believe that you
are.”
“Dr. Raines, I’m scared to
death to leave, but I know, with all my heart, that it’s time. I know there are
things and people that I need to deal with. I’m ready to do that now.”
“That’s all I needed to
hear. Just keep in mind that there are going to be hard days. Surround yourself
with people who care about you, and make sure to stay in daily contact with
them.”
I lean towards her for a
hug, and she envelops me. She speaks gently in my ear.
“Live, Jay. Live every day
like it’s your last. Treasure the moments you have, and make sure you make them
count. The trial is going to be hard on you and your family. Please know that
you can call me anytime.”
She releases me, and I step
back to thank her. “Thank you for listening.” She nods, and I leave her office
for
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