A massive headache delivers a rude awakening as I squirm underneath my weighted blanket. This is followed by forgetfulness and a deep urge to get wet. My mind has been blanking out on me more often lately and my body hasn’t been feeling like my own.
I wake up in places that are foreign to me. My muscle tone has increased in places I never had it before, moreover, I always feel like I’m being watched, even with the curtains drawn and nobody else is in the room.
My six messages from the Neurologist dating back one month reached seven. He’s unhappy in all seven messages, and the higher the number gets the more his anger grows.
‘I’ll be there at 9:30’ I sent via text message. ‘For sure this time.’ I add.
Looking at the kitchen table, I wonder why five dirty coffee mugs sit there, some with cold coffee remaining. I’m a stickler for using only what I need because washing dishes is not my thing.
I look at my notepad and see that washing the dishes has been struck off–I went so far as to put down the salmon and rice I ate, and the plate and glass that were washed. They will have to stay there for now, I only have two hours to get ready and get down to the neuro facility.
I let the water streaming out of the showerhead pound on my forehead, so soothing, it’s not the rain, but it will do. Why did I say that?
Three new messages await in my inbox when I return to my room. It’s my Neurologist again. The last one was sent two hours ago.
I was in the shower for two hours? My wristwatch on my nightstand shows it’s 9:38.
A knock at the door startles me.
I feel my consciousness slipping–each time the pain becomes less.
Stalking the door… The vibration tells us I don’t like the person behind it. After a little trouble with the door handle, we swing the door open.
‘You’re naked!’ He said talking to the back wall like he’s stupid.
‘Normally, we have clothes. Today not.’ we said loving we understood what naked meant.
‘I…’ he said.
We look at him confused.
‘Normally, I have clothes on. Today I don’t.’ He says still talking to the back wall. He doesn’t know what ‘I’ know, but ‘I’ must protect the truth.
‘Mrs. Bruchelly. Please go put on some clothes. You’re late for your 9:30 appointment with Dr. Noland.’ he says urgently.
‘He hurt our brain.’
‘No, he’s trying to help you.’
‘You look liar-like.’
‘I’m not… Why are you talking like that?’
‘I come to you.’
I leave the door and grab a knife from the kitchen, hiding it behind my body. When I get to him, I slice the space under his face. Blood is all over him and it hits me too. He drops to the carpet where his vibration ends.
An apartment door across the hall opens up, a teenage girl looks out. She vibrates like me. Looking at the body, she taps her ear.
‘He’s dead?’
‘What does dead mean?’ I ask.
‘It’s the rain!’ a woman down the hall yells.
Doors to different apartments open, and many people come out excited, ignoring my bloody naked body and the bloody vibrationless man on the carpet. They head towards the wet glass door at the end of the hall. Happy, I step over the body and follow.
When I am outside, the blood washes from my body, and my brain becomes charged. My People dream big in the rain. We share thoughts. With our hands on our ears, we raise our heads to the gray skies and teach each other.
I’m learning English.
