Out of the frying pan and into the fire. And by that, I meant it quite literally. Flames lit up the walls to my left while thick, cloying smoke bellowed through my closed door.
It was hot, so abysmally hot! I sat up from the bed and tossed off my comforter. Some part of my brain knew I needed to stick close to the floor and find a way out, but it was like my body was no longer my own. Fear, discomfort, and confusion overrode that small voice that knew what was safest.
I crawled to the closet, opening the door and hiding myself among the plushies there. All the while my mind was screaming that I needed to get out.
Get out.
GET OUT!
“Vanessa! Vanessa, baby, where are you?”
Oh, that voice.
I hadn’t heard that voice in over a decade. It was melodic and usually full of love, but now it was packed with the same terror I felt.
I tried to reply, but when I drew in a breath to answer the call, my lungs filled with smoke, and all I could do was cough.
It was getting hotter, and every second that passed made it harder to breathe. I needed to get out, but all I could do was hide with my toys.
That voice kept calling me, begging for me to come out, but I couldn’t. All I could do was cough and cling to the closest stuffed animal. I was so terrified, my entire body was paralyzed. My grown mind was screaming at me to move, to do something other than hide.
But I didn’t. Even as the world burned down around me, I let my fear win.
“Fuck!”I sat up so fast, my head spun. My stomach churned, wanting to get in on the action, some sort of competition for which body part could make me feel sickest quicker.
“Mrrr?” Goober trilled inquisitively as he rubbed his cheek against mine.
Mudpie wasn’t far behind, kneading my thigh and rumbling lightly.
Fork was missing, but a few beats later he came marching in, dragging his favorite toy along. He jumped on the bed and dropped it in my lap.
Oh, goodness.
They were all trying to help me. I loved my little family, and I couldn’t be more grateful for them. Ever since we’d returned after our disastrous outing to the medical facility, they could tell something was up. They’d been extra nice to me, buttering me up, never leaving me alone, almost always sitting on me and purring, like they were trying to heal me.
I loved them so much
“Hey, are you okay in here?” Ricky asked, peering in through the gap between my door and the wall. “I thought I heard something.”
“I’m fine,” I said, the lie tasting bitter on my tongue. “Nightmare.”
“Sorry about that. Want me to make some of that sleepy-time tea you have in the kitchen?”
Only a week had passed since my world had been turned upside down yet again, but in those seven days, Ricky and I had grown more comfortable with each other. It was nothing like what I’d had with Leo—nothing would ever be like that—but it was nice and familiar in a world that was rapidly becoming more and more foreign to me.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I don’t mind. Especially since I think I’ll make some for myself anyways. I’d like to get a few more winks in before having to face the world.”
I got the feeling he was lying, but that was okay. “Well, if you were already going to make some for yourself, I wouldn’t mind some.”
“Sounds good. Do you want it up here?”
“No, I think I’m good on sleep for now.” To be honest, the thought of closing my eyes and possibly slipping back into another nightmare was too horrifying. Going out into the garden to siphon whatever peace I could from it would be far better than trying to force myself to go back to sleep. “I’ll be down in a few minutes.”
“Sounds good, I’ll put the kettle on to boil.”
“Thank you.”
