Page 19 of Don’t Open Your Eyes

“What’s going on? Is something bothering you?”

Annabelle started to tell him about her dreams, but then she hesitated. James was a man of science, his worldview based on facts. For the most part, she’d always been the same way, scoffing at psychics who claimed to know the future. But if she couldn’t discuss this with her husband, what did that say about their marriage? And they had a good marriage. Didn’t they? A good life. She reached out and took his hands in hers.

“Something is bothering me. I’ve had some strange dreams lately, and some of them have come to pass.”

Confusion played over his face. “What do you mean, ‘come to pass’?”

“That plane crash? I saw it in my dream. I was in a hotel, and it was on the news. And I also dreamt that you called me and told me that Scarlett had gotten suspended for vaping. I dreamt all this before either thing happened.”

His mouth was partly open, and he looked dumbfounded. “I don’t know what to say, other than…that’s impossible. You must have heard about the crash.”

“I thought the same thing. But what about Scarlett? That just happened today. I dreamt about it a couple nights ago.”

He kept shaking his head, looking off into the distance. “I think you’re mixing things up somehow. Maybe these dreams are disturbing your sleep. Sleep deprivation can play tricks with your mind.”

Now she was getting frustrated. “I’m not sleep-deprived. And dreams happen in the REM state, the deepest part of sleep.”

“Well, actually REM isn’t the only stage in which you dream.”

She stood up. “Whatever. You’re probably right. It’s nothing.”

“Annabelle—”

“I’m going to go check on Scarlett. You should probably get back to your office.”

Why did James always have to be the expert on everything. Just because he’d gone to medical school, he thought he knew it all. “Sleep deprivation can play tricks with your mind,” she mimicked in a singsong voice as she headed up the stairs to Scarlett’s room. She wasn’t crazy. She would keep a dream journal and write down everything from now on. But she wouldn’t discuss it with James. She would have to add it to the list of secrets she was keeping from him.

Scarlett

Scarlett’s eyes opened when she heard her text tone. She rolled over and grabbed her phone, swiping. She smiled.

Ben: GM r u still in trouble?

Scarlett: My lame dad doesn’t believe me

Ben: So ur suspended?

Scarlett: No mom gave them shit—I go back today

Ben: Sorry about ur Dad

Scarlett: Cuz he’s a liar—so he thinks everyone else is too

Ben: Sucks

Scarlett: Maybe I shld tell my mom about u and our plan

Ben: Not yet

Scarlett: Why not? I think she’ll be cool with it. I don’t like lying to her

Ben: What if she shuts it down. U said she monitors all your socials. Can u really trust her? U know she’ll tell ur dad and he sounds overly strict

Scarlett: I guess ur right. Ok

Ben: Have a good day at school

She put the phone down and got out of bed. Her feelings for Ben grew stronger every day. It was crazy; she felt like she’d known him forever. She still couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have found him. Every time she thought about the future, she was so excited she thought she would burst. It took all she had to keep quiet when her mom kept asking her what was making her so cheerful. She wanted to tell her, but then her dad would find out, and that would ruin everything.