Page 101 of Pretty Nightmare

“So it can’t be the tape. Just a coincidence.”

“Not likely.”

He shrugs. “Bad dream. That’s all. I’ve had plenty of them over the years. Just like this, in fact. So for sure, it wasn’t the tape. I’ve listened to that dozens and dozens of times.”

I sigh.

He pulls me towards him, wrapping his arms around me. “You’re safe. You’re fine, Indie.”

He says these words softly. Like he needs to be careful with me. And it helps. Donovan has always been helpful in stressful situations. But I can’t get the feeling of that dream out of my mind.

My heart was pounding. Fear. That I know for sure. It was filled with fear.

Hmm. “Someone was there with me.”

“Where?”

“In the dream.”

“Hmm. There was someone in my dream too. Was it a little girl? Mine was a little girl.”

I scrunch up my face, trying to remember. “I don’t know. It’s all fuzzy now. The only thing left is the lingering feelings, ya know?”

We’re quiet for a little bit. But I can tell by Donovan’s breathing that he’s not drifting off to sleep. “What are you thinking about?”

“The dream,” he says. “The little girl. She reminded me of you.”

“Me? Why?”

“She looked like you.”

“Hmm. She was a little killer?”

“Maybe?”

“Do you think she was real? Or just…a dream girl?”

“Not sure. She had a name though.”

“What was it?”

“I don’t remember. Something weird.”

“Weird how? Like Indie Anna?” I giggle. I can’t help it.

“Yeah. But no. It was one word, I think. Fuck, why can’t I remember?”

“Stupid dreams. What is the point of dreams, anyway?”

“They’re emotional manifestations of unresolved problems in real life.”

“Right. It was kinda rhetorical. But OK. That is such a you answer.”

He turns his head to look at me. “Sorry. Medical school just comes rushing back at the most inappropriate moments.”

I yawn. “It’s almost dawn. Should we just get up?”

“Fuck that.”