Snippets of Time

11. Hallucinations

Author's Note:
Trying to get back into writing after a long break. I have forgotten how words work so this story may not be up to the usual standards. Please give feedback if there's anything I can improve. Thanks.

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"This medication may have some side effects though," Dr Maya says, pulling the needle out of my arm and dabbing it with a piece of cotton. A trickle of blood seeps through.

"Side effects?" I raise an eyebrow, curiously. A light wave of pain begins to pulse through my arm. "What kind of side effects?"

"Hallucinations."

"What?!"

"It's nothing to worry about, Roya," she reassures me with a gentle smile. "Your visual and auditory perceptions may be a little distorted for a few days, but it should wear off soon."

"I see." I hesitate. "You sure it won't be anything serious?"

"They're just mild hallucinations, nothing severe so you'll be fine." She gets up from her seat and gestures towards the door. "I'll see you next week for your check up. If you have any questions, you have my number."

I thank Dr Maya for her time and gather my things, leaving the room. A little nervous about the side effects, I clamber into my car and start up the engine. The road looks different today—somehow more curvier and narrower. Putting it down to my mind playing tricks on me, I try and shake away the uncomfortable feeling and begin my drive home. Although it's the same journey I've driven countless times, I am particularly wary turning into junctions and around bends as the road twists and turns almost unnaturally.

My eyes are distracted for a fraction of a moment, and when they shoot back to the road, I recoil in horror, realising my path is blocked barely ten metres away by...

Dancing elephants?

I miss the elephants by mere inches as my foot slams down on the screeching brake. After a frightening few seconds, the car comes to a grinding halt. Dazed and disoriented, I look up at the elephants that almost killed me.

But they're gone. The road is completely empty.

The hallucinations have started.

A little shaky, I rub my eyes and try to regulate my breathing. Once I am calm, I slowly and carefully make my way home.

I have to be careful, I think. Not everything is as it seems.

"Hello?" I call out, unlocking the door and stepping into my house. "Anyone home?"

"Hey, darling. How are you?" my mother's voice calls out from the living room.

"I'm good, Mum. How are you?"

No response.

"Mum?"

I head into the living room where I notice my mother standing with a pile of jewellery in one hand, and the laptop in the other.

"Hey, Mum. You okay? What are you doing with that stuff?"

"Just taking it out, dear. I'll be back soon." She starts to hurriedly climb out of the window with the items.

"Where are you going?" I furrow my eyebrows.

Ignoring me, she leaps out and takes off down the street.

A few seconds go by staring at the open window before I finally realise what had happened.

It was a hallucination.

Someone had broken in and stolen our valuables and my mind had twisted the vision into the thief having my mother's face and voice. My breath hitches in my throat as I realise how much danger I was in, how close I was to... I gulp, trying to push the prying thoughts away. I rush to lock all the windows and secure the house.

How much worse are these hallucinations going to get?

A sob rises in my throat as I struggle to stay calm. With shaking hands, I call Dr Maya's number. She picks up after the third ring.

"Dr Maya!" I cry, unable to control the tears any longer. "I-I think someone has broken into my house. I'm having really bad hallucinations. I almost crashed my car. I don't understand what's happening. Please help me!"

"Okay, okay, Roya. Stay calm. I'll come over to your house. Stay there."

Around half an hour later, I hear a key twisting in the door as my mother's voice comes floating down the hall.

"Hey, sweetie! You home? How was work?"

"Mum?" Tentatively, I tiptoe towards the door. "Is that really you?"

"What do you mean?" she asks, turning to face me.

"I've been having hallucinations, Mum," I choke out. "The medication Dr Maya gave me at the appointment today. I don't know what's real anymore. I just saw a thief in our house and I thought it was you!"

"Roya..." My mother walks towards me and places a gentle hand on my shoulder. "What appointment are you talking about? And who's Dr Maya?"

A sudden knocking at the door makes me jump.

"Roya?" a voice calls from outside. "It's me, Dr Maya. Open the door."

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This story gained four awards on Reddit:
• 2 Silver
• 1 Hugz
• 1 Take My Energy

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This story was also read in Serafin, The Midnight Bard's YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnnEGHiAMWU

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Written in Jun 2021