The Wailing Woman

9. Cold Hands

I would trade a headache over a migraine. Headaches are brief but hurtful. Migraines are excruciating and everlasting, sleeping it off could sometimes be the solution. Maybe that's what I need right now, sleep. It seemed as if all the sleepless nights were finally catching up and I was feeling every side effect. All morning I have been feeling irritated. I can't stand hearing people talk or walk outside without wearing sunglasses.

In every class, I am closing my eyes.

Lack of sleep has always been a problem and it was never going to change. I thought I could make it through the whole day but between the aggressively throbbing and the dizziness I wanted to go home and sleep. So I pushed through the slowest walk home.

Although the sun was covered by the clouds, they did a poor job of hiding the sun rays as they pierced through their fluff. The sunglasses were useless as well.

I hugged my body and kept my head down until I heard someone calling my name. I lifted my head to see where the voice was coming from when I saw the same girl I met at the funeral home and she was waving at me. She quickly walked over to me, her brown wavy hair was tied half up and down. She wore a long brown coat covering her body showing her black boots.

I slid the sunglasses to the bridge of my nose and winced when the light hit my eyes.

"It was Nora, right?" She said smiling.

I nod my head pushing the sunglasses back up. I am surprised to see her, I mean the campus is big and you never see the same person twice unless you are pushing it. Maybe it was just a coincidence.

My brain starts to look for the name she gave me and it's not like I have so many friends but my mind is scattered right now.

She nodded back, "I don't know if you remember but I am Dilara. You call me Lara if you want."

I feel bad for not remembering, I thought she wouldn't remember me. Then again, we did have an unusual encounter. Lights flicker and all.

"Right, Lara." I finally speak up.

Lara moves to stand next to me, "Going home?" She asks.

I nod again, slowly beginning to walk together as if we were friends. I am not sure what Lara wants from me or why she is talking to me, but she seems relaxed and calm.

"I know you probably think I am strange right now but I haven't made any friends since I moved here. Except for Theo, who was my lab partner but we only ever talked in chemistry and now I am oversharing." She rambles.

I smile and shake my head, "It's okay. I am not good at making friends either and I have lived here my whole life."

Lara returns the smile and stops her tracks to face me.

"I think we would make great friends, I have a feeling we have a lot in common." She admits.

Never did I think I could ever make friends because of the voices and I was right. Being free from the voices was a blessing, I could make friends now. Maybe I won't be alone anymore.

I encourage her, "I think so too."

We start walking together again as Lara starts talking about her classes while I listen to her ramble again and the migraine is still there except I can tolerate it right now because for the first time I feel normal. I am a girl walking with her friend.

"Do you plan to go to the carnival? I want to go but I don't want to go alone. Come with me?" She insists.

The carnival comes every year and every year I hear everyone talking about the games, rides, and sweets. I always wanted to go and now I can go, I don't have the voices and I have a friend.