Slow Me Down

Chapter 18

When Foster makes it back into C's room, he hears the shower going. He decides to lay on her bed. He scrolls through different channels on the TV before settling on some random cooking channel. While he waits for C to finish up, he falls asleep.

---------

Six-year-old Foster runs into the café, screaming bloody murder. His eyes are wide and filled with alligator tears, his hands are shaking around his blood-soaked raccoon toy. He is a mess.

Dawn drops everything she's doing, rushing to her distressed child. He tries to tell her what happened, but he can't catch his breath through his tears. He ends up grabbing his mom's hand and tries to pull her in the direction of the door. Once she realizes what he wants, she follows and what she sees outside knocks the wind out of her. Andrew, motionless on the pavement, blood everywhere, and no one is there to help. Her Andrew.

Dawn runs to her husband's body. She picks him up and cradles him in his arms. She sobs. She starts rocking him back and forth, continuing to cry. She is so lost in her thoughts, that she doesn't notice her child approaching.

Foster tugs his moms' phone from her pocket and dials 9-1-1. Within a few minutes, red and blue lights surround the area. Paramedics try to separate Dawn from the lifeless body of her husband. She is screaming and crying. Foster watches wide-eyed. He has never seen his mom act like this before. His mom was always the cool collected one. This is all his fault. Her pain is all his fault.

----------

Screams shake C from her peaceful shower. She turns off the water and grabs a towel, covering herself as she rushes in the direction of the sound. She bursts through the bathroom door. A few moments later Sylvia is there as well. Foster is screaming and convulsing. C looks to her mom for help.

"I don't think he is having a seizure, but just to be safe, roll him onto his side." C does as her mom instructs. She kneels on the bed next to Foster, placing his head on her lap. She rakes her hands through his hair. He is covered in a cold sweat. She continues trying whatever she can to comfort him.

"Shh, shh. Foster, it's okay. I'm right here. I'm here Foster." C cradles his head now, gently rubbing her thumb over his cheek, trying to wipe away whatever tears she can. The screaming stops, but the shaking continues. He opens his eyes, and more tears fall. He sits up and pulls C into his arms. She rubs his back and just holds him. He continues sobbing for a while before eventually calming down. Sylvia left the room once she realized C had a handle on the situation, not wanting to intrude on whatever is happening.

"Foster, what's wrong? What happened?" C continues to rub his back, trying to keep him calm. He takes a deep breath, face still hidden in C's neck.

"I don't know, I just. I had a dream about the night my dad-" Before he continues his statement, tears well up in his terrified bright blue eyes again.

"Shh. Shh. You don't have to tell me right now. It's okay. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere." Foster relaxes into her embrace, feeling soothed but still slightly on edge. He hasn't had that dream in a few days. He had forgotten just how it torments him. C lays Foster down and slides into bed next to him. She cradles his head against her chest and quietly hums her favorite lullaby. Foster continues to take deep breaths, her sweet smell helping him forget whatever he saw. 'She is so warm. She feels so nice.' he thinks.