Fever Dream

My Perfect Life

I remember it like it was yesterday. The first time Linkoln Foster asked me out. That jet black hair and baby blue eyes made him the apple of every girl's eye. I played a little hard to get with him. I really liked him and wanted to see how far he would go to date me. We were both college students at the University of Maryland. He chased me for months and my friends thought I was crazy, but the truth is I liked him and wanted to see how far he would go to date me. What got me to cave was I was leaving home for Christmas break when he serenaded me outside my dorm window. He stood outside with a boombox singing along to the song, "Don't You Forget About Me." By the Simple Minds.I came outside and he walked up to me, "Ava, I'm leaving tonight for the break, and when I get back, I would love to take you out for pizza."How could I say no after that? I gave him my number so that we could text while we celebrated the holidays with our families. We texted every day and it was the highlight of my holidays. We talked so much that when we went on our first date, he asked if I would be his girlfriend, and we had our first kiss.Our chemistry was exceptionally mind-blowing. The tension between us had built up so much that we didn't wait more than a couple of weeks before we had sex. The first time with someone new can be awkward, but with Linkoln, it felt so natural. It was as though we could read each other and knew what to do. Because we didn't wait long, I didn't expect us to last. But two wonderful years went by and that's when the proposal came.We were on a vacation together in Hawaii. I stuffed myself with fresh mangoes and pineapples. We were on the beach watching the sunset when he got down on one knee and pulled out the most beautiful ring I had ever seen out of his pocket."Ava, will you marry me?"My eyes welled up with tears, "Yes, of course I will!"After a year of planning, Linkoln and I had our dream wedding. We honeymooned in Europe. I found out Linkoln's family was well to do. I know he had a brother that was in prison for stealing a car, but I never met him, and the Fosters never spoke of him. I was so absorbed in my happiness that I never bothered with those little details.The day I found out I was pregnant, I wanted to tell him in a special way. I scrolled through Pinterest for all sorts of ideas. I decided on the idea of putting my test in a post office envelope and address it to our house. I put Linkoln's name on it and when he got home from work, I held up the envelope."Babe, did you order something?"Linkoln looked at me with a confused expression on his face. "No, why?""Yeah, there's a small package that showed up for you. I checked the account and we're missing $8,000 dollars."I gave him the package and he checked the account on his phone, "Babe, there's nothing missing.""So then...what did you order?"Linkoln took the package and ripped into it. He pulled out the test and I watched as a grin tugged at the corner of his lips. "Stop it...are you serious?"I smiled and nodded as he stood up and wrapped his strong arms around me and spun me, both of us laughing through our joy. My pregnancy had minor complications, but it was healthy for the most part. My world couldn't be more perfect, and I felt like the luckiest woman in the world. I married my dream guy and had his unwavering support through this pregnancy. I couldn't wait to see him as a father.I was coming home from a doctor's appointment when the fire department rushed past me. I shrugged it off until I saw smoke coming from the direction of my house. I slammed on the gas and sped home to find my perfect world had been up in flames. I tried to call Linkoln, but it went straight to voicemail. I tried to run closer to the house to find him, but a fireman stopped me."Mam, I can't let you get any closer.""My husband! Where is he?"The fireman looked at me and urged me to step back, "Please Mam, this is dangerous."I had no choice but to keep trying Linkoln. He couldn't go with me to the doctor that day because he hadn't felt well, and it was just a checkup. I kept getting his voicemail and though my gut knew it, I couldn't accept it. Even when they put the fire out and carried multiple black bags out. They said he was charred, and his remains were falling apart. My Linkoln, my home, my world, gone.I held onto his urn for months. I gave birth to a beautiful boy and named him Arlo Linkoln Foster. Between postpartum and my grief, I was a mess. When it rains, it pours. With nothing to my name and no will set in place, I was forced to start over. Arlo and I lived with my parents until I could face life again. My mom was my rock and offered to let me take as much time as I needed.I was lucky to get a full-time job as an accountant. My mom watched Arlo while I went to work and attended therapy. My son grew too fast, and though this tragedy struck me deeply, it had me wondering if my perfect life was all just a fever dream. Arlo was the only reminder I had that it was all real. I only saw Dr. Grant for two years before I decided I could face the world again without her help. I started seeing a guy named Daniel, and he made me happy. But after Arlo turned five...that's when the visions started. That's when I started seeing Linkoln. That's when the threats started.