Deeply Red

A Never Ending Nightmare.

(Amy's POV)

(Twelve years later.)

Following my car's navigation system I drive down a long gravel road, and minutes later the road opens up to a small parking lot. A large beautiful house sits at the back of the parking lot, and I gawk at its beauty. After parking my car I walk up the steps to the beautiful wooden front doors. A small sign in the window says 'walk on in'.

I step inside the cozy waiting area, and unzip my jacket taking it off. I take in the soft elegance of the interior design, quickly admiring the beautiful sconces on the walls.

"I hope you didn't have too much trouble finding my new office," Hildi greets me as she enters from another room.

"Nope it was super easy to find, and it shaved twenty minutes off my commute," I explain. "By the way, this place is super nice."

"I know, I'm so happy to finally own my own space. Plus I don't have to fight for a good parking spot," Hildi says with a smile.

She grabs us our cups for tea, before leading me to a back room in seating area by a large window.

"So, how are the twins?" She asks bringing her tea to her lips.

"They are doing great, they are actually at home decorating with their father...probably eating leftover birthday cake. They are so excited for Christmas," I answer warming my cold hands with the cup of tea.

"That's good, seven is such a fun age."

"Yep, they've been super busy, and active this winter break. Lots of sleepovers."

"Have you been sleeping any better?" She asks taking out her notepad.

"Unfortunately, no. The dreams have only gotten more frequent, and worse lately. I have these feelings that I'm at the bottom of a never ending darkness, like I'm back in that basement with the smell of his father's rotting corpse," I respond admittedly. "It's suffocating."

"You have been through some of the most horrific experiences ever. It's absolutely not going to be a quick fix to soothe your trauma. Hopefully with time though you'll be able to heal, and leave these things in the past. You're dreams, is it the same dream that's been reoccuring this past year?"

"Yes."

"Maybe we should try, and talk through it again. Just lean back, and start from the beginning," Hildi suggests as she turns on the white noise machine.

I set my cup of tea down, and lean against the back of the soft lounge couch. Then I close my eyes trying to relax my body.

"The dream always starts with me sitting in the audience with David at the boy's school production of Peter Pan. Luke, and Paker are casted as the twin racoons, a part of the lost boy group. They do a great job, we clap as it ends, and we head out to our cars. The boys are begging for ice cream, as we walk across the schools parking lot. David asks me if I want to join them, but I feel like I need to go home. So I tell him to bring me back a milkshake before kissing, and going our separate ways. Once I make it home I run myself a bath. While I lay in the tub I can see into my bedroom, and to my horror I see Jake climbing through my window. Now this is usually where things tend to be unpredictable, sometimes I'll dream that I slip, and fall when I try to stand from the tub. Other times I'll dream that he chases me around my house with a knife, or that he slits my throat while I'm in the bath... and my family comes back to find me like that," My voice shakes slightly as I recount the nightmare.