Desires of Darkness

Hallucinating

Jennifer lay sprawled on the plush living room couch, the dim light from the moon casting a warm glow over her. She was dressed impeccably in a deep blue evening gown, her makeup carefully applied, and her long, chestnut hair cascading over the edge of the couch in gentle waves. She had been excited for this evening, their dinner date a rare occasion to reconnect amidst Jonathan's demanding work schedule.

Her eyes fluttered shut as she waited, a gentle exhaustion pulling her into a light slumber. The evening had been planned for weeks, and she had taken her time to look her best. She had been looking forward to seeing the admiration in Jonathan's eyes, to feel cherished and appreciated.

The front door creaked open quietly, and Jonathan stepped inside. His footsteps were heavy, laden with the weight of a long day. He moved towards the couch, his mind preoccupied with the lingering stress of work. As he neared Jennifer, he inadvertently stepped on a lock of her hair.

Jennifer jolted awake, a sharp pain tugging at her scalp. "Ouch!" she exclaimed, her hand flying to her head. She blinked rapidly, disoriented, and then her eyes focused on Jonathan. "Jonathan?"

Jonathan looked down at her, his expression a mix of surprise and frustration. "Jennifer, what are you doing lying there?" he asked, his tone edged with irritation.

Jennifer sat up, her fingers gently massaging her scalp where he had stepped on her hair. "I was waiting for you. I must have dozed off. I thought we were going out for dinner tonight?"

Jonathan's face hardened, his jaw clenched. "Dinner? Jennifer, I've had a hellish day. Work's been piling up, and I couldn't get out of the office until late."

Jennifer's heart sank. She had been looking forward to this evening for so long, and now her hopes were dashed. "But you promised..." she began, her voice trembling slightly.

"I know I promised," Jonathan interrupted, his voice rising. "But things are difficult at work right now. I can't just drop everything for a dinner date."

Jennifer felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. "Jonathan, I just wanted to spend some time with you. It feels like we never see each other anymore."

Jonathan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I understand, Jennifer, but you need to understand my side too. I'm under a lot of pressure, and I can't always be here when you want me to be."

She swallowed hard, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I get that, but it's just... I miss you. I miss us."

Jonathan's looked annoyed he didn't say, but anger was evident in his eyes. "I miss you too, Jennifer. But right now, I need to focus on work. Can we talk about this later? I'm really tired."

Jennifer nodded, feeling a lump in her throat. "Okay. We'll talk later."

Jonathan gave her a brief stare,before heading towards his bedroom, leaving Jennifer alone in the living room. She sat there for a few moments, staring at the empty space where he had just been. She felt a deep sense of loneliness settle over her as she realized how distant they had become.

With a heavy heart, Jennifer stood up and began to change out of her dress, the evening's excitement replaced with a sense of melancholy.

Jennifer stared out at the tumultuous sky laying on her bed silently. The wind howled, shaking the old wooden frame of the house, as her thoughts wandered to her married life.

"Love never existed between us. For the first 5 months of our marriage all he had for me was lust and after that even the lust went off. I used to console myself saying even though he doesn't love me atleast he loves my body. And now even that love went away. For once I wish to feel what being loved feels like"
She spoke to herself in the empty room.

Suddenly, a particularly fierce gust of wind rattled the window, and with a sharp crash, the flower vase beside her table fell, shattering on the floor. Startled, Jennifer quickly rose to close the window, the cold wind biting at her skin. As she hurried, she didn't notice the edge of the table and banged her head against it. Pain shot through her skull, and she staggered, the room spinning around her before everything went dark.

The next thing she knew, morning light was streaming through the curtains. She was lying in bed, a soft, warm bedsheet covering her. Blinking, she slowly sat up, her head throbbing but the pain manageable. She looked around the room, recognizing the familiar comforts of their bedroom.

A gentle smile spread across her face as she realized that Jonathan must have found her and carried her to bed. She imagined his strong arms lifting her, his concern etched on his face as he tucked her in. The thought filled her with warmth, and despite the lingering ache in her head, she felt a surge of affection for her husband.
"Thank you, Jonathan," she whispered to the empty room, her heart full of gratitude and love. She couldn't wait to see him and thank him properly.
Jennifer slipped out of bed, feeling a strange mix of confusion and gratitude. She made her way downstairs, the smell of freshly brewed coffee greeting her. Jonathan was already at the kitchen table, reading the morning paper and sipping his coffee.

"Morning," she greeted him, a smile playing on her lips as she poured herself a cup.

"Morning," Jonathan replied, glancing up briefly before returning to his paper.

Jennifer took a deep breath, feeling a rush of emotion. "Thank you for picking me up last night and putting me to bed," she said softly, her smile widening. "I hit my head and must have passed out."

Jonathan looked up, a puzzled expression on his face. "Picking you up? What are you talking about?"

Jennifer's smile faltered. "You didn't find me? I was by the window, the vase fell, and I hit my head..."

Jonathan shook his head, setting down his cup. "I didn't even know you fell. Are you sure you're okay? Maybe you're hallucinating."

She blinked, her mind racing. "But the vase... it broke."

"Maybe you just had a weird dream."He gathered his things and gave her a quick glance.Take it easy today, okay? I've got to run to the office."

Jennifer watched him leave, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion. As soon as the door closed behind him, she rushed back upstairs to their bedroom. She opened the door and stared at the vase, perfectly undisturbed on the table.

Her heart pounded as she moved closer, inspecting it. No cracks, no broken pieces. Everything was as if last night had never happened. She touched her forehead where she had felt the pain, but there was no sign of a bruise or bump.

"What is going on?" she whispered to herself, a chill running down her spine. She stood there, trying to make sense of what felt like a strange, dreamlike reality.

Was she really hallucinating or someone was making her hallucinate?