Whispers that Scream

Chapter Nine

Jane

Jane was awoken the next morning from her latest nightmare by a pounding at her door. She took long gasping breaths, trying to calm her heart that was nearly beating out of her chest. The knocking continued from her door, and she threw aside her comforter. She flung her legs to the side of the bed before jumping up and rushing to the bathroom to grab a towel to pat at the sweat that had beaded on her during the night.

She rushed back out into her bedroom, frantically trying to change her sweat-covered shirt. She grabbed a wrinkled shirt off of the floor and couldn't remember the last time she had washed it but didn't have time to reconsider.

"Coming!" she yelled out with her head poking through one of the arm holes. She fought with the shirt blocking her vision and moved towards the door, tripping over her suitcase that she still hadn't fully unpacked. Cursing, she rubbed her toes, and hopped on one leg, trying her best to get to the door and make the incessant knocking stop.

Sunlight streamed through the closed blinds in her living room, letting her know that it was mid-morning. She scampered over to the door and was about to open it when she paused, and instead peered through the blinds at the porch. Her jaw dropped as she took in the sight of her mother, impatiently tapping her heeled foot.

"Jane!" she saw and heard her mom yell. "Open this damn door right this instant!"

Like she was a teenager caught trying to sneak out of her window, Jane was chastised and opened the door for her mother to come in and accept her punishment for whatever she had done wrong.

"Hi Mom, what brings you here so early?" she said with a cheery voice as her mother barreled past her into the house. Her eyes followed her mother who whipped her head around taking in her living room and kitchen. She was trying to see through the poorly lit house and swiveled her head from the dirty clothes strewn about the living room to the dishes in the sink to, eventually, Jane herself. Jane self-consciously tried to smooth out her shirt and comb her hair with her fingers. Her mother didn't seem to miss any of the things Jane had hoped she wouldn't notice.

Her mom sighed, crossing her arms across her chest and tapping her heeled foot on the rug. "Early? It's 11 o'clock, Jane."

Shit! Maybe she should say she had just been taking a nap or something, but then couldn't find the energy to care enough to try to lie her way out of this. She let out a breath tiredly. "Why did you show up here with no warning, Mom?"

Her mom uncrossed her arms, pointed a finger right at Jane's chest accusingly, and snapped at her. "You were supposed to call me and check in with me every day. Let me know how you were doing. I've heard nothing from you in the past couple of days. No calls, no texts. You haven't returned any of my messages or voicemails."

Her mother's voice began to break. "I didn't know if you were alright Jane. I didn't know if you had done something desperate." The will to fight left her mom and her shoulders slumped as she wrapped Jane in a hug. She could feel her mother trembling in her arms as she held her daughter so tight and with so much love. 

"Please, please, keep in touch with me so I don't have to wonder if you are even dead or alive."

Guilt and shame coursed through Jane. It was true that she was struggling, but that didn't mean she couldn't show the slightest consideration for those who cared about her. Her eyes fell to the ground ashamed of herself.

"I'm sorry Mom. I promise I won't ignore your calls anymore and check in often. I'm okay. I swear." She patted her mother's back in a soothing motion while promising herself that she would do better from now on.