Seven Days With A Demon

Chapter Four

TUESDAY

"I'mworried about her."

Tedhad called Doctor Phillips and left a message. Two hours later theDoctor had called back.

"She'sbeen having more hallucinations," Ted continued. He told theDoctor about her episode in the driveway.

"Imust tell you, Mister Williams," Phillips began.

"Ted."

"OK,but I must tell you, Ted, that your wife might be in need of morethan medication. If she's having these kinds of hallucinations, itmight indicate a mental problem in addition to a physical one."

"Whatare you saying?"

"I'mnot the right kind of physician to ask," Phillips replied, "butthat kind of imagery has been known to suggest self-hatred."

Tedgrunted. "My wife hates herself?"

"Notnecessarily in an active way," the doctor replied. "But if she'sseeing images like that, perhaps she sees herself or her situation asso terrible that it's like being in hell."

"Ohmy God, Doc."

"Look,"Phillips said, "there's still a lot we don't know about the brainand the affects of concussions or other head injuries on that organ. Maybe the images will fade, or maybe they will intensify. I can'ttell you." He paused. "What I can suggest is that, if she hasmore episodes, call me back and I'll refer you to a psychotherapist."

Theysaid their goodbyes and Ted hung up the phone. "My wife is goingcrazy."

Heglanced about the other cubicles in the office and was glad no onehad heard him.

Jensat at the kitchen table and surfed the 'net.

"Thanksbe to the god of wi-fi," she quipped.

Shefound the popular site for everything medical, and searched for thesymptoms and affects of head injuries. The statements and lists shefound merely verified what Doctor Phillips had said. Despite yearsof research and modern medical advances, how the human body reactedto and attempted to heal itself from head injuries was still mostlya mystery. She looked up concussions and found similar statements. She looked up migraine headaches and found nothing new.

Undertreatment options, each page listed general do's and don'ts. Avoidbright sunlight.

"Noshit."

Medicationis usually prescribed.

"Gotthat."

Patientsare encourage to recover slowly and try not to rush back into thefrenetic pace of their lives.

"No,really?"

Patientsoften recover faster and can assume their normal lives sooner withthe help of a close friend or family member.

Shenodded. Making love with Ted had been both comfort and ahallucination. She had needed one and not the other. Thank you,Ted, for being there for me, but don't ever change into thatnightmare again, she told herself.

Randomclicks brought her to a site where patients shared their symptoms andstories of recovery. At other times Jen might have rolled her eyes,and thought the site was either a bunch of fictional stories inventedby drug makers to promote their products, or perhaps it was a bunchof stupid, vapid women gushing about their treatments and tellingtheir sappy sob stories.

Thefirst posting she read changed her mind: "I woke up to a severepain in my head. I opened my eyes and it looked like the bedroom wason fire."

Jengaped.

"Ijumped out of bed and tried to get out but bumped my head on the doorjam. Talk about ringing my chimes!"

"Iknow how you feel."

"Whenthe chimes finally stopped ringing I was in the hospital."

"Beenthere, done that."

"ThankGod my husband Merle was there. I was so surprised that I nearlyfell out of the bed. Merle caught me before I tumbled out."

"Goodcatch," Jen quipped.

"Thenthe doctor helped me calm down and explained everything to me. Hekept me overnight, then gave me three prescriptions and told me totake it easy for a few days."

"Wasthe doc's name Phillips?"

"Bythe time I got home I was glad to be there. Merle took time off workand stayed with me. Damn if I didn't luck out with such a finehubby."

Jennodded.

Thewoman who answered the post continued the thought. "Me, too. Jonathan was so good to me I just had to reward him with a couple ofnights of fun."

Jen'sbrows shot up. "Is that what the cool kids are calling it thisyear?"

Anotherwoman added to the thread. "My man Jimmy did the same. And everynight for the past two weeks we've gone to bed early and replayed outwedding night."

"Ohmy," Jen whispered.

Postafter post said the same thing. Hallucination, injury, pills,overnight stay. Home with the man. Consecutive nights of passionthereafter. Jen frowned.

"Isit the pills, the injury, or the hubby?" she asked to the emptyroom.

Shecontinued to read for another hour and found no definitive answer.

Latein the day she sat down on the loveseat and felt the first pangs of amigraine.

Bythe time Ted came home the pain was she intense she felt nauseated. She'd taken a pain pill and a stomach pill to go with her anxietypill. She tried eating a little something but couldn't gag down morethan a cracker or two. Water helped.

Hesat down beside her and wrapped his big arms around her. She leanedinto him and enjoyed his warmth and embrace. As always, he wasgentle and loving.

Aftera few moments, she lifted her head.

"Thepain started to build about four thirty or so," she explained. "The pills have helped, but now I'm sleepy and my stomach isarguing with me."

"That'sokay," he murmured.

"Ithink I want you to help me to bed," she whispered.

Hegrinned but didn't speak.

"AndI'm not going to be much in the mood after that," she joked.

"That'sokay. I could use a night's sleep."

Shechuckled, then started to get up. His arms helped steady her.

"Besides,"she said as they started toward the bedroom, "when I'm like thisI'm sure I wouldn't be much fun."

Hechuckled. "Sometimes I like you a little less aggressive."

Theywalked into the bedroom and rounded the bed.

"Sometimesyou just like me naked," she joked.

"That,too."

Hehelped her sit down on her side of the bed. As soon as he loosenedhis grip on her shoulders she slid down into the pillow. She seemedto melt down onto the mattress.

"Thenagain," he bantered, "making whoopie and sleeping are mutuallyexclusive."

Shesmiled and waved at him.

Hepulled the comforter from his side of the bed and covered her withit. Then he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek.

"See? I'm too sleepy to kiss you," she whispered. She closed her eyesand her body relaxed. Ted knew she had just dropped off into a deepsleep. He smiled, then rounded the bed and turned off the light onhis way out.

 "Maybeno demonic images tonight," he said to her. She was already fastasleep.