Echoes of Us

Ten

"Avery?"

Harrison stumbled backwards and fell into a crouch as the figure in the bed sat up and stretched, looking at him with concern.

"Harrison? What's the matter? Old man Frank's mowing wake you up again?" Avery chuckled as she pushed the blankets off of her and sat at the edge of the bed.

It really was her. But how?

Harrison felt his heart hammering in his chest and he quickly closed his eyes, shaking his head as if to shuffle around the image he had just seen.

It's the grief, it's got to be. I'm still grieving and I'm seeing things. Yeah, that's it; I haven't been sleeping well and I'm going crazy.

With his eyes still closed, he slowly stood up and braced himself on the windowsill before opening his eyes, first the left, then the right.

Avery was still there when he opened them, just sitting on the edge of the bed watching him with concern evident in her eyes.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly.

Harrison's breath caught in his throat and his legs shook as he held onto the windowsill, gripping it tightly, afraid to let go for fear of losing this scene in front of him.

"I... I don't..." he began as his voice faltered, each words catching in his throat.

All he could think about was that night, the memory still vivid in his mind. Avery lifeless in his arms, and then after, lowering her into the grave dug specifically for her.

This isn't real, it couldn't be. Avery could not be here.

But there she was, looking at him, her head tilted slightly as if trying to make sense of his confusion.

“Harrison, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”

Her voice was soft, the same voice he had known every tone of.

He stared at her for a long moment. Could he be dreaming? Was this just his mind playing cruel tricks on him?

“I… I thought you were...” he stopped himself, unable to finish the sentence.

He could hear his pulse pounding in his ears as he took a cautious step forward, his eyes never leaving her.

Harrison watched as Avery stood up and made her way over to him, and he halted immediately, freezing in his place.

Reaching a hand out, she placed it on Harrison's forehead, feeling for a fever.

Harrison flinched slightly at her touch, even though it was soft and familiar. Avery tilted her head, her eyes scanning his face for any sign of what was wrong.

"You don't have a fever,” she said softly, her concern growing. “Did something happen? You’re scaring me.”

Harrison swallowed, trying to steady himself.

“No, nothing happened… I just…”

His words trailed off as he watched her, alive and right in front of him.

"What the date today?" he asked quietly.

Avery straightened up and took a step back.

"It's Friday," she said gently as she watched Harrison from where she stood.

"No. No, I mean what's the date?" Harrison began as he walked toward his side of the bed and picked up his phone from the bedside drawer.

Turning the phone on, it showed that today was the 15th of May, 2023.