“You ready?”
I take a shaky breath.
“It’s going to be fine honey, you’ll see.”
Mom and I were sitting in the living room.
The house was quiet.
She wanted to wait until it was dark because she reasoned that if this woman was a vampire, then she couldn’t come out during the day.
I felt stupid. Like a stupid little kid who needed his mommy to tell him that the boogey man wasn’t real.
But I couldn’t do this by myself.
The room was illuminated by lamps.
“Okay.” I said.
“Call her.”
“Out loud?”
“Out loud, in your head. It doesn’t matter.”
“Okay.”
I closed my eyes and concentrated.
If you can hear me, I want you to come to my house.
I want to know that you’re real.
And then her name just came to me.
Dharma.
“Okay.” I say opening my eyes.
“Okay. So how long do you think we should wait? How fast do you think she is?”
The doorbell rang.
I swear I almost jumped into my mother’s arms.
After some hesitation, my mother stood and went to answer the door.
It was her friends from her book club.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’m sorry honey. I forgot.” My mom says.
“It’s okay.”
They move into the kitchen.
I go up to my room.
I turn to close the door behind me and then turn back towards my bed.
My breath catches in my throat.
“You should know better.”
She stands from the bed and walks a little towards me.
“What?”
“You know the rules. She can’t know about us.”
My breathing speed us.
“You’re not real.”
“I can say the same about you.”
“I know I’m real.” I say shaking my head.
“I know I’m real.” She says walking closer.
“Oh my god.”
My vision blurs and I feel like I’m going to faint.
Her hands touch my shoulders.
I look at her.
She smiles a little and I feel myself doing the same.
Her hand caresses my face.
I touch her arm.
She’s so warm and human.
“Johnathon.”
