Let's Die Again

The Warning

It was 3:00 A.M. For some reason, I always woke at this time every night dripping in sweat as if I had been running  in a marathon. I pulled back my covers and groggily made my way out of the bed to go check on Haley. I could never go back to sleep until I made sure she was still safe and sound in her bed down the hall from me. 

Entering  her Narnia themed bedroom and creeping my way over to her small figure that lay underneath the comforter, I  gently pulled back her covers and kissed her damp forehead. A smile lit my face up in the dim bedroom as I rejoiced at the sight of my only child. She was my world, the only thing that gave me some happiness in life was being a mother.  I worked two jobs, just to make sure that she never went without anything. Having grown up in a household where our lights constantly were off due to my family struggling to pay the light bill, because they robbed Peter to Pay Paul so we would not be without a roof over our heads; I became determined to not go through that with my own child. I wanted better. Even if I worked myself to death sometimes. 

" Mommy ,I love you." Haley murmured in her sleep.  

" I love you too sweetie. "

As I headed back to my bedroom, a strange feeling passed over me. It felt as if I were being watched. I retracted and made sure all the doors were locked in our apartment. After making sure everything was secure, I shook it off , then  went back to sleep. 

    The next morning as I got Haley ready for school, and myself ready for work, I saw a newspaper clipping on the kitchen table. It was yellow with age and brittle. 

"Haley honey, did you get this from school? " I asked as my eyes bore into the paper . The date of the clipping captured my attention.  March 22nd, 1934. Today was March 21st, 2016. My heart started pounding a little faster as I read the section that seemed to be circled. 

 TRAGEDY IN KENTUCKY

The bodies of a missing mother and daughter were found in a local field in Lincoln county late Thursday evening . Authorities have not given more details on the case, but foul play is suspected. 

"Haley, did you hear me?"

Haley sat at the table and continued to put together the puzzle she had been working on for the past few days. Always seeming to be in her own world at time, I knew I had to nudge her to bring her back to the present with me. I walked behind her and began tickling her tummy, since I knew that always made her laugh, however this time it did not. She finally turned and looked at me with brown solemn eyes. 

" No mommy, I didn't get it from school, maybe they're trying to warn us again. "  

After reading the newspaper clipping, I was already a little paranoid out and Haley's response only began to give me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that I could not explain. Whoever put this here had a sick sense of humor.  

" Who are ' They' sweetie?"

" I've told you before mommy, but you never seem to listen to me.  The shadow people that visit me at night. "

Caressing the sliver cross I wore around my neck, I sat down  and gently raised her chin to meet my eyes. 

" Haley, I've told you that there are no shadow people. You're a very creative girl and sometimes your imagination gets really big, like mines use to do when I was your age."

" Why have you never listened to me? I wish I could get a new mommy that would protect me! " Haley screamed as she ran out of the room.  I'm at a loss for words, and it was time for us to leave. Somehow I managed to get her calm again and loaded her into the car for school.  I'm going to talk to her this evening, and make an appointment for her to see Dr. Johnson next week. I thought to myself as I drove . The car was so silent , my thoughts seemed to ricochet around me.  I knew Haley was a troubled child sometimes, but lately she had gotten worse, and I am tormented on what to do to help her.