My Curse

Session 14

  I was lying in a hospital bed. I got up to look out the window. I wasn't at the mountain anymore. I was in Chicago. My mind was racing and I couldn't concentrate. That's when I was greeted by the smell of mint and lemons.

"Nikova!" I turned around and there he was. I ran to him and was embraced in the comforting smell. I kissed him and threw my arms around him.

"I can't believe you're alive." I sighed in relief.

"I could say the same about you." His voice sounded shocked. I inspected his face. His teeth weren't sharp anymore. His marking were gone too.

"Where are your tattoos?" I dropped my arms and took a step back. "You look so different without them" I laughed.

"I've never had a tattoo." Nikova answered, confusion dripping from every word.

"Yes, yes I know they aren't tattoos. Either way what happened?" I was so glad he was alive I couldn't stop smiling. That's when Dr. Lin walked in. They both sat me down and told me I'd been in a coma for the past week.

I had to explain everything I remembered to them. That's why I'm here. Dr. Lin thought I should see a therapist. " Catherine finally finished her story after seven visits. The therapist didn't talk for a while. She was too shocked by the woman's story.

"Do you understand reality now?" The words came out slowly. She didn't want to crush the woman's world but clearly Catherine knew none of it was real.

"Well in a way that was my reality. Some of the memories were real too." Catherine smiled to herself.

"And what do you mean by that?' The therapist was worried now. She really thought Catherine knew the difference.

"Well I remember it a bit differently but Nikova has some of the same memories as I do. He remembers reading me a story about mermaids. He remembers chasing out some drunk jerks who got into my room. He remembers everything that I do just different." She tried to explain the discovery she made but found it difficult.

"And Milah dying? What was that?" The therapist was on the edge of her seat. Never before had she heard a story quite like Catherine's.

"That was a story on the news that was playing. I never met the woman." She looked at the therapist a little sheepishly. She knew she sounded crazy.

"And what will you do now?" She knew Catherine was going to be fine but she was genuinely curious what the woman's plans were.

"Well I'm taking it a day at a time. Tomorrow," She paused and smiled. "Tomorrow Nikova is taking me on a real date." Her eyes lit up with love and anticipation.

"Well Catherine, "The therapist closed her notebook. "I've seen many troubled people in my line of work. You my dear are not one of them. You will have some difficulties these next few days getting used to everything but you'll be fine." She meant every word of it too. Catherine would be just fine. She'd go on to live a happy life with Nikova.