Alicia and I (Lesbian Story)

Chapter Three

It was when I was asleep that the dream came.

I was drowning. Or something like that, I guess. It was more treading water, except this wasn’t water – it was oil; slimy, black gloop that engulfed me, hugged me tightly, like a blanket; except it was too tight, too hot. And I couldn’t breathe. The oil filled my lungs like lazy, sticky, toxic sludge.

I felt the panic in my stomach.

I couldn’t see anything. Just black. Darkness.

And then there was a light.

A first, it was like a piercing tunnel, a light searing through the darkness. Then it started to take shape. It morphed into a long blob, which grew arms and legs and a head, then an all too familiar sight: a prominent nose, a high, curved forehead and warm, chocolate-coloured eyes.

He smiled.

He was my father.

I my limbs flailed as I tried to surge forward, desperately tried to call out to him, but he was always too far away, just out of reach.

The tears streamed down my face, now. I could feel them. They were salty and hot. They cut through my dry, feverish cheeks painfully.

But, as always, he faded into the oil, rippling, shrinking, until he was nothing but a smudge in the horizon. Nothing.

Dad.

But he was gone. It was dark.

I was alone.

‘Emily?’ the sing-songy voice called in mock sweetness. ‘Emilyyyyy?’

I groaned in response. The darkness began to fade from behind my lids; I was suddenly aware of a warm doona that had been thrown over me, and a dull pounding in my temples. ‘Uhhh…’

‘Get up!’ the voice demanded, and I knew I couldn’t refuse it. This voice... it was smooth and pretty, and vaguely familiar, although I couldn’t place where I knew it from. ‘Wake up, Emily!’

‘Mmmm…’ I moaned pitifully. I cracked one eye-lid open slightly, and found myself staring out at a scenic view of Sydney Harbour. Suddenly, I remembered where I was.

‘Alicia?’ I called groggily.

‘That’s me,’ the pleasant, sweet voice replied. I felt her fingers around my ankle, fiddling with my shoes. I realised I’d fallen asleep in high-heels. Alicia played around with the buckle, sliding it off my foot. I flexed and pointed my toes, smiling dopily into my pillow.

‘Come on,’ she urged gently, ‘get up!’

Sighing, I pushed myself up out of the bed. I discovered with dismay that I’d fallen asleep in her beautiful dress, and my perfect make-up had smeared off on her crisp, white pillow-slips. ‘Oops,’ I said, gesturing to the once-white cloth. ‘Sorry.’

Alicia smirked, rolling her eyes. ‘Don’t worry about it. It’s not like I have to wash them.’

‘But your dress is all crinkly…’

‘Don’t – worry!’ she laughed. ‘Come on. You can have shower, then we’ll go down and get something to eat. Sound good?’

I nodded obediently, standing up. ‘Thanks.’

She winked. ‘No problem.’

She led me to the grey-tiled bathroom I’d seen the day before, and told me I’d have everything I needed there and left me alone. In a way, I was glad I could finally be by myself, just for a moment. For some space to breathe.