Dream Love

II

Erika sat at a table in the patio area of the little cafe her and her friend, Marcus, would always visit. The waiter tried unsuccessfully to flirt with her. She had pretended not to notice. She placed her order for her coffee and informed him that she would have a guest joining her. He quickly returned with a steaming mug of a dark roast coffee with extra cream.

"Dear God, Erika. No wonder you aren't sleeping. Look at the time and you're drinking coffee." Marcus sat down across from her and gave her a solid once over. "You look like poop. When's the last time you had a good night's sleep? I'm not asking about a great night's sleep. Just a good night's sleep. Two weeks, a month, two?"

"Marcus, if you're going to fuss, I'm going to leave. I can go and visit my parents for that. I don't need it from my friends." Erika grabbed her bag and went to stand when he touched her hand.

"I'm sorry, Erika. I've never seen you like this. You are always such a happy person. What's going on in that head of yours? Do D.J. and Amy know that you aren't sleeping? Have you tried something to help you sleep?"

Erika knew Marcus was concerned for her. She understood that. There was a time in their relationship that they thought to be more than friends. But it never worked in their favor. The spark just wasn't there, at least, not for her She watched as he waited for her to answer.

"It all started when I took that trip. Yes, it was a once in a lifetime trip, and I appreciate it. However, when I was in Borgund, I came across a headstone in a cemetery. It has stayed with me every since. In fact, I have been having......" She let her voice trail off. Marcus would think she was nuts.

"Been having what? Erika, honey, is there something you need to tell me. No judgements, I promise." Marcus waited. He knew something was wrong. But he couldn't imagine what. He had never seen Erika like this. She looked so fragile. Like if you said the wrong thing, she would crumble. For such a strong woman to be reduced to this was tearing at his heart. He loved her, and didn't want to see her like this.

"Marcus, since I took that trip, I've been having these dreams. And they're so real. They are real. I think...I think that they're memories. Don't ask me how. I don't know. All I know is that I have had an up close and personal account  of Haldor and Ylva's life together. As crazy as it seems, I have been given a look at their lives. Some nights I wake up, drenched in sweat. Some nights, I sleep all the way through. Last night, however, Ylva was murdered. I was Ylva. I felt the sword pierce me. I felt my husband make love to me. I felt myself die!" When Erika finished, the look on Marcus' face was not full of unbelief like she thought it would be.

Marcus came from a Native American background, so that the things that Erika was telling him were not all that far-fetched. So this let him accept certain things better than others would. What Erika was telling him was not the first time he had heard something like this.  As the grandson of a shaman, he had been told stories like this all through his childhood. He sat back and looked at her as he thought about what to say to her.

Erika, on the other hand, mistook his silence for criticism. A small whimper of pain escaped her as she stood and grabbed her purse. This time Marcus did not stop her by calling out to her. HE merely grabbed her wrist and stood with her. Pulling her in to him, he wrapped her up in his arms. The simple act of holding her seemed to comfort her.  As her heart beat and breathing returned to normal, she stepped back from her friend. Suddenly feeling uncomfortable with a male holding her.

"I don't understand any of what is happening to me. This I do know, I'll only find the answers back in Norway. I must go back. When Gran died, she left me well taken care of. I really don't have to work if I don't want to. I think I will talk to my boss and take an extended leave of absence. I'm going back, Marcus. If I'm going to get to the bottom of this, I'm going to need to be where it all happened. I'll call and let you know what my plans are. Ok?"

Marcus watched the woman he loved walk away. Somehow, he knew that he would never see her again.