Underwater

“Hey.” I felt my boyfriend’s hand gently caressing my cheek as he spoke softly. “Hey, how’re you feeling?”

I couldn’t tell him. My throat was so sore. I stared into his eyes, confused and scared. I think he picked that up. I hope he did.

“Do you feel better now?”

My head still ached but it’s not that painful. I nodded at him.

“Good, good.” He paused. He seemed distraught about something. “Do you remember what happened in the cabin?”

I can only stare at him in confusion.

“That night, I woke up to you screaming outside. You were screaming so high. I tried to calm you down, but you wouldn’t stop screaming. When I moved you away from the lake, you collapsed! I had to take you to the hospital. What happened back there?”

“I–I…” I tried to talk.

“No, no. Don’t talk. The doctor said you have to rest your body and vocal chords. You were out for two days. Your parents are just outside.”

I guess I have to wait until I get out of this hospital until I can tell him what happened to me. If I could remember exactly what happened to me. What did happen to me?

It’s been two weeks since I’ve been hospitalized. I told my boyfriend about what I remembered but he doesn’t believe me. He does believe the doctor and my therapist that I had a mental breakdown because I “went too close to the lake.” I know something in that lake made me hear weird sounds, made my head explode, and made me see things. I have to go back there and prove to everyone I’m not crazy, but I need company to go there. I don’t want to be alone facing that thing underwater.