You Are Something Else, Juniper Zwinggi

Chapter 17

Jake's face drained of all color when I said her name.

"You know her?" Officer Graham asked.

"I'd seen her before but I never met her until this morning."

"She's my ex-girlfriend," Jake said coolly.

"Did she tell you why she was following you?"

I told him everything else that happened; me getting into a word fight, her attacking me and beating the crap out of me before falling into the water. Every once in a while I'd look at Jake and see him flexing his hands, trying to control his temper. The officer wrote down everything I said with amazing precision despite his pudgy hands.

"I see. Mr. Fisher, did Lydia show any kind of obsessive behavior while you were together?"

Jake thought but shook his head. "I mean, she was impulsive but otherwise she was normal and happy. Until she cheated on me. That's why we broke up."

Talking made me tired and I struggled to keep my eyes open. I pushed the morphine button so it would kick in by the time everyone left, if not sooner.

"Guys, why don't you go outside to continue this interview. I think you got all you need from Juniper, for now." My eyes shot open at Lynn's voice.

Jake bent down to kiss my forehead and met the officer by the door. Lynn sat on the bed next to me and rubbed my hand. I'd ruined yet another holiday for them and she still treated me like a daughter. She was the mom I wished my mom could be.

"I'm sorry I ruined your Christmas," I said feeling my nose burn. "Trouble follows me like a shadow."

"You did not ruin our Christmas. I count the fact that you're still with us as a Christmas miracle," she cupped my face gently. "Bad things happen to good people, honey. It always has and it always will. You take everything that life has thrown at you and you still get back up. You are stronger than I ever will be, Juniper. Whatever happens, we will be there for you."

"Thank you," I said trying not to cry. It hurt to breathe, let alone hold in hiccups from crying.

"Go to sleep. Dave and I will go check on Luka and Jake is going to stay here, okay?" When I nodded she kissed my forehead. "Good girl. I'll call your mom to let her know what happened."

I don't remember her leaving or hearing Jake come in. I slept fitfully and dreamed about Pat for the first time in weeks. The morphine was making everything soft around the edges but I could see him there next to me, bright as day. We were on the dock kicking our feet in the water. There was no talking, just soaking up the sun and enjoying being in each others' company. It was warm, spring time I think. I took Great Aunt Cheryl's advice and remembered him as he was when alive, happy.

Suddenly, something grabbed my ankle and when I looked down I saw Lydia with her black eye makeup smeared down her face. She had this menacing smile on her face. I screamed and begged Pat to help me but he didn't seem to hear me. No matter how hard I struggled and kicked, Lydia pulled me under. My lungs burned and I was swallowed in darkness. When I opened my eyes there were clouds above me and I heard water lapping on the shore. I was wet and sore. Turning my head I saw Pat staring back at me. His skin was pale, lips blue, and eyes lifeless.

I leaned forward and screamed at the top of my lungs. It was the most pain I'd ever felt and it stole my breath.

"Juniper!" Jake shot out of his chair like lightning and held my face. I couldn't breathe causing the machines on the wall to beep incessantly. "Juniper, tell me what's wrong!"

A team of nurses came in and shoved him aside. They lowered my bed and took the pillows from behind my head. Zeke put an oxygen mask on my face and squeezed the bag to force air into my lungs. Something warm was injected into my IV and I fell into darkness again.