Funny Thing, Life

Part 7: Wide Awake

   "Hellloooo!" My cousin is waving her hand and snapping her fingers.

   I blink rapidly, my mouth slightly hanging open.  Standing directly across from me, none other than Zak himself. His hand touching mine, letter being held by the both of us.

   "What the hell was that?"  He asked, with the same surprised expression I wore.

   "You mean, you saw it too?" I questioned in disbelief, shaking my head.

   "Saw what? What happened?" My cousin questioned.

   "I don't know." I said trying to take back the letter.  "I don't understand.  I don't remember being here, giving this to you." I stated gesturing at the letter neither of us would let go of.

   "You two have been standing here for like five minutes just staring at one another. But your expressions were blank. You didn't even blink.  It was like you were both entranced."

   I yanked once more, only to have my hand slip from the letter.  "I dropped that thing in the room with Liberace's piano, I thought," flinging my hand in the direction of the folded paper, contained in his hand.

   "I saw that too," Zak chimed in.

   "Leigha, this is the first time we've been here. We just barely started the tour when we ran into Zak, here, and we haven't been in any room with a piano."

   "Are you kidding me?"  I respond, feeling like my legs are going to give out.  "I need to sit down."  I leaned back against the wall and started to go down, but before I hit the floor, two strong arms were at my sides hefting me back up.

   "How about we go to my office?  We can sit and discuss what happened."

   "I really don't want to be in here anymore." I start feeling woozy.  "Oh God, I need air."

   He nods and leads us through the gift shop to the parking lot.  He has a worker close the gate to the parking lot temporarily, so we can have a little privacy.  He opens the door to his truck so I can sit.  The scent wafting from inside his truck held the faint smell of his cologne, something that triggered a memory of sorts from the vision.  My chest felt heavy as I attempted a deep breath to calm my nerves.  I felt like I had to remind myself that I am still alive.  

   "So, what exactly happened in there?" My cousin presses.  "From my point of view, as soon as that letter was passed between you, you both froze.  I didn't know what to think, or do. Any longer and I was ready to call for someone."

   "Okay," I breathed, squeezing the bridge of my nose, "Its just that I remember this as being our second tour here, and I dropped the letter. Somehow, Zak got it and we ended up meeting to discuss it."  I recount then take a sip of water from the bottle he'd given me.

   "So, the dreams you mentioned, are they real or..." he asks. 

   "Yes.  They're real." I paused trying to collect my thoughts.  "This might be weird, but do you know what's in that letter?"

   "I have a good idea, if that vision was any indication.  But I'd never...it doesn't mean that I'd  end up hurting you."

   "This is so ludicrous! You're a stranger."  I attempt to state the reality of the situation.  Although, my breathing becomes erratic along with my heartbeat.  I place my hand on my chest hoping if I felt my heart through my palm, it'd help the anxiety dissipate.

   "Yet, I feel like I've known you all my..." his voice trails off.

    Tears welled in my eyes.  I fought to keep them from exposing how truly scared and confused I was.  "Do you, though? Do you know me at all? Have you had dreams of me or any kind of recollection of me or an essence of me?  I wasn't sure if I was being ridiculous coming here to give you that thing, but now, after this..."mascara colored tears streaked my face as I lost control over them.  I hopped down from the truck.