Sharp intake of breath. I see her standing over me in panic. I’m lying on a couch; I know this because I can feel the sticky leather beneath my body. I try to sit up. “Luke. Don’t get up, you need to rest and drink some water.” I study her face. Her face, it’s so familiar…“Sadie?” She smirks. “Yeah, Luke it’s me.” A smile is playing at her lips. Sharp pains start attacking my skull. I rub my head. It has turned into a spinning top. “You blacked out.” I attempt to nod my head and look around at the same time. Not very smart. There are lots of things scattered around the place. Trinkets. Carpets draped over elegant chairs. Pieces of loose fabrics. Boxes. So many different kinds of boxes. Why are there so many? It hurts my brain. “What happened?” Her head snaps up. A hollow look swirls in her dark murky eyes. “You must have hit your head really hard.” She lets out a shaky laugh. “So, what is it?” She looks away. I can see the tears welling up in her eyes. “I guess you don’t know where you are then, do you?” What does she mean? She is confusing me. “No I don’t” Her eyes drop and lock with mine. It looks as if she hasn’t slept for weeks. “How’s your head feeling Luke?” She’s avoiding the question. “Sadie, where am I?” Tears begin to drop, like the trickle of a leaky water tap. I look at her. She looks at me. “Sadie...” She sits on the edge of the bed and exhales slowly. “Sorry for mentioning it. I shouldn’t have.” I look at her quite confused. As if reading my thoughts, she sighs, “Luke, this is not reality.” Nervousness is starting to take over. “You’re still dreaming right now.” My eyes blur. Ears buzz. What is she saying? I can’t hear her voice anymore. “Why can’t I hear you?!” I don’t like this feeling. She’s looking at me with concern. “I don’t get it Sadie. I don’t understand.” Her mouth is moving though I hear nothing. Now she’s yelling, she’s shouting something out. I still can’t hear, but I can read her lips. “Luke don’t forget me, and please don’t look back.” I won’t do this. I can’t just leave her behind. “I’m going to stay here with you no matter where we are.” She moves towards me fast. Before I can process what is happening she slaps me across the face. Hard.
