The Doctor Will See You

Untitled Part 1

The Doctor will see you.

Chapter 1 September 1st, 11:25pm

She awoke screaming and clutching her face and side as she did so often after her recurring night terror. Sometimes, she even shouted to her parents as though the accident was still happening, clawing at the air as though trying to save them and herself. But she was always too late.

Footsteps came running down the hallway to her door, "I'm coming Nadie!!" A woman shouted, and her roommate burst through the bedroom door brandishing the iron fireplace poker. Jill hadn't lived there with Nadie very long and Nadie's screams always made her react thusly in the night.

Nadie was sitting on the edge of her bed, eyes glassy and her face white with terror and renewed grief. Her long black hair was wild with sweat and from thrashing. Quickly realizing that it was Nadie's dreams that had broken in and not some psycho, Jill dropped the poker and rushed to her friend's side. "Oh honey, not again?" she sighed.

Nadie was becoming more present but could still only nod. "It's always so real," She whispered at last. "Okay Hun, we've got to clear your mind, so you can get back to sleep. It's only about eleven thirty, we both crashed early tonight. But that means it's the perfect time for middle of the night tea and a bitch fest. You can tell me about the dreams if you want to, but you don't have to if you still can't." Jill reached for Nadie's trembling hand and took it in her own gently. So clammy, she thought to herself.

Nadie rose from the bed wearing the usual ladies' boxers and a Marvel hero shirt. She allowed Jillian to lead her from her room and into the living room. "I'll start the tea, maybe some cookies to give you something to nibble on with a bit of sugar to get yourself back a bit, and get your blood flowing. God knows there's none showing in your face!" She tried the weak joke, trying to put Nadie more at ease; and to Jill's credit, her best friend smiled weakly back.

With the tea made, they settled into the deep-seated couch with throw blankets and a few oatmeal cookies in front of their fake fireplace heater. "How're you feeling now?" Jill asked as she took one. "Your colour is a bit better."

Nadie was staring at the digital picture frame on top of the heater, which displayed happy photos of the two. She put a hand to her cheek and replied softly, "I'm starting to warm up now," she said. "The nightmares always leave me so cold, as though I'm back in that frigid lake and fighting it." She stiffened visibly as soon as the words came out of her mouth.

"I've been your best friend since fourth grade Nadie, you came to live with me and Mom after the... accident. If you can't open-up to me, then who?" Jill said this as she gazed at her poor friend with genuine concern and offered her another cookie. "As far as I know, you have never been to any kind of therapist to discuss what happened. You even refused grief counselling right after, remember? Please talk to me Nad. I'm always here for you." She leaned over and gave Nadie a hard hug, who released her tears at Jill's soft, kind words. Jill continued to speak, "You need help. I've known you almost my whole life and most of that, you've been only a shadow of happy. Outside of your artwork, you're becoming more and more of a shell. Tell me I'm wrong and I'll leave it be."

Nadie was sniffling and choked out, "I feel as though if I don't tell you about the accident and nightmares, it will continue to eat away at me until there's nothing left but an empty shell. And I feel like I'm almost there. You're right. I need help. I can't live like this. I'll tell you what I can now, until I can't. Unless you want to go back to bed?" Jill shook her head quickly and studied Nadie closely and worried at what she saw, her soul sister looked like Hell on fire. Her cat-like green eyes were a bit wild and filled with both shed and unshed tears; and as they spilled over her light brown cheeks, Jill saw the ruin of Nadie's face in the glow of the mechanical fire.