Moonlit Butterflies

Memory Dreams (Alex)

I knew I was dreaming as I surveyed my childhood room. I hadn't been in this room in nearly ten years.

These were the worst nightmares, the ones I couldn't ignore because they weren't just dreams — they were memories.

Bile rose in my throat, and I inhaled shakily, trying to swallow my fears.

"Alexandra!" John called out, slamming the door behind him. I heard him toss his boots off his feet, sighing loudly.

I held my breath as I stepped over the half-a-foot-wide hole in my bedroom floor. The rotting wood was deep brown and covered in dust, and the back of my heel rubbed the too-soft timber.

"Coming!" I yelled out, worried that his damaged ears wouldn't hear me.

"I have a friend here for you today!"

My stomach dropped through the floor.

As I rounded the corner, I recognized the worn face of one of the men who frequented my house. His silver wedding band glimmered in the dim lighting as he spun it around his finger.

"Hello, Alexandra," he greeted. The sunspots that covered his face folded into his smile lines, and I avoided looking into his dark brown eyes, instead glancing at my feet.

"Hi," I practically whispered, my voice faltering.

"Is that how we greet our friends?" John asked.

"Hello, sir," I greeted.

"How are you, young lady?" The man dropped to his knees, inching closer to me, and I took an apprehensive step back.

"I'm okay. How are you?" I refused to meet his intense gaze.

"I'm well, thank you," he responded.

I stayed quiet, looking at the rough floorboards beneath my feet.

"Alexandra?" the man asked, although he didn't have a question.

Without taking a breath, I slowly lifted my eyes to meet the man's stare, cringing as his ice cold gaze searched my face.

"That's more like it. Come on, sweetie." He nodded at John, grabbing my hand as he stood.

As I turned around to walk down the hallway, I heard rustling from behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see Melissa standing at the end of the hallway, her eyes wide as she watched the man take me down the hallway.

"John, I thought you said it wouldn't happen again," she whispered urgently.

I stumbled over my feet as I struggled to crane my neck to my right, listening to their conversation.

"Hush!" John hissed, lifting his hand as if to hit her.

She dropped her head, backing away in cowardice. "You promised this would stop," she murmured, thick curls obscuring her face.

"Melissa," he warned through his clenched teeth.

"You have to stop this!" she retorted.

John's face contorted in anger, and I turned away.

A loud resounding smack echoed through the hallway, and I flinched, squeezing my eyes shut.

I tripped over a loose floorboard, and the man helped me up, suddenly in a hurry to get me out of the hallway, away from the arguing I saw everyday. I looked up at him, confused why he cared. After a moment, I realized that he wasn't pulling me for my own benefit.

I couldn't remember how to move my legs.

He tugged on my hand, and I dragged my feet as we walked down the hallway, my heart racing in fear...