The Dreamer

Chapter 2

Sarah locked the door behind her and put on her sunglasses. It was about eight in the morning and the sun was not as bright as some other days of June. Nonetheless, her eyes felt unusually dry and itchy, and especially very sensitive to the sunlight. Tons of people walked around her, some maybe going to school, others to work, yet the less fortunate ones were not going anywhere, and the streets were their homes.

She was used to disregarding people, and just focus on getting to work, do her thing, get home, do her thing, and so on. Today was different; she couldn't stop looking around from person to person. Few times she was caught staring and quickly looked down. What is happening? She could feel so many things that it was impossible to label them. It didn't end there, she felt the people. Old and young, poor or rich, she could feel each one, but it wasn't something that could be put in words. Feel what? Their emotions? Their thoughts? She couldn't tell. What she knew for sure was that all she felt was not coming from herself. I definitely need my pills. Or else I will lose it.

After three blocks walking, she reached the 7th Avenue Subway Station and made her way down the stairs. The subway was just arriving as she reached the bottom of the stairs. She ran to reach the door and made it by a hair. Inside, she became familiar with her surroundings. She had used the subway for years, but this morning it was like using it for the first time ever. She put her sunglasses away, got hold of a pole, and made herself comfortable for the ride, as she had done every day. Nonetheless, the unfamiliar awareness was sending her down a spiral of worry. A woman kept staring at her, so Sarah turned away to face the opposite side. Outside the window, she could see the dark wall of the tunnel. What a beautiful sight, she rolled her eyes.

The longer she looked outside, the more she felt a stranger pressure in the middle of her chest. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, but suddenly she was very aware of her fast heart beat and her cold sweat drops gathering in her forehead. Her hands went cold and she felt she was about to faint. What is happening? I need a doctor. She wanted to scream for help, is there a doctor here? But at the same time she was too self conscious. I am okay. I just need my pill.

The subway came to a halt and people came out of the cart while some people came in. She managed to find a seat where she could relax. Outside the window, the station didn't seem familiar, but she wasn't too worried about it. After all, everything had felt unfamiliar this morning. As the 1 started to sink into the darkness of a new tunnel, she closed her eyes, allowing her body to relax a bit.

Finally, she reached the Franklyn Street Station and rushed up the stairs for a sip of air. Back on the surface, she looked at the time. It was 8:48. She tried to wait until after nine to call Dr. Howard but the subway episode had been challenging and she was desperate for things to get back to normal. I will just dial as an emergency. It was almost business hours regardless, so they wouldn't mind if she called as an emergency.

As she made her way to her building few blocks away from the station, she dialed the phone number and went through the prompts to select "Emergency Assistance" She listened first to the warning prerecorded messages. If you feel you are at any risk of harming yourself or others, hang up and call 911 first before calling your therapist. After the messages were over, somebody picked up the line.

"Hello, can I speak to Dr. Howard?" Sarah's voice was coarse. She was used to expend so much time in her mind that she sometimes was surprised to hear her own voice.

"Dr. Howard should be here soon. What's your name? And what is your emergency?" The woman in the other side said dismissively.

"No you don't understand. I need to speak to him. Ah....my name, right, Sarah, Sarah Lewis. Maybe you can help me," she stammered.