The Dreamer

Chapter 5

She went right back to sleep hoping to have a new dream; maybe she could talk to the woman even if asleep Maybe, they could agree to meet somewhere. She closed her eyes and slowly drifted to a restful sleep that lasted until the next morning, without any dreams that she could remember.

When the buzzing noise of the street woke her up again, she took the subway ride back to the same station and waited, maybe the woman would show up. One train went by, and then another, and yet another, and many more until she lost count. People went and came and she just stood in the same place keeping her eyes peeled hoping to see the familiar face among the waves of people who came in and out of each ride.

Lastly she took a subway ride back home at about one in the afternoon. She was starving and couldn't stay there much longer. Besides, tomorrow she would return to work and it was best to rest and relax before doing so.

She made it home, and turned the stove on, filled a pot with tap water and set it to boil. Then she added few potatoes and started chopping vegetables. Her cell-phone rang, and she rushed to grab it. The number was from Dr. Howard's office.

"Hello, this is Sarah," she said while adding salt to the boiling water and few broccoli heads.

"Hi Sarah, this is Brian, how are you doing?"

"Hi. Dr. Howard. I am great. How are you?" the word great felt awkward in her lips. During sessions, when the question had arisen, she had opted for the familiar answer. "I am feeling a bit better, or I am not feeling any better at all, or nothing is working."

"Great? That's amazing to hear. Care to elaborate a bit about how things are going for you?"

She was puzzled. This was not a session, she wasn't paying for this. Guess he must really care about my wellbeing. "Well, I have started paying attention to things I have neglected."

"Like your past?"

She kept quiet.

"Sarah. I applaud you for taking this look at yourself, but I want you to know you are not alone. I would love to see you and hear you. Whatever you have come to terms with, you don't have to go through this alone. I would love to set an appointment with you, if you are interested."

She hesitated for few second before putting the knife down and the vegetables away. She sighed loudly. "I will gladly meet you, but Dr. Howard I should tell you I have no intention of getting medicated."

"Oh I wouldn't impose it on you. My personal goal is to help my clients get out of medication after they have handled whatever they needed to handle. You have done that, by yourself. I want to make sure you are well, but also I am still puzzled about what helped you, considering my treatment couldn't do it," he laughed lightly. "Alright, I'll transfer you to my assistant to set up an appointment. Have a good one Sarah."

With that he transferred the call and Sarah got an appointment for the next day at three in the afternoon. The rest of the day she felt very tempted to go to the subway station one more time, just to make sure the woman wasn't there. Was she even real? She had to wonder, after all she could have made her up, standing at the platform. She hadn't have medications for about two weeks already, so her body could be reacting badly and coming up with hallucinations.

She couldn't worry about that now. Tomorrow was a new day, a day back at the office and she needed a rest. That night was uneventful. She rested and napped and enjoyed her tea. And that night, she was spared from dreams or visions.

She woke up at six in the morning, without the need of an alarm. She had never really needed one until she started dreaming again. Back to her routine: eggs, bacon, toast for breakfast, and one cup of coffee. Then she headed back to the office and was welcomed by stares left and right.