by M. K. ROZE
I pointed at the desk. “I think I took one and placed the
bottle over there.”
She squinted at me. “You think you took a pill?”
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I nodded.
“If you already took one, then why would you want
another pill? You only need one every night. You can
overdose.”
I had to think of a lie fast. “I wasn’t taking another one.
I wanted to put them in my bag, so I don’t lose them.”
She looked on the desk, in the desk, and on the floor.
“You probably placed the bottle somewhere after you took
it. It’s late. You can find it in the morning. Go to bed.”
“What about the other bottle?”
“You probably misplaced that too. Go to bed, honey.
It’s late.”
I wanted to tell her the truth about my dream and what
Bain said, but I was sure she would flip on me. I dropped it.
“Sorry to have woken you up.”
“No worries. Night, honey.”
“Night.”
When she closed the door, I laid in bed, this time under
my blankets, wondering if I did misplace the pill bottles after
I took one. I couldn’t remember. I felt like I was going
insane.
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fter I called Dr. Wells and told her about my
dreams and the missing pills, she gave me the
third degree for losing them, then called me in
another prescription. It subsided the micro-sleep episodes
and my nightmares, but I wished the pills were stronger
because every night, I still heard wild animals growling and
fighting outside my window. It scared me and made it nearly
impossible to sleep.
Two weeks passed by slowly without any dreams or
sleepwalking. Kylee came over after school, and we did
homework together. Liam even hung out with us on Kaylee’s
birthday because I wasn’t ready to leave the house.
Constin kept calling and texting me, but I ignored him
because I wasn’t ready to talk. Kaylee was mad, so I told her
to talk to him. When she asked for his number, I blew up in
her face. I wasn’t sure why I was so protective of him, being
I didn’t know him that well. When Kaylee was about to leave,
I told her I was sorry and admitted that I liked him, but I
wasn’t ready to talk to him yet. She respected me and said
sorry for asking for his number.
When I returned to school, Kaylee was in the back,
waving for me to sit next to her.
Mr. Roberts smiled at me. “Welcome back, Ms.
Vandell.”
I smiled and looked at the other students glaring at me.
One of the girls waved at me which made me feel good.
When class was over, Kaylee turned to me.
“What are you so happy about?”
“Don’t get mad, but I found a house for us.”
“A house? I thought we were getting an apartment?”
“Why live in an apartment when the house I found is
the same price? We’ll have more room.”
“Okay, but it’s only September 3rd. My parents won’t let
me move out now because of all the stuff that happened.”
“You’re all better now. Plus, the landlord is wicked cool.
She said she would allow you to move in if you have your
parents sign the lease.”
“She did? Where did you find it?”
Kaylee nodded. “On my way here, I saw a woman
placing a for rent sign out front, so I stopped and asked to
look at it.”
“That’s awesome. Where is it?”
“Right down the street from Flagler College.”
“Okay, let’s go look at it when we get out.”
Kaylee smiled. “I knew you would agree.” She got her
book out.
After school, we rushed out and got into Kaylee’s car.
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I grabbed the armrest on the door. “Slow down!”
“Relax, this is how you’re supposed to drive.”
“Hell no, my parents would kill me if I dared to go past
fifty miles per hour.”
She laughed, turned the radio up, and drove faster.
I glanced at the passenger’s side mirror, and a cop car
had its lights on.
“Pull over!” I yelled.
“Oh shit!” She turned the music off.
“It’s only the cops. Tell them you have diarrhea or
something.”
“Viata, are you serious? He won’t believe that.”
“Shh.” I looked ahead.
Kaylee rolled down her window. “Sorry, officer, I was
trying to get my friend home. She has the runs, and she was
about to throw up in my car.”
I scowled at her while shaking my head.
“Well,” he said, sternly. “It doesn’t mean you can drive
over the speed limit. I will need your driver’s license and
registration, please.”
Kaylee dug through her green duffle bag, looking for it
while tossing everything on my lap.
The officer leaned down, gawking at me. “Hello, what’s
your name?” he asked me in a gentle tone. He was a hefty
older man with the whitest hair and a beard that matched.
I cleared my throat. “Viata Vandell.”
In a split second, his face altered into the black man
from the train station in Romania. Behind him were
hundreds of people crying. “We need you to come back,” he
urged in the same English accent. He sounded like he was
talking into a can.
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“Kaylee!” I screamed as I took off my seatbelt and tried
to open the car door, but I couldn’t.
She grabbed my arm. “Viata, what’s wrong?”
“Didn’t you see his face change or hear what he said?”
She shook her head.
“Let me out!” I yelled, eyeing the officer. His face turned
back to normal.
“Did you forget to take your pill?” Kaylee asked.
I closed my eyes and told myself to calm down. I was
freaked out, but I knew I needed to keep it together before
he locked me up.
The officer lost his balance and rubbed his eyes like he
blacked out. He placed his hand on his holster and stepped
back. “Ms. Vandell are you okay?”
I nodded. “Are you?”
Kaylee nudged me with her elbow.
“Yes, I just got light-headed, that’s all.
Do you need an ambulance?” he asked.
I shook my head. “Sorry officer, I—I thought you were
someone else. I haven’t been sleeping well lately.”
“Are you sure there’s not something else going on?” he
asked. “Are you taking any drugs?”
“Yes, but they are prescribed for a sleeping disorder I
have.”
“I see.”
Kaylee handed him her ID and registration, and he left
to run her information.
“What the hel ? You scared the crap out of me.”
I exhaled. “Are you sure you didn’t hear what he said or
see his face change?”
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She stared at me like I had four heads. “Take another
pill just in case you forgot to take one.”
The officer
came back. “This is your lucky day. You can
thank Ms. Vandell for you not getting a ticket.” He handed
Kaylee her license.
Kaylee and I looked at each other confused, then back
at him rambling on about how my father put a criminal away
he caught, and he owed him a favor.
“Thank you, officer. Please don’t tell my father about
me freaking out.”
“It’s Officer Walters, and I won’t say a word.” He
winked at me. “Get some rest.”
“I will. Thank you.”
He stood tall and pointed his finger at Kaylee. “Slow
down, Ms. Ashfield.”
“I will. Thank you, Officer Walters.”
“No problem.” He walked back to his car, rubbing his
head.
Kaylee pulled out. “Do you want me to take you home?
We can look at the place another time.”
“No, I’m fine. I just took another pill.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to go home?”
“Yes, but if I start foaming at the mouth or pass out,
take me to the hospital. I’m only supposed to take them at
night.”
She giggled. “Okay.”
Still, in shock, I couldn’t understand why I saw that
man’s face, but I did know that I wasn’t about to lose my
best friend over it.
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We drove down a few side streets and pulled up in front
of a brick house. I looked across the street at the other huge,
upscale homes.
“Kaylee, is this the house?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Where is the sign?”
She grinned. “I asked her to take it down this morning
so no one else would look at it.”
“Smart thinking.”
“I know,” she said, being cocky.
We got out and walked up the steps. Kaylee knocked on
the door. After a minute, a petite Chinese woman answered.
“Hi,” she said, “You’re back already. Is this your
roommate?”
“Yes, it is. Kim, this is my best friend, Viata Vandell.”
Kim smiled. “Hello.”
“Hi.” I shook her hand.
“Nice to meet you. Are you okay? You look sad,” she
asked me.
“Yes. I’m just a little tired.”
“Sorry to hear that. Please, come inside,” she insisted in
the sweetest voice.
Kaylee pushed me in gently. “Go look around and make
sure you like it. I like the bedroom facing the backyard, but
we can flip a coin if you like it too.”
“Okay.” As I walked down the short hallway, I ran my
fingers down the yellow walls. “Wow! This is beautiful,” I
said looking ahead.
To my left was an arched entryway that led to the large
living room. I walked in and admired the open floor plan
with three bay windows. The view was beautiful with houses
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across the street and woods beyond that. I continued to the
kitchen in the back of the house. My mouth dropped as I
looked at the beautiful granite countertops and stainless steel
appliances. Through the kitchen was a small hallway. I
walked down it. On my right was a bedroom. I stepped in
but didn’t like how it faced the back of the house. I walked
back out and continued to the next room. As I entered the
big room, I rushed over to the bay window with a built-in
bench. I sat on its hard surface and looked out the window
at the enormous oak trees in front. I cried because I wasn’t
over Officer Walters’s face changing in front of me.
After a few deep breaths, I wiped my tears and told
myself to stay strong.
“You can take the small room you like!” I yelled.
“Sweet,” Kaylee hollered back.
I walked into the huge closet and imagined my clothes
hanging there. I noticed another door in the room, so I
opened it. Wow! I have my very own bathroom.
I walked out of the room, and I found another door to
my right. It was another bathroom with a full bath in it.
I continued into the kitchen to check out the yard. After
a few pushes, the door opened. I stepped outside onto the
small patio. I imagined a grill off to my right and a patio set
in front of me, leaving us plenty of room for a fire pit and
lounge chairs. I rushed back inside and sprinted upstairs.
“Kaylee, you didn’t tell me there was another room.”
“Surprise, surprise,” she said as she walked up the stairs.
“This could be a game room. What do you think?” I
patiently waited for her to agree.
“Let’s do it,” Kaylee replied, just as happy as me.
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We designed the large room with our imaginations and
went back downstairs.
“We love it. Can we have it, please?” I asked, looking at
Kim.
She looked at me, then Kaylee. “Yes, it’s yours if you
girls want it. Viata, you need to have your parents sign the
lease. When you turn eighteen, I’ll create a new lease with
just you and Kaylee on it.”
“Okay,” I said. “Can we paint the walls?”
“Sure, just as long as you paint them all white before you
move out.”
“Thank you.”
She walked toward the door.
Kaylee and I hugged one another. I couldn’t wait to tell
my parents.
“Here is the lease and deposit information,” Kim said
and handed it to Kaylee.
“Thank you,” Kaylee and I said at the same time.
Kaylee looked at it. “Why is this house only one
thousand dollars a month? Are there ghosts?”
She smiled. “No ghosts. I usually charge thirteen
hundred, but being you’re two young girls, I lowered it so
you can focus on your studies and not worry so much.”
“Thank you.” I hugged her.
Kaylee joined in.
Kim smiled. “You’re welcome, girls. I must hurry to my
doctor’s visit. I’ll speak to you soon.”
We got into Kaylee’s car and both let out a loud screech,
hugging each other. After we calmed down, she drove me
back to my car safe and sound without getting pulled over
again.
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“Are you sure you don’t mind me having the bigger
room? I feel bad.”
“Yes, I hate being in the front of the house.”
“I’ll take the small room if you want.”
Kaylee glanced over at me. “No, I want the smaller
one.”
“Okay. I hope my parents say yes. What if they say no?
“Are you kidding me? Your parents always give you
what you want.”
“No, they don’t.
“Yes, they do.”
“I give. Is Ms. Ashfield still going to pay your half to get
us in?”
Kaylee turned to me at a red light. “Hell, yeah. My mom
has been waiting for this moment. Will your parents still pay
your half?”
I shrugged. “I hope so.”
“They will. You’re spoiled.”
“Shut up,” I joked and looked out the window.
When I got home, I paced the
house. I couldn’t wait to
tell my parents I had found a place. When I heard them pull
in, my heart started racing. I sat there on the couch and
turned on the TV, waiting for them to enter. I tried my
hardest to keep my composure when they walked in and
hung their business jackets on the coat rack.
I jumped up. “Kaylee and I found a place.”
They stopped in their tracks and looked at each other. I
thought they were going to say no way or it’s not the right
time, but instead, they smiled. Well, for a few seconds
anyway.
Mom’s face turned serious. “You did?”
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“Yes.”
Mom sighed. “I don’t know about you moving out now
with all that’s been going on.”
“And you don’t have a job yet,” Dad added.
“I’ll look for one tonight. And I’m all better now. The
pills keep me stable.”
I wasn’t about to tell them about what happened earlier.
In my head, I thought if I took the pills, I would live a normal
life.
“Are you sure you’re ready to move out on your own
and take full responsibility?”
“Yes, Mom, I’m ready. Please, you promised me and
Kaylee.”
“I know we did, but what if you start having those
micro-sleeps again?” Dad asked.
“I won’t. I’m fine.”
Mom looked at Dad, waiting for him to say something.
He shrugged like he always did and left it up to Mom.
“Well, if this is what you want, then let’s do it,” Mom
said.
“Seriously!” I screeched.
“Wait a minute. When do you want to move out?” Mom
asked.
“Next Sunday.”
Her forehead creased. “That’s a little quick ... but okay.
How much is the rent and the deposit?”
“It’s one thousand dollars a month with a security
deposit.”
“That’s it? Where is it?” Mom asked, probably thinking
it was in a dumpy neighborhood.
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“It’s near Flagler College. The landlady, Kim said she
was giving us a deal because we were still in school.”
“Well, that was nice of her,” Dad said.
“Okay, but after Ms. Ashfield and I pay to get you girls