Anna's Visions

by Joy Redmond

  “Yeah,” Tori answered as she followed Emma out of the store.

  Tori didn’t eat half of her cheeseburger and she didn’t want her usual cherry pie. She just wanted to take a nap. But she agreed to shop for bathroom accessories.

  Emma finished her meal, then reached into her purse and pulled out a napkin. She unfolded it and said, “Here, honey, take your pills. It’s a little late but we spent so much time buying furniture I plum forgot.”

  Tori took the pills and didn’t say anything. She merely followed Emma to the car.

  After they had bought enough to beautify both bathrooms, Emma said, “We really need to stop at Piggy Wiggly. We have to stock the pantry and fridge. I know there’s not enough food in that apartment to attract a field mouse.”

  Tori laughed.

  Once in the grocery store, Tori and Emma both took a cart. Emma went down every aisle as Tori closely followed, reaching up and taking a few items off the shelf, not really knowing or caring what she was putting into the cart.

  When they had made their way from one end of the store to the other, both carts were full, but Tori had no idea what Emma had thrown into her cart. She stood in a daze as the cashier rang up the items, and Emma paid the bill.

  When the groceries had been loaded into the trunk, Tori slurred as she said, “We’ve bought a lot today. Do we have any money left?”

  Emma laughed. “We’ve got a few bucks left. But we might need to hit Cody up for some more before we hit the mall. We’ll do that tomorrow if you want to. Just wait until you see Peach Tree Mall, honey. It’s as big as a small city. And we won’t stop with Atlanta, either. I know a lot of places and we’ll hit them all.”

  “Sounds good to me. Tomorrow the malls!”

  When they got back to the apartment, Tori helped Emma carry the groceries upstairs, but Emma said she would put things away so Tori sat at the kitchen table and watched, hoping she could remember where Emma had put things.

  Tori had to admit that Emma and she had a nice day together, but there was still something missing. Tori tried to be enthusiastic about the new life she was creating, but it didn’t feel right. Madison would always be her home, no matter how much money she was able to spend.

  Every day for the next week they visited every clothing store and shoe store in every mall within forty miles, and there were a number of times when Tori couldn’t even remember everything they had bought that day.

  Tori’s memory wasn’t improving. In fact, it was getting worse – to the point she’d get lost in mid-sentence when she tried to have a conversation with Emma.

  One day Tori asked Emma if she knew which drugstore Cody worked in. Tori thought it might be nice to drop in and surprise him.

  Emma scratched her head. “You know, honey, I sure don’t. But I’ve never asked. I do know that he travels a lot. I think he delivers medication and other pharmaceutical stuff to hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and – oh, I guess any place that needs medical supplies. You know that Cody, honey. Getting information out of him is harder than pulling hen’s teeth. He’s a private person, and he sure doesn’t share much about himself.”

  “You can say that again,” Tori said. “Do you know that I still hardly know anything about him?”

  “Well, I’m not surprised,” Emma said with a nod. “I suppose he’ll open up, sooner or later.”

  “Maybe.” But Tori doubted so.

  After the apartment was completely furnished and decorated, Tori’s closet was filled with new clothes, and she had enough shoes to outfit an army, she suddenly found herself with nothing to do – and her spirit sank. She began to cry for her family and Jill every day, and even when Emma took her to a movie, she usually slept through the whole thing.

  Before Cody came home from work each day, Emma cooked a large meal and she usually ate with them. One evening while they were eating, Tori said, “Emma, I see that you’re wearing a wedding band. If you don’t mind me asking, where’s your husband? I’ve never seen him.”

  After taking a drink of her iced tea, Emma replied, “I’m married to a truck driver who’s gone most of the time, and I kind of like it that way. We get on each other’s nerves after a couple days.” She took another sip of tea. “When he leaves on a long haul I always tell him to keep his big rig between the ditches and his little rig in his britches.” She slapped her palm on the table, laughed, and gave a nasally snort as if she had cracked the funniest joke ever told.

  Tori laughed even though it didn’t strike her funny as she watched Emma stuff a large piece of pork chop smothered with gravy into her mouth, and a bit of gravy dripped on her chin.

  You’re a sweetheart, but you eat like a pig. Tori felt immediate shame for thinking something so ugly when Emma had been nothing but kind to her.

  Emma was Tori’s constant companion, but Tori found that she had lost all concept of time. Days, nights, and whole weeks all seemed to run together. She took the medication that Cody gave her, and she began to notice that he switched pills from time to time. It seemed as if she would just get used to a certain color and shape, when he would give her something different. She figured he was experimenting to see what would work best for overcoming her condition.

  The most painful thing was that every time she mentioned her family or Jill, Cody would quickly change the subject, and since her memory was so poor, it wouldn’t take long and she’d forget what they were talking about. And at times, he talked in circles, and Tori didn’t know if he had given her an answer or just confused her even more.

  One Sunday night, Emma said to Tori, “I’ve got a dental appointment tomorrow that’s going to take all morning, but don’t worry – I’ll drag you out of bed when I get back, okay?”

  Tori assured Emma that she’d be fine. Tori went to bed a little after eleven that night. When she awoke the next day and looked at the clock on the nightstand, she gasped. She’d slept almost fifteen hours.

  “Crapola!” Tori cried, swinging her legs off the bed. She lifted her arms over her head and stretched. To her surprise, she felt better than she had in a long time. Her head wasn’t full of cobwebs and she was even hungry.

  She went into the kitchen, grabbed a sweet roll off the counter top, and munched on it as she made a pot of coffee. The roll tasted so good that she had another one while she waited for the coffee to brew.

  Tori loved the smell of fresh brewed coffee. When it was ready, she filled a mug, sat at the table, and reveled in the feeling of being her old self again. Everything seemed bright and beautiful. She had no boo-boos, no heart racing, food tasted good, and her mind was clear and alert. It was a miracle! Maybe she was finally cured!

  She closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, and visions of Grammy, Poppy, Momma, Daddy, and Jill danced through her mind. Why did they turn their backs on me? Why don’t they love me anymore?

  She was still hurt, especially when she remembered something Cody had said – though she didn’t know how long ago it had been. He told her that her parents had called one night while she was asleep and had told him to keep her in Atlanta and never bring her back to Madison. According to Cody, they were ashamed of her for marrying a man she’d only known for two weeks.

  Tori rested her elbow on the table, rubbed her brow, and wondered why she had believed that story. She couldn’t imagine her family ever saying anything like that, and it wasn’t like them to hold a grudge. Sooner or later, they always accepted a situation and moved on. The more she thought about it, the madder she got.

  As she sat sipping her coffee, she began to think about other things that Cody had told her over the last few months. Many of her memories were disjointed, but little by little, random pieces started to fit together in her mind.

  Suddenly, she slammed her coffee mug on the table. “That lying, conniving, sicko!” she yelled. “How could I have been such a fool? He just wants me all to himself. He’s jealous of my family, and he can’t stand for me to have a best friend like Jill. He probably thinks that I love her more than I
do him. And he is so right!” she mumbled through clenched teeth.

  Tori jumped as Emma opened the apartment door and stepped inside.

  “Tori!” she exclaimed. “I wasn’t expecting you to be out of bed. Here, honey. I’ve got your medicine.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out two pills. “Oh, and here are some pills that Cody gave me some time back when I couldn’t sleep.” She reached into her other pocket and pulled out several pills, then placed them in the ashtray on the table. “I took one and I did sleep but the dang thing gave me such a hangover it took me all day to shake it off. I never took another one.”

  Tori eyed the pills. Good ole’ Quaaludes!

  Tori smiled. “Thanks, Emma.” Then she added firmness to her voice. “And no offence, but I kind of want to spend the day by myself.”

  “Well, I don’t know,” Emma said with hesitance. “Cody told me not to let you be alone, honey, and–”

  “Come on, Emma,” Tori said. “I don’t need a babysitter around the clock, and today I feel like being alone.”

  Emma nodded. “Well, okay, honey, but if you change your mind, you know where to find me.”

  “I know, and thank you.” Tori stood up and escorted Emma to the door. “I’ll call you right away if I have any problems at all.”

  “OK, honey, I’ll be right downstairs if you need me,” Emma said as she walked toward the stairs, chewing on her knuckles.

  After Emma was gone, Tori walked down the hallway, entered the spare bedroom and looked around as if she’d never seen it before. Her dolls sat on a large bookshelf, but she had only a vague memory of arranging them. Then she picked up a picture album and slowly turned the pages. Her eyes came to rest on a picture of the four musketeers.

  Impulsively she ran her fingertips across Wes’ face. How she longed to see him, touch him, kiss him. “Oh, Wes, do I ever cross your mind?”

  As she closed the album and clutched it to her heart, everything became crystal clear. She was being held prisoner in Atlanta! All those medications Cody had been giving her had nothing to do with helping her get well. All that time, he had been keeping her liquored-up and drugged-out so he could control her. She had been a first-class fool – but that game was over. She was going to reclaim her freedom – starting at that very moment!

  She threw the album on the bed, and screamed, “Well, Cody, you can take your pills and alcohol and shove them where the sun doesn’t shine! And that ain’t under your armpit, big boy!”

  She stood for a second, and then hurried into the master bathroom where she noticed two “blue dolls” and a “lude” lying on the commode tank. “I forgot to take them,” she said, throwing them into the commode and flushing. Again, pieces were fitting together. Her mind was clear that morning because she had slept off the pills she had taken the day before and she hadn’t poked another batch of poison down her throat that night, and she hadn’t taken any that morning either.

  Tori seethed as she walked back to the kitchen, where she spied a new bottle of vodka sitting on the counter. She broke the seal and poured the vodka down the drain. She turned on the tap and refilled the bottle. Then it occurred to her, if the seal was broken then the bottle should have vodka missing, too. “Right,” she said. “I’m rowing with both oars in the water today!”

  She turned in circles, and then she grabbed the wall phone and dialed Jill’s number, her hand shaking with rage. She drummed her fingers on the wall as the phone rang. “Answer the phone, Jill. Come on, pick up.”

  Suddenly, she felt Cody’s arm around her neck like a boa constrictor, trying to strangle her. He yanked the phone out of the wall with his other hand, threw it on the floor, and yelled, “Who the hell do you think you’re calling?”

  Cody released his grip and spun Tori around to face him, his angry eyes flashing.

  As Tori rubbed her throat, she said, “Cody, I didn’t hear you–”

  “No, apparently you didn’t. What the hell is going on here? You’re not going to call Jill! – or anyone else!”

  He grabbed Tori by the hair and pulled her into the living room, where he shoved her body down onto the sofa, and growled menacingly, “Don’t you dare move. You’re going to take your pills and calm down, or I’ll be forced to–”

  He didn’t finish his sentence, but Tori knew he was deadly serious. He reached into his pocket and then thrust out his hand, which contained two pills unlike any Tori had seen before.

  She knew she had to play it cool or she’d never escape this evil, manipulative man. Stalling for time, she said meekly, “I’m sorry. I’ll take my pills. I am in a bad mental state.”

  Cody’s bristles seemed to lower as he watched her put the pills into her mouth and his tone became much softer. “That’s a good girl.”

  As Cody disappeared into the kitchen, Tori quickly rolled the pills off her tongue and stuffed them between the sofa cushions. She heard him take a glass from the cupboard, and then she heard a clang of glass against glass. She listened closely and she heard a loud thud, which told her he was throwing the phone into the trashcan.

  A short time later, Cody reappeared, carrying a glass of orange juice.

  “Thanks,” Tori said, and she was just tipping the glass when Emma burst through the door and came running into the living room.

  Emma had a look of horror in her eyes as she asked, “Is she okay? I’m sorry I had to call you, Cody, but I was afraid she’d–”

  The look on Cody’s face froze Emma in her tracks. She instantly pivoted on her heels and said, “Okay, good. It looks like everything’s fine here, so I’ll just go back downstairs. Call me if you need me.”

  Cody watched Emma go, then turned to glare at Tori, his eyes wild, his hands trembling.

  Tori turned up the glass and finished the orange juice.

  “Good girl,” he said, his tone more gentle and warm. “I’ll sit here until you feel better.” He sat beside her on the sofa and draped his left arm across her shoulders.

  Tori closed her eyes, silently praying that she would find a way out of this dangerous situation. A few minutes later, she opened her eyes briefly and her gaze fell upon a clock above the TV that showed the time and date. To her horror, it was September 15th. She couldn’t believe her eyes. She’d been in Atlanta for three months, but she couldn’t clearly recall three full days. Somehow, she had to escape from this prison, but she had no idea how.

  Anna’s Note

  September15, 1976

  I feel weak this morning. It’s been three months since any of us have heard a word from Tori, and that phone call made no sense. I only hope that God will let me live long enough to see Tori again. I’ve been praying for a sign or vision, and yesterday I got one.

  I was standing by the kitchen sink when all of a sudden I caught a flash of a white envelope – and on the envelope were the initials CB. It was then that I realized the answer was in the mail. Since it was four o’clock in the afternoon, I picked up my cane and headed down the lane to the mailbox – but when I opened it, the box was empty.

  For the first time in my life, I’m confused by one of my visions – yet it was so clear. What could it mean?

  Anna West-Morgan

  Chapter Fourteen

  Cody refused to let Tori out of his sight. When she had to use the bathroom, he’d stand outside the door and wait for her to come out. Then he’d take her arm, lead her back into the living room, and order her to sit on the sofa beside him.

  Tori sat like an obedient child, wondering what he was going to do. Then he stood, looked her in the eyes, and commanded, “Sit tight. I’ll be right back.”

  Tori’s heart leaped with joy. She thought he was headed outside to get something. And she was going to run out the back door.

  Cody didn’t open the kitchen door. Soon, he walked back into the living room carrying a bottle of Jack Daniel’s and a bottle of Dark Eyes. He poured a shot of vodka for Tori and a shot of Jack for himself. With a cheery voice, he said, “Bottoms up!”

 
Tori shot it down as she chuckled to herself. A little water won’t hurt me.

  Cody shot his down. He continued to pour shots for both of them and Tori figured it wouldn’t be long before he’d pass out, and then she’d make a run for it.

  As they sat staring at the TV, pretending to watch a ballgame, Tori nearly jumped off the sofa when she heard a loud pounding on the door.

  Irritated, Cody jumped up and stomped across the floor, yelling, “Damn it, Emma, not now!” Tori heard him unlock the door and she figured he was going to tell Emma to kiss off.

  Then Tori had an idea.

  She eased her body from the sofa, quietly started across the floor, hoping she could give Emma eye signals and Emma would come to her rescue. As quickly as her hopes rose, they sank and she reminded herself that Emma was Cody’s marionette. He pulled the strings – Emma danced.

  Then Tori heard a familiar voice from outside demanding, “Where is Tori? I know she’s in there.”

  “Jill,” Tori screamed, running toward the front door.

  Seeing Tori, Jill immediately darted past Cody and folded Tori into a bear hug.

  Both of them were crying and talking at once – until Cody forcefully pulled them apart like a referee separating two boxers. “Well, well. You must be the famous Jill I’ve heard so much about. What are you doing here? Are you lost?”

  Jill opened her mouth to reply, but Tori quickly intervened, “Yeah, Jill, you should have called first.” She gave Jill a secret look they had shared hundreds of times in the past, letting Jill know that she should go along with whatever Tori was about to say. Tori only hoped that her three months of absence hadn’t dulled her and Jill’s ability to communicate without words.

  Jill nodded, looking embarrassed. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have dropped in without calling first. I guess I wasn’t thinking. It’s just been so long–”