“Hello,” I answer with forced happiness.
“Ah, my favorite niece. Tell me, did you sleep last night?” She inquires.
“Yeah a little. I feel good today,” I lie. I don’t want her to worry anymore.
“Ok, well I’m at our restaurant and I put in our names so walk down and meet me. Are you ready?”
“Yes I’ll be right there,” I tell her.
The little diner is only walking distance from my apartment, so I put on my sandals and I head downstairs. I chose the stairs because it the only exercise I get, but halfway down I start to get really light headed. I had to sit down and take a minute before continuing. Must be lack of sleep really getting to my body. I know I’m not healthy.
I made it outside and started walking to the diner. All of a sudden I saw a light flash right in front of my eyes. It was bright as hell outside, where did the flash of light come from? Then I see it again, even brighter. It is moving and floating in midair. It’s bright and shaped like an oval. I look around and no one else seems to notice it. It’s meant for me to see. I feel that it’s calling me toward it. I watch it float into the small park on my right. I start to follow it, determined to see what it is. I entered the park through the side entrance and the light leads me to a tree. The light sat right on the tree and then it faded away. I’m either seeing things at this point or I’m supposed to see something on this tree. So I start to look closer and all around it, when there it is, as plain as day. The words LC Loves AS Forever carved into the tree. What the heck is that to mean to me. My initials are AS, for Avery Snow. But who is LC? There could be tons of people with my initials. But what was that light that I saw? And who made it appear? I walked away dizzy and confused. This was just one of the many weird things that have been happening to me the past three months.
By the time I reached the diner my aunt is really upset at my tardiness. I had to apologize like a hundred times before that look of pissed off left her face.
“You look horrible Avery. When are you going to get some help for yourself and take care of this problem?” She asked me.
“Thanks Aunt Paulina,” I said sarcastically. “I don’t think I look bad. Never the less, last night I decided I will call this therapist that I found online. He is only down the street from work so I can go before my shift starts. I’m going to call today. So let’s just enjoy breakfast and talk about other things.”
She started to get tears in her eyes. “Your mom would be so mad at me if she saw you right now. I didn’t take care of you like I promised I would. I told her it would be okay and that you would be strong and I would look out for you all my life. I can’t help but feel that I’m losing you too.”
My mother died when I was twelve of an aneurism. We were baking in the kitchen when she suddenly fell to the ground. And just like that I lost my mother. So how did my aunt tell her she would take care of me if my mom didn’t know she was going to die? It’s not like she fell ill and knew this was going to happen.
“What do you mean you told her you would take care of me?” I asked. Her eyes avoided my stare. She suddenly looked shocked at what she had just said. Then she started to fumble her words, as if trying to take it back.
“Well we never had that talk when she was alive, it was after she passed. I had a dream and she came to me. She told me to take care of you and I promised her I would. She said that you would need me to take care of you after you saw Landon. That it would shock you and you wouldn’t understand. She said your dreams would become real. And they would prevent you from sleeping. So that’s really why I’m so concerned with you.” After she said this the waiter came to take our order. I just pointed to my order, scrambled eggs and toast special on the menu. All without removing my gaze at my aunt. I was in a state of shock.
“You think this is all related to this, because of some dream you had? I never met anyone named Landon, Aunt Paul. So don’t get all upset. It was just a dream.” I was trying to convince myself that what she just said wasn’t at all strange. I never thought my aunt was like my mom was, meaning that she believed in the supernatural, ghosts or afterlife. I suppose since I was raised with it for twelve years so it was only natural to find that Aunt Paul believed too. Although when I lived with her she never spoke of such things. She always said my mom was very spiritual and open to all things possible.
She laughed a little and sighed, “You’re right Avery it sounds crazy. But I just think how weird it is that you can’t sleep a wink for three months straight. You look like crap and you need me. You may not think you do, but you need someone to help you. I’m not just saying a therapist. You need someone to help you sort this all out. You lost your mom at a young age. You never had a father figure in your life. I think it’s all catching up with you. Furthermore, I really think your mom would want me to be here for you. I just want to help you. So I’m going to stay at Barb’s house, for a little while, until you get better.”
I nodded my head in approval and I took a sip of my coffee, my liquid awake. I was so confused at what just happened that I just went along with it. Now I have two men’s names to think of, Landon and Cooper. Who the heck are these guys? Why am I worrying about it? It’s just the dream of a dead woman and the words of a dying woman and now I’ve got my panties in a bunch over it. I decided I would go home and try to get some sleep. I’m so over thinking things. And that light must have been a glare from some kids messing around or something. There’s no other possible explanation for it. Is there?
After we ate Aunt Paul walked me to my apartment. It was a nice, cool day and you could feel a nice breeze blowing from the bay.
“I love it here. You get the best of both worlds, the nice city and the forest only miles away. Listen kid, I’m going to go to Barbara’s now to unpack. So if you need me, call me. I want you to call that therapist you found,” she told me as she adjusted her purse.
“I will, and you tell Barb hi for me,” I said as I looked at her newly dyed hair. It used to be a natural golden blonde, but with this new dye job it was now red. I didn’t dare say anything about it. She was too sensitive about her looks.
“Hey Avery, you haven’t met any guys lately have you?” She asked with a sly smile.
“No, and none named Landon,” I answered with a laugh.
She hugged me and kissed the top of my head. She was always so loving and kind to me. Truth be told, I missed her a lot. She was more of a mother than my own mom was. My mom was too into her art and poetry to be loving all the time. She was a great mom, but more like a girlfriend. Aunt Paul was different, nurturing and kind.
After I said my goodbye I went upstairs and jumped into bed. It was noon by this time. It felt so nice to lie down. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
I asked aloud, “Landon and Cooper who are you?”
I woke up at 2:00 p.m. Ah yes, I got two hours of sleep. I actually felt pretty good, except for that feeling that I have been waking with. Like I left someone or something behind. As I got up I realized I was drenched in sweat from head to toe. This wasn’t uncommon lately. Every time I wake, even after my not so unusual two to three hours of sleep, I wake up soaking wet. I felt my face. I had tears streaming down it. My eyes were red and blurry. I guess I was crying in my dream. Come to think of it, I remember a little something about that dream. I was following a bright light, much like the one from this morning, except I was in an old Victorian style home. And this light was in a long hallway. It led me to a door, a beautiful oak door. That’s all I remember. Why was I crying? I felt a little silly.
After I got myself together and showered again I called the shrinky dinks office. I set an appointment for this coming Wednesday at 7:00 a.m. The receptionist asked me if this would be too early. I laughed and told her I get up with the sun. It was no lie. I see pretty much every sunset and sunrise.
Monday morning I watched the early morning news with my cup of liquid awake. Today was going to be long because after my little catnap I didn’t sleep anymor
e. I’ve been awake since 2:00 yesterday afternoon and never went back to sleep. I left the house in my work uniform, a black polo shirt and a pair of tan pants. Driving was a little more difficult now since I haven’t been sleeping. It was hard to keep my eyes on the road and focus. I turned the corner, and was on the street where work was, when I saw a man standing on the side of the road with a broken down car. I felt bad for him. He suddenly started to wave me down. I decided to pull over, which is so unlike me. I didn’t even get scared that he might be a mass murderer who could abduct me, or worse. When I got out of my car I walked over to him. He was very good looking. His hair was longer and slightly wavy. It had shades of brown and blonde throughout it. And his eyes were gorgeous bright blue and green. He was wearing dark blue jeans and a white shirt with a brown leather coat that I noticed had some grease on it. What a shame. His hands were covered in grease as well.
“You need help I assume?” I asked with a slight nervous tone.
“What was your first clue?” He asked me laughing. He had a great smile and his eyes sparkled in the sunlight. “I actually just need a cell phone, my battery is dead. And this piece of junk car just won’t cooperate with me this morning.”
I did notice that his car was old and had many dents in it. I have not ever seen a car like this on the road. It looked like an old station wagon. Not what I expected a guy like this to be driving. I handed him my phone and for a second my hand touched his. When this happened I saw a field with blue flowers and him standing in the field in a old fashioned suit. His hair was shorter and I was holding his hand, standing next to him. I was wearing a white cotton dress with lace on it. Much like a wedding dress. As soon as his hand took the phone the vision was gone.
“Wow,” I said aloud. And my face got hot and bright red.
“Excuse me?” He asked quietly. “Wow what?”
“Um, wow you need a car charger. I mean how can you not have one. Especially now a days.” I hoped this covered for my sudden outburst. I knew an old car like that didn’t have a place to put a car charger. I must be losing it fast, between the light and last week thinking I saw my mother standing in my bathroom. I need that therapist right away. I needed sleep. I walked to the passenger side of my car to give him his privacy. After he called whoever he called he handed back my phone and I noticed the time.
“Oh crap I’m going to be late for work,” I said “Good luck with your car.”
“Thank you for your kindness Avery,” he said his eyes twinkling at me.
Wait, how did this guy know my name? There was no introduction of names. I gave him a puzzled look and he smiled again, which sent chills down my spine. He was so gorgeous that it actually made me shiver.
“It was on the front of your phone,” he said, pointing to my name in bejeweled shiny stickers that Kerri had attached to my phone, in an attempt to style it. I laughed.
“Yeah real pretty huh? My friend did it. Well, see ya,” I said maybe a bit too loud.
He smiled and waved. As I got into my car I looked back at this gorgeous man and I hoped I would see him around again. But what would a guy like that see in me? I was calling Kerri to tell her I would be late and a piece of small paper fell out of my flip phone as I opened it. It had a phone number and a name on it. The name was Landon.
When I got to work Kerri was standing in her office looking over some paper work. She smiled when she saw me.
“Hey, sorry I’m late. I tried calling but your line just went to voicemail,” I explained. “I met a guy, I mean I helped a guy. He needed to use my phone. His car was broke down.” I could feel my cheeks burning from embarrassment.
“Don’t worry its cool. So, was he cute?” She teased.
“Yeah kind of but I was doing my duty of helping out someone in need.” I didn’t want to tell her how cute he was and how he gave me his number. Or, more importantly, how his name was Landon. The same name my dead mother told my aunt in her dream. A dream she had fourteen years ago.
The fact that he was interested in me was baffling. A plain girl like me. Even though he was driving the biggest dump for a car. I know guys like that don’t date girls like me. They date Kerri. As much as I didn’t believe all this after-life stuff, like my mom visiting my aunt. It seemed a little too coincidental to me. My mom, like I said, was very into ghosts and the afterlife. A little too much. She would tell me she saw ghosts and she tried to help them. It really used to scare me. She was very eclectic and out there. A real hippie. She read tarot cards and would try to make money off it, but it didn’t do too much to help support us. Her main job was teaching art at the local college. She was really good at painting. Her paintings were very elegant and that was her real talent.
“Well Avery we have a new resident, John Grey. He moved into Mrs. O’Shea’s old apartment. So I need you to go introduce yourself and see if he needs anything,” she told me.
At times I liked having her as a boss and other times I felt like it strained our friendship. She could be playful one minute and really strict the next. The other people that work here always say she favors me. Even though it can be true I don’t like it because I work hard. I have earned what I have. They don’t like that I get to pick my shifts and that Kerri and I always work together. They’re just jealous, especially Rachel. She has been here a little over a year and she really hates me. I mean she gives me the evil eye every time she sees me.
As I walked over to meet John Grey I ran into Rachel. I always act overly nice to her, just to bug her. It’s not my fault Kerri doesn’t care for her. She says that Rachel is lazy and can be rude to some of the residents. Really, to be honest, I don’t know why Rachel is still here.
“Hi Rachel, you look so pretty today. Did you do something to your hair?” I asked her. She just looked at me with that evil eye and walked away.
I laughed as I walked to the apartment and knocked on the door. The same door that, up until recently, used to be Lucy’s door. I started to think of the last night I saw her and how bizarre it was. How she told me all those crazy things. I couldn’t believe she had been gone for three months. I got a chill when I thought of it. I will never understand it I guess.
“Hello young lady,” he said as he opened the door. He was a tall man with grey hair and piercing blue eyes. He looked tired or maybe sad.
“I’m Avery Snow. I will be your residential aide and caregiver should you need any help with anything,” I announced in my very professional voice.
“What kind of things will I need you to do?” He asked curiously.
“Well, I can help you cook should you not want to eat at the community kitchen. I can keep you company, many of the residents like me to read to them or just talk. I can also help you with your medicines. You name it, I can usually do it,” I answered. “Just call my cell. My number is on speed dial on your phone. Number five,” I said pointing to it.
“That sounds good, but I think I will be eating at the kitchen a lot. I don’t like to cook. My wife did all the cooking. And I’m not much of a talker. I don’t like to read. I like movies though.”
“Well we have a movie room as well as a library of most of the titles you might like. And in the community center we have movie night every Tuesday. Tomorrow we are showing Pearl Harbor. Have you seen it?” I asked.
“No, can’t say that I have. Is it good? Sounds like a war movie and I like war movies,” he said.
“It’s good, it has war, love and drama all in one,” I told him. “One of my favorites. We encourage all the residents to attend, all that can at least. “
He nodded. I could tell he was still in shock that he was here. A lot of the residents go through this shy stage at first. Some also get angry. Once they see all that Sunrise Estates has to offer I think they settle in nicely because we try to make it like their home. Well, a second home.
I left Mr. Grey’s apartment and headed to the office so I could get my list of rounds for the day. All of the people that needed my help doing something or just needed so
meone to talk to.
On the way across the courtyard I started thinking about this Landon guy and the horrible coincidence of my mothers dream and this guy that I just met. How she was sort of right in her dream, telling my aunt that I wouldn’t understand. I don’t understand why he gave me his number. I don’t understand a lot of things, like for instance why I don’t sleep anymore. I couldn’t wait until my appointment Wednesday with my new doctor. I hoped that he could help me sort things out. I was grasping at any hope possible. Maybe I was starting to become delusional. Seeing things was the first sign of that.
And that’s when it hit me. The light I saw took me to a tree and on that tree were the initials LC and AS. Landon was this guys name and Cooper was the name that Lucy said, so that equaled LC, and I’m AS. It didn’t make too much sense, just another coincidence. I took the little piece of paper that Landon gave me with his number on it. I walked into the staff room where I was alone. So I pulled out my cell phone and I nervously dialed the number. It went to voicemail. Oh yeah, he said his phone battery was dead. The automated voice said, “You have reached the phone for Landon Cooper please leave a message at the tone.”
“Oh my God, Landon Cooper,” I said out loud, almost dropping my phone, and then I heard the beep.
The Many Lives of Avery Snow Page 2