by Lee Miller
This time the two men’s voices faded into the background and Sara could hear her best friend’s voice loud and clear, though it still held the sound of coming from inside a tomb. “Sara. I’m so cold. Save me.” “Beth! Where are you? Beth!” then the voices returned to just chanting her name over and over again. Sara looked back upstairs and heard no noises coming from it. She threw the phone on the coach and bolted up the stairs and banged on the bathroom door. No sounds came from inside. She tried the knob. It was locked. Sara could feel the icy fingers of fear and panic tickling at the base of her brain. Her entire spine felt like one giant icicle. She tried the door again and banged on it with her other hand. “Beth! Open up!” again, no sounds came from inside. She took a step back and lunged at the door with her shoulder. She heard it crack. She stepped back and hit it again. This time she wasn’t sure if the cracking came from her shoulder or the door. She stepped back for one more ramming attempt, but just before she shot at the door, it flew open and there was Beth standing with a towel wrapped around her body, and one holding her long hair up. The look on her face was of pure fear and shock. “What in the hell are you doing crack head?” she demanded. Sara threw herself at Beth wrapping her arms around her and pulling her in tightly. She didn’t care that the woman was mostly naked. “Oh, okay, well, this is a little weird. You almost break the bathroom door down just to give me a hug. I honestly had no idea you felt this way.” Beth said trying to make light of the situation as she hugged her friend back. “Beth. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me, I just had this strange feeling I was about to lose you. I’ve lost enough already.” Sara said breathlessly. She didn’t bother to tell her about the strange phone call. Then she realized the phone call must still be active and the phone was laying on the couch. She left Beth standing there bewildered and ran back down to the living room to where she had left the phone. The screen was black. She hit the home button and the screen came to life. It showed her the time and date. She went into the phone to check her call log as Beth was coming down the stairs in her towels. The last call the phone showed she had received was at 10 in the morning, she had called her editor with her latest story. “This doesn’t make sense.” she muttered breathlessly to herself. “This makes zero sense. Where are the other four phone calls?” She turned and looked at Beth who was standing there with a look of concern on her face. “You okay Sara? You didn’t get into the wine without me did you?” she asked half accusingly. “What? No. No. of course not. Just.” How could she explain the last calls she received to her. She couldn’t. She decided to play it off. “I just thought I heard my phone ringing is all. Okay. Pizzas will be done in a few minutes. What movie are we putting in first?” She asked, looking at Beth and hoping the girl wouldn’t see the façade she was trying to put up. “Hmm…I’m thinking ‘Deadpool’. Supposed to be insanely funny and you know how much I love Ryan Reynolds.” Beth answered, heading back upstairs to put some clothes on. “Deadpool it is. Maybe make it a Ryan Reynolds night. We have several of his movies. So, ‘Buried’ next?” she asked at the retreating Beth. “Yup! Sounds good!” Sara went into the kitchen to check on the pizzas and try to regain her self-control before Beth came back down.
“I’ll pour myself a glass of wine, that’ll help calm the nerves.” She said reaching in the fridge for the Mascato. She was half finished with the glass when Beth came padding into the kitchen in her Bigbird PJs and Bert and Ernie slippers. “Ha! I knew it you lush. You started without me!” Beth exclaimed. Sara felt a bit guilty and poured her a glass and topped hers off. The timer buzzed letting her know the pizzas were done. They sat down in the living room to settle in for the night. Sara prayed the phone wouldn’t ring again and that the night would flow by smoothly. The weather outside raged on.
The next morning Sara woke up to a single band of sunlight penetrating the massive cloud bank and splashing golden light into her room. She felt the bed shift next to her and turned to see Beth had joined her at some point in the night, she couldn’t help but laugh at the woman’s choice in bed clothes. She reached over and nudged Beth “Wake up sleepyhead. The sun’s out.” Beth stirred and eventually sat up. “Are you yourself now?” she asked cryptically. “Um. Yes? Who else would I be dork?” Sara was stymied by Beth’s question. “Well, last night sometime after 1AM you came to my room and you were shaking like a leaf. You were babbling something about being cold and graves and asked me to help you.” Sara froze half in and half out of the bed and turned to her friend. “What did you just say?” she asked, though she heard full well what Beth had said. “Yes. It was weird. You kind of creep me out to be honest. So I came and slept in here with you to try and calm you down. Your bed is a lot more comfy than mine. Can I sleep in here every night?” Beth’s wide-eyed request amusing Sara. “Of course Beth. Sorry your bed is so uncomfortable. You should have said something sooner.” Sara got fully out of the bed and stood at the window looking out at the fading ray of sun. “Did I say anything else last night?” she asked. “No, you just kept talking about a grave and being cold and asked me to save you. Then came in here and you tossed and turned a lot and kept muttering. I was about to smother you with my pillow to be honest.” Beth rubbed her eyes and pulled the sheets off of her. “Coffee. I need coffee.” Beth muttered. Sara thought that was a good idea. They both went down to the kitchen and Sara put a pot on. “Breakfast?” she asked. Beth looked at her like she asked her to figure out the square root of PI. “Trix of course.” Beth announced as if the question was silly. “Don’t want some eggs and toast or waffles?” Sara didn’t think eating Trix for breakfast every morning was all that healthy. “Nope. Just Trix. And milk.” Beth said as she reached the cabinet. “Got to have milk or it taste like sugar coated cardboard. Can’t have that.” Sara reached for a bowl of her own. “Trix it is then. And milk.” She chuckled.
After breakfast they both got dressed and were getting ready to start the day. Sara had an appointment with Dr. Morgan in the afternoon and after months of telling him nothing had happen, that wouldn’t be the report she gave him today. Before going to bed last night she had wrote down the phone call thing and this morning she would pick Beth’s brain on the events of last night that she simply couldn’t remember doing. Sara took a look outside, the storm had settled into a on again off again light snow fall. They would take a cab today; she didn’t relish driving all the way across town in this weather.
At around 10 Sara asked Beth if she was ready to go, they needed to get ready and be out the door in 10 minutes to give themselves plenty of time to make the trip and with the road conditions, the traveling would be slow going. Beth gave her a quizzical look “Where are we going?” she asked. “Where do we always go on Tuesday afternoons Beth” she said. “Oh ya. Of course I’m ready. Just need to throw some clothes on. I’m sure I wouldn’t be very well received in Big Bird PJs and Bert and Ernie slippers.” Beth went to head upstairs to change. “I dunno Beth, you’re really rocking that outfit.” Sara interjected. “Really? You think I could pull of ‘Sesame Street Sexy’?” she asked. “Of course, if anyone could, you’d be the one. Now go get dressed. I don’t want to have to fight off all the men who would be begging for your attention.” Sara went to get her boots on, maybe not the best thing to wear in this weather, with ice everywhere, but they looked great with these jeans. 15 minutes later the two women were heading out the door and looking for a cab. After a few minutes, one finally pulled to the curb and they got in the backseat. Sara gave the driver the address. When he turned around and gave her a weird look. “Something wrong?” she asked. “You trying to be funny lady?” the cabbie asked. He was surly and probably pretty short tempered about having to drive in this weather. “Umm…no? I could tell you a joke if you want me to try and be funny.” She said. She wasn’t going to let him take out his bad day on her. She recited the address again and told him they were in a bit of a hurry. “You can be in a hurry all you want, but if you don’t give me a real address we aren’t going anywhere and
you can just be late for all I care lady.” Sara was taken aback by the rude behavior. “Look asshole, get to driving or we’ll find another cab. I know the address; I go there once a week. It’s the offices of Dr. Chase Morgan.” The driver turned fully around, Sara was a little concerned she may have pushed him to far, she didn’t like the idea of having to fight this guy off if he got physical. “Lady. Are you on drugs or something? I’ve lived in this town my entire life. I’ve been driving a cab for almost 20 years. That address doesn’t exist! No get out of my cab if you can’t give me a real address to go to, and take your stank, stupid ass back to the map and learn your city better.” Sara had enough. Nobody talked to her liked that and she sure as hell wasn’t going to let this idiot cabby be the first. “Look you little puissant.” She started then felt Beth’s hand on her arm. “Come on Sara let’s go.” Beth said quietly. Sara caught a strange look on Beth’s face as she turned to the door and went to exit out of the cab. “You heard your friend stupid, get out.” Sara looked dumbly at Beth and shot fire from her eyes at the cabbie. “Fine you ignorant jackass. I’ll call your boss and you’ll be looking for a new job before the day is out. Enjoy your unemployment asshole.” Sara exited the cab and slammed the door. The cab sped off and Beth joined her on the sidewalk. “What was that Sara?” Beth asked. “What do you mean? The idiot driver doesn’t know the city as well as he thinks he does if he doesn’t know where the city’s main hospital complex is.” Sara said watching the cab roar off into the distance. Beth didn’t immediately respond, but Sara could feel her eyes still on her. She finally looked down at her friend who stood just a couple inches shorter than her. The look on her face was a mixture of confusion, sympathy and concern. “What Beth?” Sara asked slightly exasperated. “Sara. There is no NW 128th and Calumet. There never has been. Plus, the nearest hospital is across the bridge, on the other side of town from where you indicated. Are you okay?” Sara was floored. They had both been going to see Dr. Morgan every week for the last several months. How could Beth say they address didn’t exist? She had been there. She had even begun flirting a little with the doctor. How could she forget any of that? “Plus, Dr. Who?” Beth asked, still confused. “No, not Doctor Who, Doctor Chase Morgan, he’s my psychiatrist Beth. You’ve gone with me to every appointment! How can you not remember that? We’ve gone every Tuesday for the last several months!” Sara was getting borderline pissed off at Beth and she didn’t like that feeling. How could the girl be this willfully dense? “Seriously Beth? You seriously don’t remember the Doctor? Or going to any of the appointments? Or this notebook he has me filling out every time something weird happens?” Sara reached into her bag to retrieve the notebook that was no longer there. “Crap. Must have left it in the house.” She muttered. Beth just simply looked at her, concern overriding every other emotion her face had been wearing. “Sara. We have never done that. Most Tuesdays we go to the park and feed the birds and watch the kids playing. We’ve never stepped foot in a head shrinker’s office. Though I’m beginning to think I’m not opposed to the idea. Maybe you do need more help than what I can provide.” Beth looked at the ground as she took the tip of her boot and started nudging at the concrete curb. Sara was left speechless. Her best friend honestly had no memory of every Tuesday for the last several months. “What in the hell is going on around her?” she quietly demanded to know. “Okay, for arguments sake Beth, where does the city end in that direction?” she asked with only a hint of the indignation she felt. Beth stopped moving her foot around and looked up at Sara. Her eyes seemingly piercing straight through to Sara’s soul. “Sara. The city has always ended at 110th street. Past that is nothing.” Sara thought about that for a moment as Beth went back to tracing imaginary patterns into the concrete with her foot. “That’s 18 blocks of the city gone?” she was shocked at the revelation. Since last Tuesday, more than 18 city blocks have either disappeared or she really is losing her mind and fabricated the entire last several months of doctor’s visits. “So, you mean to tell me Beth that somehow since last week over 20 some blocks of the city have just, disappeared?!” she asked, her incredulousness reaching new heights. Beth just simply looked at her with pity and concern. She had no words to offer to assuage the anguish her friend was feeling, “Seriously?” Sara said exasperated. “So what do we do now?” Sara wondered aloud. “We can go to the park and play.” Beth offered then even added at the very edge of hearing, “Before it all fades away.” Sara looked at her friend like she was the crazy one. “What did you just say Beth?” she asked. Beth looked as if she was just brought out of a day dream. “Huh? Oh. I said we could go to the park.” She said. “No, right after that.” Sara pushed. Beth gave her a look she didn’t recognize right off. “Nothing.” She replied. Giving up, Sara said as she exhaled “Go to the park huh? Okay. To the park we go.” Beth actually jumped for joy. “Yay! Can we feed the ducks again?” She asked, much like a kid who was just given the best present ever. “Of course, but we’ll need to get bread from the apartment. She looked at Beth, her trepidation and concern fading away, she figured if she was going to have a major episode, she may as well do something fun with it. She would just call Dr. Morgan’s office and reschedule an appointment for after that part of the city returned. “No. We’ll give them Gatorade. Because they crave electrolytes.” Beth said in a very serious, flat tone. Sara even heard herself chuckle at her friend’s reference to the movie ‘Idiocracy”. “That they do, but let’s stick with bread for today.” They returned to the apartment and retrieved an older loaf of bread then returned downstairs. Sara was surprised to see a light fog had settled in. They made their way to the local branch of the city park and found it was mostly empty. There were a few kids playing but the parks duck population was in full force. Sara didn’t know how long they had sat there talking ideally and feeding the waterfowls, but by the time they finished feeding their new feathery friends the day was growing dark and the light fog brought a wet chill with it. Neither Sara nor Beth was exactly dressed for long-term exposure to cold, wet inclement weather. By the time they got up to head back home, Sara’s muscles were stiff and sore. She half hobbled the first few steps with Beth behind her laughing at how she looked like an old woman.
They made their way into the lobby of the apartment building just as darkness descended earlier than normal. Sara stopped and looked back outside, “That must be some insanely thick cloud cover to dark the day like that.” She muttered to herself. She was also surprised to see Charles wasn’t at the door like normal. Instead, there was some younger kid standing there. “Where’s Charles at?” she asked the young man. “Charles Who?” the boy looked totally puzzled at her question. “Charles. The older man who has stationed at this door since long before I moved in here.” She said. “Sorry miss, I don’t know an old man named Charles. Nobody like that has ever worked here.” Sara was bowled over. Charles had been here forever. How could this kid not know who he was? Did they fire Charles? It finally dawned on Sara. Charles lived past 110th street. If that part of the city was ‘gone’, then the people in that part of the city were ‘gone’ too. She would grieve for Charles, but she didn’t see the point, since this was all a figment of her cracked up mind. She was getting a bit worried at how much time this episode was taking to play out. Normally it was over in a few minutes. She turned and walked over to the elevator bank and took the long ride up, leaving the young man alone in the lobby. She caste a sideways glance over at Beth. She was unusually quiet. “What is it Beth?” she asked. She fidgeted for a moment and seemed to collect her thoughts as if what she was about to say had to be done delicately. “You imagined an address that didn’t exist and a doctor who didn’t exist, now you’re creating doorman in your own building who doesn’t exist. I’m really getting worried about you Sara. This isn’t like you. You’ve always been so well grounded and definitely not prone to flights of fancy. I feel utter lost on how to help you.” Beth finally looked over at her and Sara saw sadness in her eyes. “Maybe we should invite Jackie
over for dinner tonight or tomorrow night, whatever best suits her schedule.” Beth offered. Sara didn’t know what to say. She felt all of those missing things were real to her, or at least real at one point. Now she was even beginning to question things herself. “Which reality is real? She wondered. “The Tuesday afternoons spent feeding ducks, or the Tuesday afternoons talking to a Doctor that may not actually exist?” She was starting to really worry about her own sanity. Did she dream up an entire part of a city that never actually existed? That would be one vivid imagination she confessed to herself. “We’ll give her a call when we get in the apartment.” Sara said, smiling at her friend. It had been a bit since Jackie had been over and Sara did look forward to seeing her. She missed the older lady poking around the house and just her over all presence.