CHAPTER THREE
My whole Saturday is spent answering my phone and the text messages that I'm flooded with. Finally, around 3:00 in the afternoon, I've had enough and shut off my phone. I swear that everyone in my school knows what happened. Great! They're all going to think I'm some kind of freak.
“Laura, can you come here please?” My mom's familiar voice puts an instant calm over me. She’s calling from the kitchen.
Dad's leaning against the counter with his arms crossed over his chest. He isn't smiling… he looks sad.
There are two strange people in our kitchen sitting at the table with half-filled cups of coffee in front of them. Including my mom, all three of them are sitting rather stiff and looking at me. Mom's eyes are red and swollen like she's been crying, a lot.
“What's going on?” I think somebody died.
The woman speaks up first. “Hi, my name is Ginger Adams and this is Bradley Rathem. Would you please come and sit with us? We would like to discuss something with you.” Her arm extends to the empty chair that she wishes I'll sit in. What else can I do but oblige her. “Curiosity killed the cat”, as people always say.
Ginger Adams doesn't look like a ginger at all. Her gorgeous hair is long and black as coal, not red like I picture someone who carry's the name Ginger. Her eyes are a deep green and kind. For a middle-age woman she’s still quite pretty.
She speaks in a soft, gentle tone. “We are here because we've been informed that you had a vision last night, which came true shortly after. You must be very confused and scared. I assure you that there is no need to fear your gift. You can learn to control it and be able to use it for good things. You can help people, stop tragedies from happening for instance.”
Is she for real? Ok, so like, I just had this 'vision' last night... how could they have possibly found out about this already? Damn, news travels fast in this town. “Ok, um, I'm not really scared, a little confused, yeah, maybe. Actually, after what you just said, I'm even more confused. Are you here to, like, fix me or something?” Yeah, 'fix me', that sounds stupid, I'm not broken!
The man introduced as Bradley Rathem cuts in with his horribly raspy voice. “No dear, we aren't going to fix you,+++++ but we can help you learn how to use your gift properly. If you were to come to Salvation Center, we have doctors and teachers that are more than willing to guide you through the learning process. There are other teenagers there that also share your position with having an ability that they've also acquired. You could live in the dorm with other girls and boys that are much like yourself.”
Ginger almost cuts him off. “Wouldn't it be great to be around others just like you?” She pauses for a moment. “I'm sure you must know that what happened to you last night will happen again, soon. If you don't learn how to control your gift, it will consume you. Your migraines will continue to worsen. Most of your friends will alienate you. They won't understand about the visions, so they will fear you and avoid you. We see it all the time.”
“My friends would never alienate me.” Would they? No! They wouldn't. “So, this is going to happen again? Why? Is there a pill I can take to make it never happen again? If so, bring it on so I can stay home.”
Bradley says, “Laura, it will indeed happen many more times throughout your life. It will never stop. Different visions of course, not that same one. If you don’t gain control of them, they will consume you. And if there were a pill to stop the visions, I would consider giving it to you.” He smiles at me, but it seems like a forced smile, not a real one.
Up until now my mom has been quiet as a mouse. “I think it's best for you to go to Salvation Center. They can help you get through this... thing. I don't want you to leave home, but I want you to learn how to manage this. Please say you'll go.” Tears are quietly streaming down her face.
“When do I go? Can I at least bring my stuff?” OhmyGod, I can't believe I'm actually considering this. I don’t want this to happen anymore but if I can control it, I can stop it and get back to my life as I know it… right?
“You may bring your things with you. You can have a room to yourself if one's available, but some of our students prefer to share a room. It will be your choice.” Ginger seems so nice, like a mother almost.
I have a thousand questions. Pick one... “How long do I have to stay there? Will I be able to still come home and visit my friends, on like, weekends or something?” Ok, so that's more than one question.
Bradley's husky voice reminds me of an old cowboy who smokes harsh cigarettes. “Of course you will. Most of our students have to stay on campus until they've acquired the ability to control their gift. But you are allowed to leave after you have total control. With your gift, you tend to lose your mental awareness. What would happen if a vision came while you were walking across the street or driving a car? For your safety, we prefer you to stay on campus.”
Ginger says, “You can come with us now, or later tonight. It'd be best if you didn't waste time. Another vision could appear at any moment. The sooner we help you control them, the better. I'm sure you don't want that pain back. We can help with that too. Without us, the pain will worsen each time a vision is about to appear, and the visions will increase in frequency.”
How does she know all this? How does she know about the pain? Maybe she's right. Maybe it will be better for me. I should probably go. It's not like I can't leave and come home if I don't like it there, right?
“Why can’t my mom or dad drive me in later? It’ll give me time to pack, and you won’t have to sit here and wait for me. I mean, what’s the hurry?”
Bradley says, “Well Laura, it’s been our experience that the stress and anxieties of a long good-bye tend to bring on another episode. If the child packs quickly and leaves soon afterward, an attack is less likely.”
Ginger adds, “Laura, if you forget to pack something, your parents can bring it to you another day. If it’s important we’ll send someone back for it.” Her facial expression is so soft and comforting.
I can't believe I'm going to do this, “Ok, yeah, I'll come. Can I bring my cell phone, laptop and all that stuff? I want to stay in contact with my friends.” This is happening so fast; I can’t think. Everything that I want to bring, have to bring, is running through my mind at warp speed. I’m bound to forget something.
Raspy voice, “Absolutely. You may bring whatever you'd like. We do have Wi-Fi, and cell phones are permitted during your off time. During learning sessions they are not.”
Mom and I start walking to my room, perhaps the last time for a long while. With a cracking voice filled with sadness, my mom tries to talk. “I'll help you pack if you'd like. I'll get my suitcases.”
She starts to walk through the doorway leading to her bedroom, but stops and turns around. “I love you. You know that right? This will be good for you... and when you're in control of all this, you'll be back home. Everything’s going to be ok. It's for the best.” Tears are still streaming down her cheeks, even though she’s doing her best impression of a smile.
Who is she trying to convince; me or herself? She's right though; I don't want that pain to come back and not know what to do and worse yet, put my mom through seeing me like that again. When they fix me, I can come home and voila, back to my life, like I didn't skip a beat... right?
Note to self: Study, learn, get better fast!
Dad is helping Mr. Rathem put my bags in the back of their van while Ginger is talking to my mom trying to comfort her with her words. My mom has stops crying. I don't think it's because she wants to, I think she just ran out of tears.
Mr. Rathem and Ms. Adams wait patiently in the van until I kiss and hug my mom. She holds onto me for so long. I know I'm going to miss her and she, me. “I'll email you, Mom, a lot, every single day if I can. I promise. Dad, I love you.”
“Every day, if you can. I love you.” Mom's voice is so soft.
I squeeze my dad and quickly,
before I can change my mind, step up into the van and shut the door.
I hadn't realized it until I buckle my seat belt and we're driving to Salvation Center that my face is drenched with tears.
Colours In Blackness - A New Life Page 3