Chapter 24 CHAPTER 24: Facing the Darkness
Hazel
As I laid on my bed, I was flooded with several emotions at once. The first emotion was a plummeting sensation in my gut because I could not fulfill my promise to William last night. The second emotion was a hollow feeling gnawing at my chest as I realized how much I missed work. Then the dream came crashing in. I didn't know what it meant, but I felt closer to William. I needed to talk to him about work as I felt like my life was getting out of my control. I lived and breathed for Williams, my husband and I would love to take the reins of my life back. I decided there and then to bring up my going back to work with him. As I was still in my thoughts, my alarm went off. I checked the time and realized it was time for the nurse and the physiotherapist to arrive. I hurried to the bathroom, splashed warm water on my face, brushed my teeth and took the stairs two at a time to Williams' room.
As I got to the door, I put my ears to the door and I could hear voices from within as my heart began to beat on my chest. I opened the door silently and stepped in. William's eyes met mine, but he lowered them without acknowledging my presence. He looked tense and his face was devoid of emotions. The nurse was trying to check his temperature while the physiotherapist was on his knees massaging his legs.
I slowly walked in with an awkward smile on my face. When the nurse noticed me, she bowed her head in greeting while the physical therapist smiled up at me.
“Good morning, everyone," I greeted him, then I went close and sat on the cushion beside William’s bed.
“Good morning Mrs. Williams, I hope you slept well? The nurse asked
“I guess I did,” I replied, looking at Williams’ blank expression.
As the nurse rounded up her checks, she scribbled down something on her jotter before smiling at Williams.
“Mr. Williams, so far, everything is good, and you are healing nicely.
“Hmm” he grunted
The nurse said goodbye and left the room.
As the nurse left, the air in the room hung heavy, thick with unspoken tension. I looked over at William, whose expression was a storm cloud, his brow perpetually furrowed, his gaze darting around the room but never landing on me. Every attempt at conversation had been met with a grunt or a monosyllabic reply. He'd snarled at the physiotherapist who was simply trying to massage his legs in order to help manage his pain and ended his session abruptly.
The therapist who understood the situation after I spoke with him left and promised to return the next day when he was in a better mood.
Williams
A hand was trying to jostle me awake. I could feel the press of someone’s hand on my shoulders as I struggled to wake up. I needed to wake up. As I finally jolted awake, I could feel my heart beating in my chest as if it was going to come out of my chest, while the remnants of the nightmare I just had clashed with the peaceful reality of my present. I turned and saw Hazel beside me, her eyes wide with fear. Sweat glued my pajamas to my skin despite the air conditioning buzzing in the room.
“You came”? I said, grateful she was there.
“Yes, I did, I’m sorry about last night. I wanted to come to you but sleep took me immediately my head hit my pillow”, she apologized and I nodded. She placed her hands on my shoulders as I sat upright and hoped that one day I'd be able to escape the tendrils of a dream that clung with persistent claws.
“What is this dream, Williams? She asked, concern laced in her voice.
I hesitated, torn between the urge to bury these memories and the need to unburden my heart. I finally admitted, my voice strained as if the words were being pulled from deep within. The decision to share felt like stepping into an abyss, uncertain and terrifying. The memories of Carla always lay just beneath the surface, a scar that never fully healed.
Her name is… Carla,". I confessed, the name feeling like ash on my tongue. Hazel reached for me, her touch a lifeline in the swirling darkness. Encouraged by her silent strength, I took a deep breath and allowed the memories to surface, transporting me back to that fateful period of my life.