The World Under My Pillow

Chapter 1: The Nightmare “For the countless times since my parents left me. They stayed in my dreams, sometimes I’ve got to see them smiling and laughing and that really relives me a lot but there are these times that they would appear in my dreams with a gloomy face and heavy hearts. And that saddens me a lot and that make me long for them even more. It’s suffice for me to see them in my dreams for like seconds I just feel that they are still there, existing only on the other side.” “Do your episodes are triggered by these dreams of you parents?” Doctor Barton asked me. “Honestly Doctor I’m not that sure, but every time that I dream about them it is just a short period of time... so I’m not that sure” I responded. “I’m going to prescribe some medicine for you temporarily until we figure out what really triggers your unexpected habits. Come and see me for at least 2-3 days if you experienced again what you have just told me earlier.” He added. And after that I grabbed by shoulder bag and left the clinic. I’ve been experiencing a lot lately, the pressure at work, handling my profession, my marriage, and this… this unknown habits that freaks me out every time that I wake up. Sometimes I wake up reeking with an alcohol smell even though I never really drank the night before, I thought it was just my body or a morning odour that can happen sometimes? But it’s getting weirder; often my husband will caught me having a cigarette bud on my hand in the early morning. We found it so weird because no one between us is really smoking, so where did I even get it? There are only mornings that I get an unknown cuts on my head or bruises on my skin. Maybe I am anemic or something like that? But I’m not! I have got tested and submitted myself to laboratory tests if I am really sick but the results are just perfectly fine and I am so healthy. So the last resort that I have done is to consult to a psychiatrist to know if these things were connected to my mental state. And that was the 5th session that I received from Doctor Barton and until know we are both puzzled why is this happening or how is this even happening. So I’m driving my car know to the pharmacy to buy my medications. I stopped the car in front of the pharmacy and I just grab my purse and the prescription and headed in. “Good afternoon Ma’am, how may I help you” the pharmacist greeted me. “I would like to purchase all the medicines written here” and then I handed her over the paper. And then the door at the pharmacy opened. Hence, I heard the familiar footsteps that I knew for years. I turned around and I am right it is Julian, my husband but soon to be my ex-husband. He was shocked when our eyes met then he greeted me “Oh, Hi Oli I didn’t thought that I would meet you here.” So out of respect I just replied “Uhm. Yes, I’m just buying some stuff you know… vitamins.” I smiled gently. “Excuse me Ma’am” the pharmacist called me and gave me a plastic full of medicines. I hurriedly grab them and push them inside my purse but unexpectedly it spilled all over the floor. I grab each of them and Julian helped me but I told him “No, thank you! I got this thanks” He gave me the rest of the medicines that he picked up and worriedly asked me “Are you still not fine? I thought you already finished the session with Dr. Barton a few months ago?” I insisted “Yes! I am FINE all of these are nothing serious just don’t mind me and just sign the divorce paper. Because I need them before this month ends. Thanks!” After giving him those words I just quickly left and drove my car. It started raining and so was my eyes started pouring these tears. I just felt bad about being rude to Julian but I think that’s the best way to make him stop clinging to me. This was the marriage that I was talking about earlier. I wasn’t really fixing it but instead I am breaking it for the sake of the both of us. However, Julian refuses to sign the divorce papers. I want to let him go because I don't think that I am still capable enough to be his wife if I am in this kind of state. I can say that Julian fought for our marriage so hard because he loves me that much. I just don't want to be under the same roof with him until I can recover with this strange phenomenon happening to me. But I guess there is no cure so I decided to get a divorce. The rain is pouring so hard, my wind shield is almost covered, I can't even see the road clearly so I decided to stop by a café and have some coffee before going home. I sat down at the corner near the bathroom and ordered a very hot coffee, I let myself enjoyed the cold afternoon because later when I sleep I don't know what is going to happen. I saw some kids enter the cafe with their parents and it is so fascinating sight to see; my heart ached a little, missing my parents. After I finished my coffee I went to the bathroom but to my surprise when I came back to my seat my purse disappeared so I hurriedly asked the employee if they can help me find my bag "Excuse me, do you happen to notice my purse on that area? because I only left it very quickly and went to the bathroom and now it is gone" they joined me in finding it and they let me look at the CCTV that is focused on my area. I entered their CCTV room and they rewinded the footage from the actual time that I left my seat and until I came back. We are all shocked that we witness the disappearance of my purse and no one really took it. As if it disappeared through the thin air. I was so astonished from what I saw, what is this another weird experience that has happened to me. I am being cursed? or played? I left the café and went inside my car blankly I decided to just go home and take some nap. I parked my car in the garage and went inside my house. I feel so relieved being home after this exhausting day. KRIIIIING KRIIIIING KRIIIIING! my telephone started ringing so I picked it up and answer "Hello, this is Olivia speaking" but no one responded on the other line of the phone. I dropped the call and change my clothes. "I just wanted to escape this very tiring day... I just want to sleep. I don't care what will surprise me after waking up." I lied on my bed and grab my favorite pillow I realized that my bed is so big for me. For a minute, I missed Julian sleeping beside me. But I guess I am better being alone rather than making those people that I adore, suffer because of my bad lucks. After 30 minutes I know I already fell asleep. But after that I can't even take an hour nap and my eyes suddenly opened. My head hurts so bad I wanted to drink some cold water. I get up and went to the bathroom first, half awoke. "This headache are killing me" I washed my face with cold water to wake me up "this is sooo refreshing" I uttered. I wiped my face and looked at the mirror. I screamed AAHHHHHHHHH! "WHAT ON EARTH IS THIS!" Someone opened the door. It was Julian, what? it is Julian!? "What happened?" he worriedly asked. "What are you doing here?" I replied, he answered me with another question "What am I doing here? do you need to ask me that? what happened to you and why are you screaming" I am very curious why is he in my house we separated a month ago but I ignored that, I am just grateful that he is with me today because this is the weirdest thing that ever happened to me after waking up. So I told him what is wrong. "Can't you see it Julian? I have turned into a man.... I think this is the weirdest thing happened to me, what should I do babe?" He just looked at me anxiously and burst out laughing "HAHAHAHAAHAHAHA what? babe? bro are you trippin?" I am so confused of what he said and I cried even more. "Look bro, is it a bad dream? are you still drunk? Of course you are a man! We've been friends for 26 years. You are really a man!" he said while laughing so hard. A man? me? why is he telling me that I am his friend? I am so confused? is this still a dream? Wake me upppp!!!!