After Midnight, Before Dawn

The girl lay beneath her blankets, her skin flushed and damp despite the cool evening air creeping in through the half-open window. The old lady dipped a cloth into the bowl beside the bed and wrung it out before laying it gently across her forehead. “There,” she murmured. “That should help.” “I’m burning up,” the girl whispered. She shivered. “And freezing at the same time.” “I know, sweetheart.” The old lady brushed her hair back. “You’re gonna be okay.” The girl frowned. “Will you stay with me tonight?” “Of course, sweetheart,” She lifted the tall glass of thick crimson fluid from the bedside table. “Try another sip.” The girl obeyed, her face grimacing. “It tastes… like metal.” “It always does at first.” Outside, the moonlight shone in through the window. “When’s Grandpa coming home?” the girl asked. “After midnight,” the old lady replied. “Before dawn.” “Try to sleep, sweetheart,” the old lady said. “I can’t sleep,” the girl protested. “Hmmn, perhaps a story might help?” “Yes!” the girl breathed. “The one about Abigail and Bastian.” The old lady reached beneath her collar and drew out a small antique pendant. She placed it in the girl’s hand. “This was given to me once, when I needed it most,” she whispered. “Now I’m passing it down to you.” The girl turned the pendant over in her palm. “It’s beautiful. What does it do?” she asked softly. The old lady brushed her thumb across the delicate chain. “It was crafted a long time ago,” she said. “From stone and silver touched by moonlight. It carries healing properties. The girl’s brows knitted together. “Will it help stop the fever?” She asked. “It will help you through it,” the old lady replied gently. “Just like it helped your mother, once.” The girl’s eyes widened slightly. “Mama had this?” “For a little while,” the old lady said. “When she needed it most.” The girl nodded slowly and closed her fingers around the pendant, pressing it to her chest. “I’ll keep it close,” she promised. “Good,” the old lady whispered. “Because tonight, you’re going to need all the strength you have.” She settled back in her chair. “It was finally the end of the semester, and spring break was here at last…” For most people, it meant escape, sunshine, freedom, and a time to forget their responsibilities. Around her, campus buzzed with last-minute plans and excited goodbyes. Abigail kept her head down as she crossed the quad, weaving through clusters of students already halfway out the door. This year, though… things were different. By the end of the week, she wouldn’t just be leaving campus. She’d be leaving everything behind. Abigail would be heading back to Johnson County to see her Gran after being away for half a year. She was already yearning for some of Gran’s home baking. You know the old saying, ‘there’s no place like home,’ well, they weren’t wrong. Abigail was one of the last students to leave campus. The place was deserted, and it felt otherworldly. She made her way to the car park to her old, rundown midnight blue Chevy pickup. It wasn’t much to look at, but she sure was grateful for it. Her Gran had bought it for her with the help of some of the townsfolk before she started college this year. Not many from her county left town; hell, not many got through high school. Most of her friends were pregnant or had babies. She was the last of her friends to get married and start a family. But she was okay with that. She had plans. She was saving herself for the right man, her prince charming. That was her official line, but truth be told, she didn’t need a man. She was happy on her own. She wanted to make something of herself. She reversed out of the parking lot and began her twelve-hour drive back home. Once she had made her way through rush hour traffic in the big city, she could relax a little. She had miles upon miles of open road ahead of her, and it was already late in the afternoon. Most people were flying home for spring break, but she didn’t have that luxury, being that she was on a financial aid scholarship and had only just scraped enough for petrol and snacks after paying for expenses with her part-time jobs. Her stomach growled as she realized that she hadn’t eaten since breakfast, which was five o’clock that morning. Surely, she would be approaching a diner soon. Then she would grab some supper and coffee to keep her going throughout the night. All going well, she had hoped to reach Johnson County just after breakfast. It was dark out. There were no streetlights as she was driving on a desolate highway, in literally the middle of nowhere. She wound her window down and let the fresh air invade her senses. She could hear the night sounds of birds and insects as she cruised down the highway. It was a couple of hours before she approached a small town that she would be driving straight through. From memory, there was an all-night diner there, so she should be able to stop for a burger and fries and a large Coke. As she made her way through the town, she saw the diner lights in the distance, her stomach reminding her once more of how hungry she was, and her bladder reminding her of how much she needed to pee. She pulled into the parking lot and turned off her car. She grabbed her purse and phone and made her way into the diner. There was a bit of a crowd there, considering how late it was. As she entered the diner, the warm scent of coffee and the sizzle of a grill filled the air. The place seemed cozy, with worn-out booths and a jukebox playing an old country tune. The atmosphere was familiar. It was reminiscent of the hometown diners where everyone knew everyone else’s name. She chose a corner booth and settled in; the vinyl seat cooled against her skin. The waitress was a middle-aged woman with a friendly smile. She handed Abigail a menu and poured her a cup of coffee without asking. The chatter of the few patrons in the diner created comfortable background noise. While skim-reading the menu, Abigail couldn’t help but overhear snippets of conversation. She would presume that the locals were busy discussing the latest news, the high school football team, and the occasional gossip about who was dating whom. It felt like she’d stepped back in time, and it sure was a stark contrast to the busy city life she had become accustomed to. After ordering a cheeseburger and fries, she excused herself to use the restroom. The restroom wasn’t on par with the rest of the diner; the wallpaper was torn in places, and paper towels overflowed from the bin onto the floor. While washing her hands, she stared at her reflection in the cracked mirror. She looked like a mess. The sleepless nights of finals had taken their toll on her. With a sigh, she returned to her booth just as the waitress placed a steaming plate in front of her. The burger was huge and came with a large supply of fries. She didn’t hold back as she took it in her mouth, savoring each bite as if it were her last meal. After finishing her meal, she thanked the waitress and paid her bill. Feeling recharged and wide awake, she returned to her midnight blue Chevy pickup and continued her journey. The dense forest lay ahead as she navigated the winding roads, and in no time, she knew she’d reached Johnson County. The town was tucked away, surrounded by great old loblolly pine trees, and embraced by an almost eerie stillness. She drove down a familiar road, and the memories of her childhood flooded back, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Her Gran’s house, which was an old cozy white cottage surrounded by wildflowers, came into view. She parked her truck on the grass and approached the front door, the anticipation of reuniting with her Gran after months of separation bubbling within her. The scent of home baking wafted through the air, and she couldn’t help but smile. She knocked on the door, and it swung open to reveal Gran, in her white nightdress and gown, with a twinkle in her eyes and a warm embrace awaiting her. It sure felt good to be back home.