“Linda’s been seeing therapists since she was a teenager,” said Chris.
“Unfortunately it’s only getting worse,” said Beatrice. “When Chris broke up with her, she totally lost it.”
More or less as I had suspected. Linda Lokind wasn’t entirely right in the head. I shot Amina a meaningful look.
She placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Bathroom,” she said.
“But…”
“Now please. Before I pee myself.”
* * *
We closed ourselves into a stall and took turns peeing. I felt warm and out of sorts; my head was heavy. Was it some sort of virus? Maybe I had just been working too hard.
“What’s up with you?” Amina asked.
“I don’t know. I’m beat.”
Really, all I wanted to do was go home and crawl into bed.
“Now do you believe me?” I asked. “Do you get that Linda Lokind is totally disturbed?”
She slapped her forehead to illustrate how dumb she had been.
“How was I supposed to know? I didn’t want to take the chance.”
“It’s fine,” I assured her.
“He’s awfully yummy,” Amina said with a sly smile.
“Who?”
“Your summer fling.”
I smiled, but an instant later I was struck with an urgent sense of unease. I didn’t know where it came from or what it meant, but it crept through my body.
“Now, come on!” Amina said, opening the stall door. “I’m so freaking hyped!”
We wound our way to the center of the roiling dance floor. I battled my sleepiness as Amina put on a show. She pumped her arms and laughter rose from her mouth like soap bubbles.
I looked for Chris in the crowd and found him standing at the bar. Amina followed close behind me as I walked up to him.
“Where is Beatrice?” I asked.
“She went home to her boyfriend.”
My head was heavy. The beats throbbed in my belly and my legs felt weaker and weaker.
“I’m not feeling well. I think I need to leave too.”
Both Chris and Amina looked at me in concern.
“Should I come with you?” Chris asked.
“No, stay here with Amina. I’ll bike home and go to bed.”
I gave him a quick peck and hugged Amina.
“You sure?” she said.
“Sorry,” I replied.
The fresh air did me good. My head didn’t feel as heavy any longer and I felt new strength in my legs as I biked home through town. After two Tylenol and a Hydralyte, I collapsed in bed with my phone and was out like a light.
* * *
I woke up because my pillow was vibrating; I flew up and tracked down my phone, which had slipped between the headboard and the mattress.
“Hello?”
Amina was gasping on the other end.
“I have to tell you something.”
“What’s going on?”
“I went home with Chris.”
I felt a stab of pain in my chest. What did she mean?
“It just happened. We shared a taxi. I forgot I had my bike at Tegnérs.”
She took a breath. My heart was pounding.
“Did anything happen?” I asked.
“No, no, nothing.”
“Nothing?”
I flopped back down on my pillow.
“Of course nothing happened. What the hell did you think?”
“No, of course not.”
“I just wanted to tell you I went home with him.”
I said something about how that was just fine, no problem, nothing had happened.
I had made up my mind to end things with Chris. But now I wasn’t so sure.
“Are you feeling better?” Amina asked.
“I think so.”
I checked the time. Four thirty in the morning.
“Now get home and into bed before Dino starts to worry.”
Amina laughed nervously.
“He’s already called twice.”
“Talk tomorrow. Love you.”
Five percent battery. I found the charger on the floor and was just about to plug it in when I realized I had a new text from a number I didn’t recognize.
Please, stay away from Chris. He’s dangerous.
72
I wake in a cold sweat, no idea what time it is. It might be before midnight, or almost morning. In here, the passage of time means nothing.
Something is chasing after me. I vault out of bed and spin around the room. The smell is just as pungent, just as strong as when I first arrived.
I pound hysterically on the locked door as terrifying images press into my mind. So true to life that the boundary between dream and reality is erased.