Destiny

7.

Chapter 7

"Julia, why are you still up?" Amy asked as she walked into the room. I knew it was time for her to leave. Which meant that the night shift was coming in. I didn't know many of those people but I was sure they'd heard about me.

"If I fall asleep, I'll have nightmares again." I mumbled.

"You need to sleep. You look exhausted, honey."

"I can't."

She pulled a chair over and sat down. "Can you tell me about your nightmares at least? So I can understand?"

"You don't think I'm faking it?"

"I know you, Julia. And this isn't like you."

"So you knew all along?"

"We don't need to talk about that, okay?"

"Why don't you hate me like everyone else does? Why are you being nice to me?"

"I want to help you. And I know you want to help yourself. I can see it."

"I'm scared that something will happen to me and... and I won't wake up."

"You're safe here, Julia."

I shook my head, tears in my eyes. "I'm not."

"Julia-"

"There's someone here who wants to hurt me. I've seen him in my nightmares."

"Has he hurt you? While you're awake?"

"No, he's... threatening me."

"Has he said anything to you?"

I shook my head. I grabbed my sketchbook and flipped to the picture. Only... it wasn't there. Again.

"I drew a picture of him and it's disappeared twice. I know he's been in here."

"Julia-"

"I'm not safe here."

"Julia, calm down."

"How can I calm down when he's been in my room? He's going to hurt me. I know it."

She stood and pulled the blanket over me. "Julia, I think you should get some rest."

"That's not going to help."

"You're tired, sweetie. Some rest will make you feel better."

I wanted to keep arguing but I knew no matter what I did or said, she wouldn't believe me. What she did believe, however, was that I was crazy.

---

"We need to talk about what's been happening, Julia." Dr. Martin said.

I hadn't slept in days. I kept myself awake, as hard as that was. I paced the room, I brushed my hair for hours on end, I drew in my sketchbook. I did everything I could so I wouldn't dream.

I was refusing the medication they were trying to give me. They wanted me to sleep. They wanted me to 'get my rest' but they didn't understand what I was going through. They had no idea how bad the dreams were.

I stared down at my knees, pulled tightly to my chest. "Why? You don't believe me."

"Why do you think we don't believe you?" 

"You think I'm lying."

He met my gaze and thought carefully before he spoke. "I want to understand your situation, Julia."

"My dreams have gotten worse since Kellan got here. I've seen him."

"Do you think that's just a coincidence?"

I shook my head. "It started before I even met him."

He wrote something down in his book before standing up. "I'd like for you to start taking medication to sleep. It should be enough to keep your dreams away."

I rolled my eyes. "That won't work."

He sighed. "Just try it. If it doesn't work, we can find another solution."

A nurse appeared in the doorway and I stood. "It would really help if you'd keep Kellan out of my room."

---

Edited 3-15-19