The Dreamwalker [ON HOLD]

Chapter Five

"How'd that happen?" Adela asked, reaching over to give his ears a gentle massage. He purred at her touch. Adela looked at him pityingly. He'd usually be the first to greet her whenever she came over. Not today. "Was he trying to reach the windows again?"

Evenie sighed as her eyes regarded the large windows that lined one wall, overlooking a beautiful garden. Adela followed her gaze. "That's exactly what happened!" she said, now looking at Marcel dejectedly. "I just don't know what to do with him sometimes."

"He'll be okay, Evie. He's a strong little kitten."

"Yeah, I know, but still..." Evenie trailed off as she came over to sit on the opposite end of the couch, crossing her legs beneath her in the process. "I'm really sorry for cancelling yesterday. I was meant to call you afterward, but I'd forgotten."

"Don't worry about it."

"Okay, phew. I felt really—" In that moment, Evenie's phone rang. "Oh, shit, I left it upstairs. Sorry, give me a sec!"

Adela could hear Evenie's feet hurriedly thumping against the stairs. Then a faint hello as Evenie answered the phone. She reached out for her coffee mug and inhaled its earthly aroma when she brought it up close. She enjoyed the heat that spread through her hands as she wrapped her fingers tightly around the mug. She took a sip—the first milky taste creeping over her tastebuds; the second sip more bitter and strong.

She took another look at Marcel, who was now asleep, and then over at the window that overlooked the garden. She smiled. She had such fond memories of playing in the garden with Evenie when they were kids, chasing each other while playing tag, jumping with joy under the many, many sprinklers that lined the edges of the lush green grass in the summertime. But as they approached their teenage years, their time together was cut short. Evenie's parents had taken her to France to spend time with family and attend a boarding school while they went on their archaeological travels. They reunited less than a year ago when Evenie finally moved back to Australia—on her own—feeling homesick and in want of some stability.

They have been inseparable ever since.

Adela was glad because when she learnt of her mother's disappearance, it was Evenie who stood by her side, consoling her, reassuring her that everything would be okay. It was Evenie who unlocked the cage Adela felt she was in, took out the pain and made it somewhat bearable—even though it had only been three weeks since the disappearance happened. Adela knew that Evenie would always be by her side: firm, reassuring, kind. A thought that made her feel guilty for struggling to find the words to tell Evenie about her deepest, innermost distress: her dreams of him. But that—that was a story she'd have to tell Evenie when she felt ready. Seeing her therapist was hard enough as it was; reliving her terror every week was not something she enjoyed.

Plus, she hadn't had a dream for a few days now.

Not since the alleyway nightmare.

Adela took another sip of her coffee and made her way over to the large window.

"Sorry about that, Dels," came Evenie's huffed voice, causing Adela to turn around. "This whole exhibition thing is driving me nuts—wait, what are you smiling about?"

"Oh, it's stupid, really."

"Tell me," Evenie said as she, too, made her way over to the window.

"Nothing—just about us, our memories, how you had to leave. And your parents, too. Have you heard from them recently?"

"I spoke to them this morning. They are in Argentina right now, preparing for a talk on Incan mummification. Sometimes I wish I was there with them."