by R. J. Lloyd
Too excited to sit still once on the subway, she chose to stand for the trip in. She gripped the pole, tapping her fingers on the metal rhythmically.
“Something got you nervous, little lady?” a man in a tattered rain coat asked from the seat beside her. “Would you like to sit?”
“No. thank you.” She gave him a weak smile. “I’m just going to meet someone. Guess I’m a little excited.”
“Well, I sure hope he appreciates a pretty little thing like you. Too many guys don’t appreciate their women these days.” He grinned a toothless smile.
“How do you know it’s a guy?” She scrunched her lips to one side, embarrassed.
“A girl doesn’t get nervous about meeting someone unless there’s something to lose, and you don’t look like you’re about to make a shady deal. You look like someone in love.” He winked.
“We shall see,” she replied politely.
As she departed at her stop, the man waved. “Good luck.”
Her voice caught in her throat. She nodded, unable to answer, and made her way to the exit on the platform.
Knowing she was early, Eva had chosen to get off the train a stop early to walk the rest of the way, figuring the stroll would help her nerves… or at least occupy some of the time. She attempted to walk slowly and do a mental check of her appearance several times on the way.
It wasn’t long before she could see the station up the road. Butterflies fluttered through her stomach. Her pace picked up for several steps until she reminded herself that she didn’t want to walk up to him looking sweaty and like a crazy person. She felt crazy enough and didn’t want to look as crazy as she felt.
Having wandered around out front for a little bit, doing her best to calm her nerves, she checked the time. It was five minutes before eight, and Eva found herself standing on the sidewalk in front of Grand Central Station, willing her heart to keep a pace that was tolerable.
She went in and took in the scenery… the gorgeous architecture and meticulous paintings. It had nearly escaped her that she was in New York City until the beauty that was Grand Central Station hit her. She marveled at the classic style of everything and how everyone seemed to be just going about their day as if they weren’t walking through a piece of national history that doubled as a piece of art in itself. Something in her swelled with awe and sentimentality for its historical significance that she had to fight back tears.
Suddenly, it hit her why she was there.
Ian.
That warm swelling of awe switched to a tightness in her chest that screamed of the nervousness that still coursed through her.
She stopped gazing over the crowd and started looking for him. She knew that she’d recognize him if she saw him. But, #1: Could she find him in such a thick crowd of people? And #2: Was he really going to be there? Was he truly real? Was she just chasing some figment of her imagination because of some ridiculous mental illness she was succumbing to?
“Eva?”
She knew the voice instantly. But she didn’t turn around, afraid to look.
“Eva!” the voice called after her again. “I knew I’d find you here.”
Reluctantly, she turned slowly. “What are you doing here, Michelle?”
In true best friend fashion, Michelle stormed through the crowd, obviously certain she was doing the right thing. “I’m here to take you home.”
“I’ll be home tomorrow,” Eva informed her. “I can’t believe you’re here! I’m glad you are, though. I’m scared.”
“So am I. That’s why I’m here.” Michelle hugged her. “Let’s go home. I’ve got someone you can talk to. This could be solved with some simple medication.”
“If he doesn’t show, then I will. But I’m…”
Michelle cut her off. “He’s not going to show. He’s just a part of something that’s short circuiting in your brain. But we will get you help.”
“I have got to see, Michelle. If I don’t, I’ll always wonder. Just wait with me,” Eva pleaded.
Michelle shook her head. “Eva, stop this. Let’s go home.”
“I’m not going yet. I need to see.” Eva found herself fighting back tears again, out of fear and frustration.
“I knew you’d say that, so I brought help.” Michelle waved her hand in the air.
“Help? What do you mean, help?” Eva looked around. Emerging through a group of people several feet away was her father and two men she didn’t recognize. “Dad? What is this? Who are they?”
“Honey, we are here to help you. It’s time to go home and get some rest. We have a good doctor that you can talk to tomorrow.” He put his arm around his daughter and started pulling her to the entrance, the two men with him helping.
“Michelle! Stop! I’m not crazy! Dad! Let me go! You can’t do this!” Eva thrashed against their gripping hands.
“Just relax, Eva. Just come with us. These gentlemen are authorized to sedate you if you don’t cooperate.” Michelle slowed her pace, obviously saddened to see her best friend so distraught.
Eva twist and turned, doing anything to try to get out of their hold. “I don’t think this is even legal! I’m not hurting anyone! Just let me wait and see if he shows. Please! You can’t do this! It’s not legal!”
“It is if we think you’re a danger to yourself, and your depression lately shows us that you are,” her dad argued. “You’re not shirking responsibilities and spending obscene amounts of money to travel multiple states to find someone that’s not real.”
“I’m not a danger to anyone!” Eva shouted.
Then she froze.
Eva reached out when she saw him emerge from the walkway that came up from the subway. She knew instantly that it was him, and she fought harder. But it was a losing battle. All she could do was scream out in pain as she felt a needle enter her thigh. It was only moments before the sedation started taking hold, and she started growing weak as they lowered her to the floor.
She reached out one more time in a feeble attempt to get him to see her. “Ian…” she breathed.
Her father picked up her limp body and went for the door, the two men escorting him. He explained to the security guard the situation as they flashed their IDs.
Michelle stood and watched, her shoulders slumped and worry tugging at her features. Unable to watch anymore, Michelle looked back to the corridors. She saw a man that looked like Eva’s description of the guy she saw in her dreams in the general direction that her friend had been reaching toward.
Her jaw fell as she followed his gaze as she caught him looking at Eva, unconscious in her father’s arms, being carried out of the building, escorted by two men in white scrubs.
“Come on, Michelle! We need to get to the airport.” Eva’s dad called in.
“I’ll meet you there, Marcus.” She waved him off.
“This is not the time for souvenir shopping, Michelle.” His voice was stern.
She kept her eyes on the man across large room. “I need to do something. I will meet you there.”
“Fine.” He stomped back away and left her there.
Michelle watched the man that hadn’t stopped starring after Eva. Worry pulled his brows together. He stopped a few feet from her, still watching the front entryway looking confused.
Michelle closed the gap between them. “Ian?”
He turned and looked at her, the confusion in his eyes deepening. “Yes? Who are you?”
She gasped, her hands coming up to her mouth, nearly blocking out her words. “Oh no. You’re real.”
It wasn’t a question. She knew. It was a statement. And in that moment, regret blanketed her expression.
“Real?” He cleared his throat. “Of course I’m real.”
“You’re you. You’re Ian. You’re the guy from Eva’s dreams,” she rambled.
He pointed towards the entrance. “What’s going on? Was that Eva?”
“I am the worst friend ever.” Michelle started crying. “I’m so sorry.”
He glared
at her, waiting for her to answer him. But Michelle just looked wracked and in shock.
He sighed. “Nobody could have believed this. We didn’t believe it. But I need you to tell me what is going on.”
Nine
Ian
Ian stood, his heart thudding hard in his chest. When he entered the station, he wasn’t sure if he was losing his mind or if the woman he loved was just a figment of his imagination or not. Before he could even process the fact that he was sure he had seen her in person, he was trying to reconcile if he was watching her being carried out of there.
He crossed the terminal floor, searching his mind for any understanding of what was going on. He’d figured it would be strange enough if she turned out to be real. He hadn’t even decided what to say to her if he found himself standing face to face with her, outside of a dream. He even wondered if he would pinch himself to see if he was truly awake if she did show. But as he watched her being carried away, he felt like he needed to save her. Something in him knew it was her, and he had to go after her. But, momentarily frozen in place, he tried to let it all sink in.
“Ian?”
He turned and looked, the worry in his eyes turning to confusion. “Yes? Who are you?”
She gasped, her hands covering her mouth, nearly blocking out her words. “Oh no. You’re real.”
It wasn’t a question. It was a statement. He could hear the woman’s certainty in her words, but he didn’t know how she knew him.
“Real?” He furrowed his eyebrows. “Of course I’m real.”
“You’re you. You’re Ian. You’re the guy from Eva’s dreams,” she rambled.
He glared at her, waiting for her to answer him. But Michelle just looked wracked and in shock.
He sighed. “Nobody could have believed this. We didn’t believe it. But I need you to tell me what is going on.” He pointed toward the entrance. “What’s going on? Was that Eva?”
“I am the worst friend ever.” The woman started crying. “I’m so sorry.”
“Was that Eva?” he asked again. “What do you mean you’re the worst friend? Who are you? What did you do?”
“Michelle,” she replied between sobs. “My name is Michelle. I’m Eva’s best friend, or I used to be. She will never forgive me for this.”
He gripped her arms. “What did you do?”
More tears streamed down her cheeks. “I… I…”
“Damn it! Just tell me!” he shouted. “Who was that, and where are they taking her?”
“I thought she was going crazy, so I checked to see if she booked through our travel agent we always use. Once I found out her plans, I called her father, and we came out here to get her some help.” She yanked from his grip. “I didn’t know he would bring those guys, and I didn’t know he would be so aggressive about it. I just thought we’d calmly talk her into coming home and getting help.”
“Who were those men he brought?” Fear settled in the pit of his stomach.
“I think they’re from a mental ward back home,” she replied. “They have to be. I know he’s a scientist, so he must have had connections.”
He ran for the front door.
“It’s no use. They left for the airport.” She chased after him. “I told them I’d meet them there.”
He didn’t stop. “Then let’s keep moving!”
Ian hailed a cab once out on the street. The realization that the woman from his dreams was a real person and she had come to New York to meet him settled in, colliding with the fact that he was racing back to the airport to keep her from being taken to a psych ward for being crazy, which she wasn’t. Or, at least, he hoped their connection didn’t mean that.
Michelle climbed into the cab next to him. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.” She clutched her purse to her chest and spoke into the air like she was trying to get a message out into the cosmos.
“Just help me find her.” Ian watched every car to see if Eva was inside any of them.
New York traffic was slow as usual, making their already tense ride even longer. Ian nervously tapped his foot, continuing to glance in every car around them. His jaw hard set, the muscles flexing.
Michelle stared at him. “I still can’t believe you’re real.”
“You’re not the one having these dreams. Trust me, I am more shocked she’s real.” His leg bounced with tension.
“They’re in a grey Chrysler,” she said.
He turned to face her quickly. “It looked like they knocked her out somehow. What did they do to her?”
“Yeah. They gave her a sedative,” she explained. “He promised it was just something mild in case she refused.”
He pulled out his phone. “How are they supposed to get her on a plane like that? I’m pretty sure that will raise a lot of questions. Are you sure they can even do it?”
“I don’t know,” she replied. “What are you doing?”
“I’m being prepared.” His reply was cryptic.
Replying the anger in his face, Michelle sat back. “Just tell me what to do.”
The rest of the drive was quiet as the pace picked up with traffic thinning slightly. At the airport, Michelle and Ian bolted into the terminal, picking up their tickets from the kiosk and running as fast as they could to the gate. He scanned the crowds as they passed, but there was no sight of Eva.
“Call him,” Ian demanded.
“I’ve tried. He isn’t answering.” She gripped her phone tight.
“Try again,” he growled.
Michelle dialed, but there was no answer. She dialed again, but again, no answer. “He’s not picking up. Maybe they’re still on their way in.”
Trying to be calm, he put a hand on her arm. “Call again. I don’t know why, but I don’t have a good feeling about this.”
She chewed on her lip as she dialed Eva’s father’s number again. It rang three times before he picked up. “Hey. I’m at the gate at the airport. Are you almost here with her?”
“No. There’s a change of plan. You go on home. I will tend to Eva from here. Thank you for letting me know about this,” he spoke calmly, too calmly.
She looked at Ian, her eyes wide, clicking the call to speakerphone. “I thought you were bringing her home so we could get her help.”
“I am getting her help. But she needs to be away from her life. I don’t know what has triggered this breakdown, but I think some time away from you and her life will do her good.” His tone grew stern. “Again, thank you for your help in tracking her down. I’ve got it from here.”
“What if I were to tell you she’s not having a breakdown?” Michelle was hopeful he would listen. “What if Ian was really there?”
“I am not a fool, young lady,” he growled. “Do not try to play games to undermine me. I know what is best for my daughter.”
She shrugged, looking to Ian. “Mr. Thomas, I can prove it. He’s at the airport with me. I can bring him wherever you’re going, and you can meet him.”
“Michelle…”
She interrupted him, “Mr. Thomas, I know we don’t always see eye to eye, but Eva is my best friend. And don’t forget, I am the one who called you about all of this. So, why would I try to convince you of it now if it wasn’t true?”
“Because you don’t want me taking her out of your life,” he snapped. “And this is none of your business.”
Ian wanted to speak up, but he didn’t know Eva’s father or his temperament. He could only hope Michelle knew how to talk to him, to keep things calm, concerned that his own interjection would cause the man to shut down immediately.
They heard Eva stirring on the other end of the line, and Michelle’s eyes went wide. “Eva! She’s waking up. Let me talk to her, please. Or at least tell me where you’re taking her.”
The line went dead. He had hung up, shutting them out without further discussion.
Ian couldn’t stop pacing in front of Michelle. “So, we don’t know where he’s taking her or what he’s doing with her?”
“N
o.” She shoved her phone back in her purse.
“What about her mother?” he asked.
“It’s no use. Her mother bows down to whatever that man says. That, and we never really see or hear from her. She’s not active in Eva’s life.” She scoffed. “How about you try to dream about her? I don’t know how this whole thing works, but we can get you a hotel room, and you can go to sleep and try to connect with her. Do you think that would work?”
“You said she was waking up. And even if they put her back to sleep, I don’t know if we connect with those circumstances.” He flopped down into one of the empty terminal seats. “We don’t even know how this all happens. We just know if we’re asleep at the same time, we end up together in our own, little, private world. So, I don’t know if the sedation would affect her in a way she couldn’t connect.”
“I don’t know what else to do.” Michelle started crying again.
He thought for a minute, trying on different options. “We give him until morning and start calling facilities.”
“Every single one?” Her jaw dropped. “We don’t know where he’s taking her. It could be anywhere. We don’t even know if he’s driving or flying.”
“True.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Okay, let’s get a couple rooms. Even if she woke up from whatever they gave her, she’s bound to sleep more at some point tonight. Maybe she can give us some answers.”
“Okay,” she replied, hope renewed on her face.
They worked their way back to the ticket counter and traded for open ended tickets. Then, by recommendation from the woman working the counter, walked across the street to the nearest hotel, grabbing two rooms.
Making sure Michelle got to her room, Ian found his own. Latching the door shut behind him, he tossed the bag he’d brought with him on the bed and flopped down, staring at the ceiling.
A flood of emotions hit him as he thought back to seeing her beautiful face for the split second, he’d caught it before they carried her away. Her delicate features were exactly as he’d memorized. Dread, fear, near panic. It all bubbles up with a shimmer of excitement that she was real.
