Redwood Violet

by Robin Mahle

  “I know you would. But honestly, it’ll be fine. I’ll call you on my way home. Love you.”

  * * *

  Her nerves were much calmer this time around, since she felt more prepared for the session. Katie waited in the lobby/living room of the office for Dr. Reyes. The “exit” door slowly opened and a gentleman, probably in his sixties, quietly walked out. He gave a quick nod as he went out the main door. Dr. Reyes soon peeked out.

  “Katie, are you ready?”

  Walking into the office, she felt unafraid and uninhibited. She read somewhere that hypnotherapy was most effective on patients who didn’t have any preconceived reservations about the process. She supposed an open mind was a better recipient to suggestions.

  “Why don’t you go ahead and lie down, Katie. You’ll feel a little more relaxed.” Dr. Reyes took the seat across from her.

  “First, Katie, I’d just like to explain what we’re going to do. I’ll start by counting backwards from ten and when I get to one, you’ll be completely relaxed. From there, I’ll be making some suggestions to assist with further relaxation. After the treatment is complete, I’ll count back to ten and you’ll feel refreshed and relaxed, okay? Any questions?”

  Katie shook her head.

  “Let’s get started. Go ahead and close your eyes. Now I’m going to count backwards from ten. I want you to think about a place that makes you feel happy and peaceful.”

  Dr. Reyes began her countdown. Katie could hear, with clarity, the numbers, but with each one, the doctor’s voice seemed to grow distant until she reached the number one. Katie felt that moment just before falling asleep; like her body was sinking into her bed. Images of the beach filled her mind. It was her favorite place.

  “Where are you, Katie?” Dr. Reyes asked.

  “At the beach.”

  “Are you comfortable?”

  “Yes. It’s warm and sunny and I’m on my favorite towel.”

  “Sounds wonderful; now I want you to take a deep breath and exhale.”

  The sound of Dr. Reyes’ voice seemed to become even more distant. Katie felt the warmth of the sun penetrate her skin as it began to tingle. Her mind opened to the doctor’s suggestions and her body sank further and further. Soon, Dr. Reyes’ voice became muffled and barely audible. It was as if she was disappearing in the distance.

  Katie searched for her on the beach, but could only see wave after wave breaking against the shore. Soon, the towel beneath her dissolved into the sand and then the sand turned to mud. Everything around her was transforming, filling Katie with that familiar sense of terror once again. Massive trees erupted from the water and the ocean vanished, having been replaced by a dense forest. Her own body was morphing, as her limbs were no longer her own, but appearing like those of a young child.

  Behind her, in the distance, came a horrific, quaking mass lumbering towards her. No, not again. The events happening around her felt very real; more real than even the most terrifying dream she had experienced so far. She ran as quickly as she could through the forest, away from the giant. She screamed for help, but with no reply. A loud clap sounded in her right ear. Muffled sounds soon became clear. It was Dr. Reyes telling her to wake up.

  Her eyes opened and she quickly scanned the immediate area. She had to be sure it was gone.

  “You’re safe, Katie,” Dr. Reyes repeated.

  She rose from the couch and began to cry. “What happened?”

  “I don’t know. You were there, and we were talking, and then you were—gone. I think we may be dealing with something a little deeper here.”

  4

  KATIE WAS STILL visibly shaken by the time Spencer arrived home. She had been sitting in the dark, with only the television casting a dim glow in the apartment when he flipped on the lights. She squinted at the sudden brightness.

  “Katie, are you all right?” He moved to the sofa and sat down, gently placing his hand on her thigh.

  Her eyes were red and swollen, drained of tears. Spencer’s face transformed, filling with distress at the sight of her up close.

  “What’s wrong? Did something happen in therapy?” He reached over to comfort her, but she was stiff and did not move towards him.

  “What the hell is wrong with me, Spencer?” She tried hard not to start crying again. “Dr. Reyes wants me to come back for another session next week. It was so strange, different from any other time before; more…real, I guess. I don’t know. The doctor said I didn’t behave the way most of her patients under hypnosis behaved.”

  “What does that mean?” Spencer’s voice took on a surprisingly defensive tone.

  “I don’t know. What should have been a simple relaxation exercise turned into this horrible vision, of sorts, that was terrifying. I can’t explain it any better than that. It was so much more than a dream.”

  “I’m not sure I understand. You’re going to go through this hypnosis thing again and what; continue to relive the nightmare? Wasn’t this supposed to just be a way to help you sleep?”

  “She just wants to get to the bottom of whatever this is, and honestly, so do I. You have no idea what this feels like. I’m exhausted, but afraid to sleep. It’s affecting me in ways I haven’t told anyone, not even you. I need to know what’s going on; whether it’s stress or fear of the future or whatever.”

  “Fear of the future? Is that what has brought all this on?” Spencer pulled his hand from hers.

  “You know this started well before we got engaged. This has nothing to do with you.”

  Spencer closed his eyes tightly. “I just want you to be okay. I want things to be normal. We’re supposed to be planning our wedding and this thing seems to be taking over. I’m sorry, Katie. I don’t mean to sound like a jerk.”

  “No, you don’t. Believe me; I want this to go away more than you know. And, I’m trying. I think Dr. Reyes will help me figure all this out. Then, we can get on with our lives, our future.”

  “Okay.” Spencer gently kissed Katie’s lips. “You haven’t forgotten about Saturday, right? We’re meeting with the wedding planner.”

  Katie had forgotten, but didn’t dare say as much. “Of course not.”

  * * *

  Her rare and peaceful sleep was disrupted by the vibration of Spencer’s cell phone, nearly bouncing off of his nightstand. Katie glanced at her clock, blinking until it came into focus. A dull light that seeped through the curtains suggested it was early. When the clock was clearer, its amber numbers glowed 6:00. Was it a weekday? No, it was Saturday. Who in their right mind would be calling him at this time on a Saturday morning?

  Spencer began mumbling into his phone, not realizing she had already been awakened. A restful sleep awoken by the sounds of Spencer’s boss calling him into work on a Saturday. Never mind that they were supposed to meet with the wedding planner. Katie lay on her side, facing away from him. She closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep. The bed shifted as he sat up. His footsteps were soft and Katie knew he was trying hard not to wake her. A moment later, the sound of the running shower told her he would be going into work. She rolled over onto her back and stared at the ceiling.

  “Guess I’ll be meeting the wedding planner on my own,” she whispered.

  Katie was making coffee when Spencer walked into the kitchen.

  “I thought you were asleep,” he said, wrapping his arm around her waist.

  “I was, but I heard the shower. So, you’re going into the office?” She continued scooping the coffee into the filter.

  “Looks like it. I did some research on this case and now it’s finally been scheduled to go to trial and they want me on the team. It’s kind of a big deal.”

  “So what does this mean? You’ve been offered an associate’s position?”

  “Not officially, but I’d say this is a good start. I guess this would be considered more of an administrative position, but my fingers are crossed.”

  His excitement was obvious and it made her feel slightly guilty for being irritated about hi
m going to work. “I’m glad for you, sweetie. It is a big deal. And don’t worry; I’ll handle the wedding plans. I just wish Sam was here to help me.”

  “I know, babe. Why don’t you call one of the other girls?”

  “Maybe.” She smiled and went back to making the coffee, having no intentions of calling her local friends. Ultimately, it was something she only wanted to share with Spencer or Sam.

  * * *

  Katie arrived at the offices of The Big Day, Wedding & Event Planners. The lobby was filled with color boards showcasing a variety of themes, photos of couples, and beautiful flower arrangements. They were the most popular event planners in town, according to Jennifer at work.

  Katie sat in the chair across from Megan, the head wedding planner. Her office, heavy with the smell of potpourri and parchment paper, was too frilly for Katie’s taste. This was supposed to be an exciting day, but she was having difficulty enjoying the moment, partly because she was alone and partly due to the distraction of unwelcome dreams. She found herself thinking about her next session with Dr. Reyes, and what it might bring.

  “Is that all right with you, Katie?”

  “I’m sorry; what was that?” She hadn’t realized the woman was deep in conversation.

  “I was asking you about the shade of green on your invitations.” Megan paused for a moment. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes. I’m sorry, Megan. I’ve just been so busy at work and now with Spencer getting called in today…well, I guess I just don’t feel like a bride right now.”

  “I understand. It’s daunting, the work that goes into planning a wedding, but that’s why I’m here. Listen, why don’t we reschedule for another time; maybe next week? Then you and Spencer can both be here.” Megan began closing up the enormous book of invitation samples. “You’ve got plenty of time.”

  “I appreciate that. I’m sorry for wasting your time.” Katie stood up to leave.

  “Not at all; I’ve got plenty to do before my next appointment. I’ll see you next week.” She flipped through her schedule. “How does Thursday evening look for you?”

  “Actually, I have something that night.” Katie remembered that was her appointment with Dr. Reyes. “Could we push it to next weekend?”

  “Of course. I have an opening next Sunday afternoon. I’ll put you down for 2:00?”

  “That would be great. Thank you so much.”

  * * *

  Rather than go home to an empty apartment on this beautiful Saturday, Katie decided to drive to the beach. She always kept a beach chair and a towel in the back of her car along with the latest crime novel. Her fascination with forensics was nearer to an obsession.

  She slipped off her sandals, trading them in for a pair of flip-flops, also kept in the trunk for such a day. With towel, chair, and book under her arm, Katie walked towards the sound of the waves and squeals of the children running from them as they raced up towards the shore. As she approached the beach, people lined the sands up and down the coastline. Brightly colored umbrellas filled nearly every inch of the beach. But, as she looked to her left, a small patch of sand near the water caught her eye. It wouldn’t stay dry for long when the tide comes in, but for now, it was a good place.

  For the first time in months, Katie felt relaxed. It was also the first time she’d had a chance to sit on the beach, alone with no distractions. Was the therapist right? Had she been consumed by stress to the point the dream had taken over her sleep? With Sam’s wedding, her job, and Spencer awaiting his exam results, she’d felt out of sorts. Whatever it was, she was feeling much better now. The first session wasn’t easy, but it had come as a surprise how much lighter she felt. In fact, she looked forward to the next session.

  The towel was draped over her chair and Katie leaned back. The sun warmed her face, but the ocean breeze kept her body cool. She smiled as she lay back and closed her eyes. Her skin tingled and the sounds of the waves were foreground in her mind, while the sounds of the other beach-goers drifted off into a distant place.

  Just as Katie thought her mind was clearing of her recent troubles, it began filling again with troubling thoughts and visions that she had yet to understand. She opened her eyes, removing her sunglasses in search of her cell phone. The idea had crossed her mind to call her mother and ask for help with the wedding. She stared at the phone, ready to dial, but in the end, she couldn’t. Slumping back into her chair, there was really no point.

  Why hadn’t her parents just divorced? No one ever seemed to be very happy. It wasn’t always like that, though. Some pleasant memories surfaced once in a while, but that was when she had been very young and the memories had begun to fade.

  What she did remember was that they used to lavish a great deal of affection on her, a long time ago. It was as if she had come home from school one day and everything had changed. Her father’s embrace felt distant and cold and her mother’s words were less affectionate. Katie wondered what she had done to deserve that treatment, but rather than talk to her parents, she withdrew, as they did. And soon, the house became a place where she only slept and ate, and it was Sam’s house that felt like home.

  Had these feelings, she wondered, manifested themselves into dreams? Maybe it was time to speak with her mother on more intimate terms, but not here, not now.

  The ocean breeze picked up and began blowing sand around her, a sure sign that it was time for her to leave.

  * * *

  The sun had already begun its slow decent into the horizon when Katie arrived home. She looked at the clock on the shelf, wedged between an ever-growing collection of law books. Spencer would be home soon and she looked forward to seeing him. His presence in her life was treasured and she would not see their life together suffer the same fate as her parents’ did. They would be happy, raising their children in a house in the suburbs. She had always hoped she would have this life and now here was her chance to experience it. Nothing would change her desire for that future.

  The handle of the front door jiggled. Katie closed the refrigerator door and looked towards the sound. Spencer wore a smile on his face she had not seen since agreeing to marry him and it was the first thing she noticed. He held a bottle of champagne along with a beautiful bouquet of spring flowers.

  “Wow! What’s with the champagne and flowers?” She walked over to greet him.

  “Well, first of all, the flowers are for you as an apology for missing our appointment today. And the champagne is for us to celebrate.”

  Katie waited for him to continue.

  “I was asked to officially join the team on the case. I’ve been offered an associate’s position.

  “That’s fantastic! I’m so happy for you!”

  “They were impressed by my research as an intern and it’s a chance for me to get in good with the partners.”

  “Absolutely it is. So, should we get some take out, or do you want to go out to eat?” she asked, taking the bottle and flowers from him.

  The small vase in the cabinet below the sink would do the trick. Katie filled it with water and arranged the flowers.

  Spencer dropped to the couch. “Let’s just stay in tonight. I don’t mind running out for some Chinese, if that’s all right with you? Besides, I want to hear about the appointment. I’m excited to see what you chose for the invitations.”

  Katie cringed knowing she would have to tell him about rescheduling the appointment. “Well, actually, I got to Megan’s office and we had just gotten started when something came up and she had to reschedule us. So, you didn’t miss anything and we’re going next Sunday.”

  “Oh, okay. I guess it turned out for the best, then. I didn’t miss anything after all. So, what did you do end up doing today?”

  “I was going to head home after I left Megan’s, but it was such a nice day that I decided to stop at the beach. I hung out there for a while and then came home not long before you got here.” She continued trimming the ends of the flower stems and placed them in the vase.

  �
�That sounds nice. I’m sure it felt good just to relax. You probably needed some time on your own.”

  He was right. It had been exactly what she needed. Their lives were going exactly as she had planned, now that Spencer had been offered a job. These dreams, this little hiccup, would be resolved soon enough.

  * * *

  Katie prepared for the session with Dr. Reyes. The thought of canceling it did cross her mind again. It had been at least three nights since her last dream and she was actually feeling pretty good. Maybe the worst was over, but in the end, Spencer had to convince her to keep the appointment after seeing the positive results of the past few days. If, after tonight, she saw more improvement, they would discuss moving on.

  Jennifer leaned into Katie’s workstation. “Goodnight. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Oh wow, I didn’t realize it was five already. I suppose I ought to be heading out soon myself. Goodnight.” Katie finished sending out the last of her budget updates and gathered her things.

  In the almost forty-five minutes it took her to arrive at Dr. Reyes’ office, she started to feel apprehensive. The thought of potentially suffering through the nightmare again was unsettling, to say the least.

  She waited in the lobby, flipping through a fairly recent copy of People, its content still somewhat relevant. Not long after, Dr. Reyes poked her head out and motioned for her to enter.

  “Hi, Katie. How are you doing?”

  “I have to say, Dr. Reyes, I haven’t slept this well in some time. I really believe the hypnosis worked. In fact, Spencer had to convince me to come here tonight.”

  “I’m thrilled you’ve had such positive results from our first session. But I think you’ll benefit from a few more. Let’s see how we do tonight. Go ahead a lie down on the couch and we’ll get started.”

  Katie’s familiarity with the process and the sound of Dr. Reyes’ voice allowed her to relax and leave behind the apprehension she felt on arrival. She began feeling the same sinking sensation as the first time and felt herself drift into a place of her own choosing. As before, the doctor’s voice grew distant as her body sank deeper into the sofa.