Peripheral Vision: A Supernatural Thriller(8)

“Oh, sorry.” Sarah said with a sheepish smile. She picked up her wine glass and clinked her best friend’s glass.

“Cheers! But seriously, Sarah, while you’re there, try to have some fun please. Find yourself a young, hot, farmer and oh, I don’t know, husk his corn, or whatever they do there.”

They both laughed loudly at that. “I’m going to miss you, Em.” Sarah laughed through her wine glass.

“I’ll miss you too. Now get some sleep tonight, you have a long drive in your future.” Emma hopped up from the table and kissed Sarah on the head. “I’ll be by in the morning to see you off. Just text me later what time to be here okay?”

“Okay.”

“Bye.” Emma waved.

Sarah watched her friend walk out the apartment door and then allowed herself to get lost in her thoughts. She thought about her family, her dead parents and how she couldn’t possibly find herself, if she didn’t know where she came from. She felt truly sad. Sarah knew so little about her family’s history. In her heart, she knew she was meant to go there-Nebraska. Everything was going to be different now. She looked around her apartment deciding what to bring, and then she decided to bring nothing at all. In the morning, she would pack up some clothes and necessities, and leave all the clutter behind. She had no real reason to uproot quite yet. Emma would watch her place while she was gone and she could mail rent from Homewood if she stayed longer. It was a good plan. Everything seemed to be coming together. She could deal with the rest when she got back. For now, however, it was time to try to get some sleep.

1:15am

Sarah was in her bed sleeping, but not soundly. She stirred, lost again in her dreams. It was a familiar dream. She was a little girl again, sitting in the back seat of her parents’ car. Her father was driving. Her mother sat in the passenger seat.

“Are you excited to meet your Aunt Elizabeth, Sarah?” Her mother asked from the front seat. There was something off about the appearance of her mother’s face. It was blurry and askew somehow-like the distorted reflection from a cracked and broken mirror.

Sarah nodded yes, while playing with her dolly. “Are there horses there, Mommy?” She wiggled her bare toes, waiting for her mother’s reply.

“Yes, she has a stable and everything.”

Sarah’s smile lit up the backseat. Her parents grinned at each other, and then her father glanced in the rearview mirror. He beamed at his little girl.

“Can I ride one, Daddy?” Sarah begged.

“Well maybe a small one. I think she has a pony,” her father explained.

“A pony!” Sarah squealed in delight. Sarah’s father turned his head to laugh at his daughter’s excitement. Her mother was laughing as well, but her eyes seemed sad to the little girl in the blue nightgown. Suddenly, Sarah felt a sharp pain in her belly and cold chill slither down her spine. Her smile faded away and her eyes drained of their color.

“Crash…” The words floated out of Sarah’s mouth involuntarily.

Her father turned his head back toward the road. There was a loud honking coming from in front of them. He jerked the steering wheel. The tires screeched. Sarah’s mother screamed, and Sarah was surrounded by the sounds of glass and metal being crushed.

3:20am

Sarah woke up in a cold sweat, and quickly grabbed the small bottle of pills from her night-stand. She popped one in her mouth and swallowed hard, without water, before laying her head back down on her pillow and closing her eyes. This was all routine for her now.

7:32am

The next morning, Sarah woke up early for the first time in months. She packed three suitcases of clothes, shoes, accessories and makeup. You can take the girl out of LA... she thought and laughed. It was time to leave. But first, she had an errand to run. She’d had an idea during the night, and just the thought of it made her smile again.

●



Emma stood on the sidewalk in front of Sarah’s apartment with a look of utter disbelief.

“You bought a truck?” She asked incredulously.

“Hey, when in Homewood.” Sarah smiled as she stepped out of her new pickup truck. “Probably the easiest sale that dealership ever had.”

“I’m guessing you’re right. But where are your cowboy boots?”

“Very funny, Em. I have more bags inside. Here are my keys.” Sarah tossed the apartment keys to Emma and then jogged inside to grab her two last bags. She gave her apartment a final glance and then walked back out to her new truck.

“Traveling light I see. Good idea, clean slate!” Emma laughed.

The two girls just stood there staring at each other for a moment, a long silent moment, until Emma broke the silence.

“Ok, get going. Stop and get a hotel if you get tired and make sure you call me...”

“The minute I get to Homewood. I got it.” Sarah smirked and then reached out and hugged her best friend.

Emma squeezed Sarah back. “I’m going to miss you, bestie. Drive safe and take care of you.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back in a few weeks. Don’t kill my plants. I love you, Em.”

“I love you too! Good luck, and try to have some fun! Call me!”

Sarah hopped up into the truck and honked goodbye to her friend as she pulled away, leaving the bustling, LA streets with the interesting names behind her.