Читать книгу Thin Places - Lesley Choyce - Страница 14

Nutjob after all. Not lucky

I concluded.

Time to see a shrink.

Get medicated maybe.

Return to reality.

And then, her voice:

You don’t really want to do that

do you?

You really can read my thoughts?

Yes.

I don’t know if I like that.

Sorry.

Why were you in my dream?

I thought I might be able

to get closer

to you.

I thought

your barriers might be down.

Right.

But

dreams are kind of messy and confusing.

And private.

But it wasn’t just that.

I’d felt invaded

or, what’s the word?

Violated.

Maybe you should stay out of my dreams.

Really?

Really.

Okay. Sorry.

Now I could see her again in my head.

Rebecca

I said out loud.

Do you want me to leave you alone?

No.

The no surprised me.

I want to get to know you

but

I’m gonna need some privacy.

I don’t understand.

Well, I

we

um, we all

have a lot of weird thoughts

kicking around in our heads.

I’ve noticed.

It doesn’t all make sense.

Can we establish some rules?

You mean barriers?

I mean boundaries.

She looked hurt.

How can I explain?

I don’t want anyone, even you

reading my every thought

knowing my feelings

being part of my every opinion

listening in on my inner conversations

everything that rattles around in my chaotic

jumble of thoughts.

Watching everything I do.

Thank you for explaining

she said.

So how can we make this work?

Maybe you can come up with a mechanism

a word.

You say the word and I leave.

You say another word and I come back.

What can I say when I want some, um, privacy?

I asked.

Vega. Say Vega.

Why that?

I don’t know. It’s the name of a star.

Okay. When I say Vega, you give me some space?

Space. Sure.

I laughed and said

What happens after Vega, stays in Vega.

What?

Sorry. Stupid joke.

I think she might have laughed

or pretended to laugh.

Okay then. What if I say

or think your name

and you come back?

Okay

She said.

Try it. Try the word.

Vega.

And she was gone without a trace.

Rebecca?

I said it out loud

feeling some powerful tug inside my chest

just by saying her name.

But she didn’t return.