Millbury Pond

I jolted awake sputtering and choking. I was shaking. Sweat ran down my head. It was a dream. It was just a dream.

I shook the sheets off and stalked towards the door, trying to catch my breath. My heart was racing and my head was throbbing.

4 am. Looks like I'd be starting the day off early. Again.

I stumbled into work tired, dark eye bags, and a large coffee in my left hand. Jerry nodded to me as I lurched past front desk heading to my office. I yawned, finally hitting the elevator button after the third try. The music blared in my head, the annoying tune settling nicely for the day in the front of my mind. I left the elevator humming the song softly as I stalked through the third floor. I glanced to my left, through the glass windows of the skyscraper I resided in. I sighed, it had just been a dream.

I slid into my office, plopping my briefcase on the table and setting the coffee on the desk. My chair beckoned to me; I ignored it. I clicked open my computer, logging in instantly and then scrolling through my emails. My eyes lingered over some spam before I quickly deleted the pop up. Just a dream, I reminded myself, a dream. I scrolled again when a notification appeared in the top corner. A reminder. I groaned. Of course it was Tuesday.

Vanessa and Gerald entered the room laughing and shuffling papers. John followed soon after, dabbing his head with a handkerchief. Ash silently sat next to me, with a nod of the head. I nodded back. Lindsay loudly pulled the chair next to me, laughing my ear. I winced. We stood to our feet when Miguel entered. He greeted us all with a smile and a 'good morning everyone'. My heart was pounding. Lindsay's gum popped in my ear. I breathed out slowly. Vanessa and Gerald began their report. All happy, all smiling. Their voices were fuzzy. I twisted and pulled on the edge of my shirt. Ash leaned forward adding to the conversation. Lindsay popped another bubble. I swallowed and breathed in and out quickly. Lindsay got up to throw her gum away.

Everyone clapped. I clapped too. Miguel addressed Ash. Ash stood up. Vanessa disagreed. Gerald yelled. Ash responded. I tried to breathe. Ray was late. The door opened and the devil walked in. Ray apologized. Lindsay and Ash sat back down. Miguel spoke again, but this time it was clear:

"And the pond on Millbury?"

I screamed. I clapped a hand over my mouth. Everyone stared at me. My name was spoken. I was asked if I was okay. I nodded numbly. The pond. The dream. No. It was in the past. It wasn't now. The pond was gone. I was not there. I wasn't.

I woke up again. I was on the floor. Lindsay was in my face with concern in her own face. The gum was back. I gasped for air. I sat up. I was choking again. Ash was standing near me. Miguel patted my back, telling me to breathe. Vanessa whispered to Ray. Ray gasped. Gerald shook his head. He was on the phone. I opened my mouth to speak. No sound came out. I coughed and choked again. The dream was over. The pond was not here. I was at work. We were discussing city estates. Discussing remodeling. The pond was not in the picture. Miguel spoke my name. I turned to look at my boss.

"Everything okay?"

"Y-Yes," I stuttered, taking Ash's hand to stand to my feet again.

"I am fine thank you sir,"

Miguel's brow furrowed, "What, may I ask, happened at Millbury?"

I jumped and dug a hand into Ash's shoulder. Ash steadied me, shaking his head at Miquel. Miguel let it go. The pond. I shook it out of my head.

"N-Nothing of importance sir, just," I paused, trying to speak slowly and calmly.

"Just a place of forgotten memories," I lied.

Millbury pond was an unforgettable place since that day.

Miguel dismissed me early, asking Ash to help me get my things. Vanessa and Lindsay tried to follow us but Ray stopped them thankfully. Gerald had disappeared. Jerry raised an eyebrow as I left the building on Ash's arm. Gerald ran after us. He said something about work. Ash waved him away. Gerald yelled. Ash scoffed. Then Gerald said it:

“The water runs deep doesn’t it Jackie?” 

I stumbled. Ash caught me. I screamed. The memory was pushing and pulling, begging to be remembered. Gerald left. Gerald’s words echoed in my head. Rippling like Millbury pond- 

Ash hailed me a cab, asking me if I wanted to have him come with me. I didn’t answer. Ash came with me to my apartment. I was shaking again. I tried to forget the dream, I wanted to forget. The memory. The pond. The-

"We're here," Ash helped me out of the cab and refused to let me pay. We stayed silent. Ash took my key. Ash brought me into my own place. I was shivering. I felt wet. Like the pond.

"You're pale," Ash spoke as I was led to my comforter.

"What is going on? Is this about the..." Ash trailed off watching my eyes. 

I stared forward, the memory I had fought against playing in my mind. The cool water rippled in my head. The cold, crisp shock. The pain. 

"Yes Ash, the pond,"

Ash swore under his breath. 

“You have to let that go, what happened was…” Ash trailed off as tears pulled my eyes and I choked on another rising scream. I tried to stay silent, stifling myself and sobbing. I hiccupped. Ash pulled me close. 

“It wasn’t your fault,” My best friend held me closer. I could hear his heartbeat. How I longed to have that calming rhythm in my own life right now. To beg Ash to share his secret. The secret to forget. To embrace him. To... heck. To kiss Ash and forget it all. 

But the pond was still there. The water. The cold. The pond. The chill. The screams. The pain. The pond, and Mr. Millbury himself.

Millbury pond. How could I ever forget?