He smiled and approached her, extending his hand. “May I?”
She nodded slowly. He looked harmless, but she still went over the few self-defense moves Chuy had taught her, just in case. She knew she should have crashed Chuy’s class.
He placed a hand on her head. She felt a jolt and then heard a humming sound. A series of images flashed through her mind: her parents, smiling, and posing underneath the Pier 39 sign; her ten year-old self tugging on her mother’s hand and pointing to the sea lions sunbathing on the platforms across the pier; her father kissing her mother as the sun melted into the ocean.
She jerked away, the pain of the memory hurting more than the physical pain in her head. “What was that?”
“You didn’t recognize it? They are your memories, are they not?” His voice was low and gentle.
“Well, yeah. That was me with my mom and dad.” Her parents didn’t have much money, so they rarely went on vacations outside of Texas. Somehow, her mother was able to save enough money one year for them to visit San Francisco. It had been a dream come true for her father, a big football fan and a die-hard Niner.
Naomi walked down the steps of the platform and looked at the empty docks. “This is Pier 39.” She turned to him. “How did I get here? And how did you do that head thing that you did?”
“There’s little time to explain. I ask that you search deep inside yourself and find your strength again. Your life is precious, Naomi. Have faith, and you will find happiness again.”
“I’m still alive? Am I dreaming?”
Instead of answering, Raphael looked off into the distance for a moment, as if hearing something. Naomi gazed in the direction he was looking, but saw nothing. “I apologize for my abruptness, but I have information that is of vital importance to you. Quickly, come here.” He rushed to her, his hands extended.
Naomi took a step back and ducked her head. “Keep away from me.” Her head was pounding and she feared that, if he touched her again, it would get worse.
“Forgive me, Naomi. There is no time.” Raphael took hold of Naomi and placed his hands along the sides of her temples. He leaned down and gazed intently into her eyes. “Remember,” he breathed.
For a moment, Naomi saw nothing except for his clear blue eyes, then a brief flash of an image. She was on a hilltop looking down at sheep, and a slender young man stood in the center of the herd. Although his back was to her, a sea of emotions washed over her at the sight of him. Who was he? Did she know him?
The sound of a bird caught his attention, and he turned to look at it as it soared overhead. Naomi’s breath hitched as she caught sight of his profile. There was something about his square jaw and aquiline nose that was familiar. She felt a strange pull to him.
As if he could sense her, he turned. When she was about to see his full face, a bird swooped down and the vision vanished. She fell to the ground, scraping her palms on the wooden deck.
“Remember, Naomi. Remember.” Raphael repeated the word as his body faded into the mist. “Remember, iiiit’s—”
Naomi woke with a start as the word “time” echoed in her ears. Across the room, the TV blared as the announcer introduced two athletes, who glared at each other from across the circular cage.
She fingered the thin white sheet and felt something clinging to her arm. Attached to it was a small tube that led to a bag hanging on a pole next to the bed. To her left, the sound of a loud chainsaw came from an entity known as Chuy. She sighed. She was in the hospital. He had fallen asleep before the UFC match had even started. He must’ve been really tired.
She tried to sit up but fell back into the pillow when the room spun. She closed her eyes and waited for the dizziness to pass as she recalled what happened. She’d wanted to die. Now she was having crazy dreams, probably a side effect of some drugs they had pumped into her veins. Why did Chuy have to come looking for her?
She grabbed her pillow and threw it at him. “Wake up.”
“What? What?” He jolted up and then looked over to her. “You’re awake.”
He clicked off the TV and sat on the edge of her bed with a serious expression on his face. “What happened?”
Naomi dropped back into bed. “You know what happened. You were there.”
“I meant, why? Why did you do it? I could’ve helped you.”
She turned her head and sighed. Chuy took life in stride. Nothing ever got him down. How could he understand that she wasn’t as strong as him? “I don’t know how to explain it. I just don’t feel anything anymore. It’s like I’m numb. You wouldn’t understand.”