Ever After

Chapter 2



Gram



Gram holds my face in her small wrinkled hands, looking into my eyes. “Corrine, its okay child. I’m here I’ve got you.” She pushes the hair out of my eyes and kisses my forehead softly. “Was it the nightmare again, my sweetheart?” I nod and go back to hugging her; she rubs my back and sighs. “Shhhh all will be well. I have seen it and you will be fine.”

Gram is very special. She is eighty-six years old and a fifth- generation Cherokee medicine woman, of course she’s not in a tribe. She has Indian in her from my mother’s side of the family but she doesn’t look like it at all. The people in our town who know her gifts come to her for help faithfully. Gram’s father was Irish so she really doesn’t look Indian, more like me really but a lot older and with darker skin.

I grew up with her always watching me very closely. She has what the Indians call the gift of visions or sight. That is a person who can glimpse the futures of others. Sara use to call it witchcraft, but she was just upset when she met Gram years ago. I think she thought that Gram might see she was a real gold digger and tell everybody. I knew Gram had grown up on a real Indian reservation out west. Her ancestors had taught her how to use her gifts of healing and visions to help others.

I had seen the many herbs and potions in her room and she often went to people’s homes to help them with minor health problems. She was very trusted. I trusted her but I was having a hard time thinking Gram’s vision of me being “just fine” were really true. I knew she was very rarely wrong. I knew I shouldn’t doubt her but I was and I couldn’t help it. I didn’t think I was ever going to be fine again.

“What do you see?” I whispered still clinging to her.

“It is not so very clear yet.” She pauses trying to gather her thoughts. “He’s very handsome, goodness he is. I can see him better now.” She smiles.

“Him? It’s a guy you see!” I gasped in shock. “A guy, oh no way!” I pull away, my hair sticking up all over. “If it’s a guy, count me out. I don’t want anything to do with any guys, Gram, not ever. No way.” Gram takes my face into her hands gently. They are ice cold now.

“He will be your protector, child. He will be in your life very soon and no one will ever harm you again as long as he is alive. He will love you to the very depths of your soul.” She was not kidding, her eyes locked on mine. I knew she meant every word she said.

“No Gram, you know that kind of stuff love and all that.” I wipe my eyes. “That’s all over for me. I cannot think of dating anyone.” I take a deep shuddering breath. “I just can’t, it’s too hard.” Gram only smiles. She is not done with her vision yet. I can tell as she closes her eyes.

I watch her, waiting to hear what she is seeing and hoping it has nothing to do with any more guys. “Gram, what is it?” I pull my comforter around me as I catch a chill. I almost don’t want to hear what she’s going to say. The mere thought of dating anyone freaked me out.

“He’s different. Very different, but kind and pure in heart.” Her brow wrinkles. “But I can’t see what makes him so different just yet. I see he’s extremely strong.” She smiles now opening her eyes. “I see that once you meet he will never leave your side.” She laughs quietly. “Well, he will not be able to leave your side is more like it. He will love you so much he cannot be without you.” Her face is as shocked as mine. I sit silently waiting for her to speak. “I hadn’t expected to see this.” She looks at me shaking her head. “Very unusual. You also won’t want him to leave you… it’s as if you two will be soul mates.”

I shake my head in shock. I can’t help but think she’s losing her mind. Her whole vision is impossible; no guy like that even exists. I began to think she had been reading way too many romance novels and they were carrying over into her visions. I didn’t have the heart to say that to her. I knew she was only trying to help me.

“I don’t want anyone Gran, not anyone. The only man I will allow in my life is Dad. Guy’s are all the same as far as I can tell anyway. Todd fooled me…he said I was the first girl her really loved.” I shake my head in disgust. “If that’s how love works you can sure as heck count me out! I am sorry but you must be wrong about this vision. I will send him… away whoever he is. I will not mess with anything to do with dating ever again Gram.” I flop back on my bed.

“My visions have never been wrong honey. I have been having them since I was younger than you…never has one been wrong yet.” She takes my hand into hers gently. “Not that I wished some of them were wrong…many many times I wished that.”

“It is this time… I just can’t be with anyone.” I sigh, suddenly feeling sick. “Todd was like my first serious boyfriend Gram…he even acted like we might get married after college…it makes me sick…all his lies.”

“I know it hurts Corrine, but that pain will fade. I know Todd betrayed your trust, but this young man I see coming into your life is nothing like him. His heart is good. I see no evil in him…like Todd. The fates have been set in motion already. It is rare I can alter such events even if I foresee them coming as I just did.” Her face falls as she holds my hand. “It’s just not possible.” Her voice fades into a whisper and I know she is talking about my mother’s death.

“You mean Mom? You saw her death and could not alter her future, that’s what you mean?”

“Yes.” She looks sadly down at the floor. I was powerless. Her cancer was too far-gone. I don’t know why I didn’t see it sooner…so maybe the doctors could have done something to stop it from spreading.” She shakes her head as the painful memory fills her mind. “I could do nothing. It’s the worst thing in the world…to watch your own child die. I pray you never ever have to suffer through something like that.”

“But I can change this vision Gram. I just won’t go outside. I won’t meet anyone. It’s not like I’m sick it’s just the fact I need to not meet this guy you’re talking about.”

Gram drops her shoulders clearly drained from the visions and from my arguing. She takes my other hand looking into my eyes. “Do what you feel is best but if this vision is meant to be, hiding will do you no good. I love you…but what happens next you may not be able to control.” She slowly gets up pulling my blankets up around me and patting my head. “Get some sleep, honey. It’s been a long day.” I smile weakly; still sure, I can avoid her vision if I try hard enough.

“Sorry I got mad. I didn’t mean to.”

She smiles, tilting her head. “Ah… I know dear. It’s a lot to take in. I know you are very vulnerable right now, but you will survive this. I promise.”

I flip open my phone to check my messages after Gram closes my door. I have tons of them. I guess I forgot to call back a few people. I listen to them, and the fifth message makes my blood run cold. I hear Todd’s voice as I clench my sheets in fear.

“Hey it’s me. I will be stopping by very soon to finish what we started. If you thought this was over, you are dead wrong. You screwed up my life and now I’m going to screw up yours. You had better live it up while you can, because I am coming for you, and you are going to die. If I’m going to be locked up, I am going to make it count (laughing) that’s if they can catch me. (pause) Sweet dreams now. I hear I am all you dream about.”

I hit number seven without thinking to delete the message, as if it will delete him. My heart is pounding. I drop the phone and wrap my arms around myself and start sobbing, rocking back and forth in shock. I think now only of the razor blade I have hidden in my bathroom. I can end it all. I can stop all of the pain, the fear, the torment; all I have to do is go get it. I know it now. I am insane. I cry so hard I fall asleep before I can go to the bathroom and look for that razor. I have lived one more night… but I couldn’t promise myself I would make it through tomorrow.