Where can I find a woman, where can I find a woman like that?
At first, I was absolutely in love with it.
But for two weeks after, strange things had been happening to me.
Kiran Foster
I started hearing a mans voice saying my name.
I lost my job due to sleep deprivation and failing to show up.
Things came to a head when I started seeing things.
That brings me to the next part of my story.
Then, he guided me to my bedroom.
No, I whispered, I want to lay in my moms bed.
I feel safer in there.
Go to sleep, he whispered, Ill be right here when you wake up.
That was a lie.
Several hours later, I was awoken by the sound of heavy pounding on the front door.
I had slept for at least 8 hours straight.
I got out of bed and found myself still in my bathrobe from my attempted shower earlier.
To my surprise, it was Jesse.
I didnt even have to bring up the door to know that he was drunk.
I cant believe-
SHUT UP!
Jus-just SHUT UP CHARLIE!
He stumbled into the house and pushed past me when I tried to help him maintain his balance.
I didnt lock the door!
I just woke up, just now, from you banging on it!
Oh, right, right.
So who locked the door then Charlie?
Was it- was itCasper, your fucking ghost?
His name is Sam, I whispered, fighting back tears.
Oh, of course.
Sam.It was Sam!I should have known!
he laughed, sarcastically smacking himself in the forehead with the palm of his free hand.
In the other, he held a nearly-empty beer bottle.
I cant believe youre drunk!
After how far youve come and-
OH, IM SORRY!
I guess I didnt know how to cope with the fact that my girlfriend is a fucking nutcase!
Its not my fault!
Its the damn necklace-
The necklace!
He returned a moment later, the necklace intertwined between his fingers.
Jesse, youre scaring me.
You wanna know where I got your anniversary present, you ungrateful bitch?
I picked it up while I was in Chicago.
From a local jewelry shop that I follow on Facebook.
And this,thisis how you repay me?
By going batshit crazy and making up some fucking ghost stories?
Jesse grabbed my arm and threw the front door open.
Jesse, YOURE HURTING ME!
Im not going anywhere with you!
GET IN THE CAR!
Scared of what he might do, I obliged when he opened the drivers car door.
Instead of climbing over the console and into the passengers seat, I stayed put.
Fine, I said, But Im not letting you drive.
Jesse stared at me for a moment, thinking.
I almost expected him to hit me.
Finally, he shut the car door and walked around and got in the passenger seat.
He took out his phone and typed in an address.
We have to go here, he said, handing me his phone.
ToChicago?Are you crazy?
Thats like two hours away!
I dont wanna drive there tonight!
Do you want answers about this damn necklace, or not?
I snatched it from him and shoved it into my pocket.
Itll be 1 in the morning before we get there, the jewelry shop wont even be open!
Chicago doesnt really sleep.
And that shop is always open.
Part of its charm, I suppose.
I stared at him for a moment, relieved that he had appeared to have calmed down a little.
Fine, I whispered, holding my hand out to him for the keys.
I pulled in to the nearest gas station.
What are you doing?
Jesse asked as if it wasnt obvious.
We need gas, Jesse.
Your car is almost on empty.
Do you have your wallet on you?
I held my breath, hoping he would say no.
Here, he said, handing me his card, Fill her up.
I sighed, took the card and walked into the little building.
I grabbed some snacks and drinks before wandering up to the counter.
The clerk eyeballed me, not so much checking me out, more so in a disapproving manner.
When I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror on the ceiling behind him, I understood why.
I looked like hell.
When I walked back to the car to pump the gas, I found Jesse in the drivers seat.
I should have seen that one coming.
I filled the tank, then reached to pop fire up drivers door.
Jesse locked it before I could pull the door open.
Jesse, I am not playing games with you.
Just get in the fucking car, Charlie.
Frantic, I smacked the car window.
Dont make a scene, Charlie.
Ive driven under worse conditions.
Furious, I walked around the car and got in on the other side.
Before I could attempt to talk some sense into him, Jesse started the car and took off.
I desperately reached for my seatbelt, praying the whole time.
Jesse didnt even seem to notice as I stared in horror, watching the tuning dial move by itself.
Then, the volume.
I forgot how to breathe as that familiar song found its way in through the speakers.
Jessie is a friend, yeah, I know hes been a good friend of mine…
What?
I reached for the volume on the radio, but it turned itself up before I even touched it.
Jesse winced, What are you doing?
The radio, it-
Oh come on, Charlie.
And shes watching him with those eyes…
What the fuck?
I pushed the power button, but nothing happened.
I kept pushing it, as the volume increased.
You know I wish that I had Jessies girl!
I know you like this song but turn that shit down!
I cant even turn it off!
Its like the car is possessed or something-
Oh, here we go.
Jesse smacked the steering wheel.
Will you just fucking stop with the ghost shit already?
I play along with the charade…
Im not fucking with you Jesse, I cant turn it off!
Move, Jesse slapped my hand away and frantically started pushing the power button, to no avail.
I covered my ears as the speakers rattled from the ever-increasing volume.
Jesse said something, but I couldnt hear him.
I wanna tell her that I love her but the point is probably moot…
WHAT?
I yelled at him, no longer able to hear my own voice.
JESSE, LOOK OUT!
I wish that I had Jessies girl!
It was too late.
Rick Springfields voice was replaced with static, as the pavement beneath us was replaced by the midnight sky.
Then it was pavement again, then the sky.
I heard my mothers voice yell, from somewhere in the distance.
Oh Charlie, thank God!
I could feel her breath as she sobbed into the back of my hand.
I opened my eyes and squinted against the arrogant sunlight coming in through the window across the room.
We knew you would pull through and wake up eventually, you just took your time is all.
A couple of days?
I tried to sit up, but the nurse held me down.
Youre going to be alright.
You were in a car accident.
Jesse had quite a bit of alcohol in his system.
You are lucky you werent more severely injured.
You are one of the lucky ones.
Not wearing a seatbelt appears to have saved your life.
Your car went off the side of the freeway.
It appears you spun quite a few times before you were thrown out the window.
I stared at her, trying to understand.
My mother was sobbing again.
It turned on by itself and distracted me while I was trying to fasten my seatbelt.
I forgot to buckle myself in because I was trying to turn the damn radio off.
My mother looked at me, then at the nurse.
Your memory might be a little fuzzy.
You just went through a traumatic experience.
You are probably in shock.
He is down the hall.
He experienced more serious injuries than you, but for the time being, he is stable.
I have to see him!
I tried to sit up again, and the nurse stopped me.
You are very lucky, but you still suffered from some injuries, aside from your head trauma.
You have a bruised lung and some bruised ribs.
Its a miracle you didnt break anything.
you gotta rest, Charlie.
Jesse will be alright.
What happened to him?
He is still unconscious.
He, too, suffered head trauma.
Unfortunately, he also has a broken collarbone and a broken arm.
We will inform you as soon as he is awake.
My mother asked, having finally calmed herself down.
The doctor is on her way.
That night, I had an unexpected visitor.
My mother had gone home for a shower and a change of clothes.
It took me damn near an hour to convince her to go, and that I would be okay.
Not five minutes after she left, a strange woman entered the room and lingered in the doorway.
I had never seen her before, but I knew who she was immediately.
Youre Jesses mother, I gasped.
I could recognize those eyes anywhere-
I-Im sorry to bother you.
Jesses mother, yes.
Her voice was so soft, I could hardly hear her.
Im sorry to meet you under such poor circumstances.
Can I come in?
Yeah, yeah of course!
I tried to sit up in bed and winced.
She entered the room slowly, then took a seat in my mothers chair beside my bed.
Jesse seems to be improving, he still hasnt regained consciousness though, unfortunately.
But the doctor says there is hope.
She lowered her head and started playing with something in her lap.
Im glad youre okay, Charlie.
Im so sorry my son put you in that position.
I just hope I dont have to lose him, too.
She raised her hands from her lap, and I saw what she was playing with.
The necklace.The damn necklace.It looked as beautiful as ever, its chain woven between her fingers.
Your mother and I met yesterday, and we were trying to piece together what had happened.
She set the necklace on my blanket.
I just, I was wondering if you could tell me where you got it?
Oh, Jesse gave that to me a few weeks back, for our anniversary.
Its what started this whole thing, actually.
I noticed the tear collecting in the corner of her left eye.
This necklace, it is my most prized possession.
Someone broke into my home a few weeks ago and stole it.
I thought it was suspicious that nothing else in the house had been touched.
I assumed it must have been Jesse, but I was hoping it was just a terrible coincidence.
She grabbed a wad of tissues and blew her nose.
This necklace, its just so important to me.
For reasons Jesse doesnt even know about.
She paused to wipe her eyes again.
Charlie, I know I was a horrible mother to him.
After he left, I cleaned up my act.
I have been sober for two years, but he wouldnt answer my calls.
He wanted nothing to do with me.
Cant say I blame him.
At that point, she was sobbing.
Uncomfortable, I handed her another wad of tissues in an attempt to comfort her.
Jesse lied to me, he said he bought the necklace from a jewelry store in Chicago.
I had no idea!
Its alright, its not your fault, she whispered, still wiping her face.
This is going to sound crazy, but…do you know a Sam?
She froze tissues in hand and stared at me through the tears.
The look in her eyes sent chills down my spine.
How do you know about Sam?
kindly, dont think Im crazy.
These last two weeks, since Jesse gave me that necklace, strange things have been happening.
Have you seen Sam, too?
she asked, grabbing my hand desperately.
At that point, it wasmyturn to cry.
All I could do was nod my head yes.
She held up the necklace.
Do you know what this is?
I stared in silence.
Its a memorial necklace; Cremation jewelry, thats why its so bulky.
Suddenly, it all made sense.
Sam, I whispered.
Yes, she started crying again.
Sam, my first son.
Jesse had a brother?!
Why hadnt I thought of that before?
Yes, Jesse had a brother.
