Melinda laid wide awake as silent tears rolled down her face. She turned toward her alarm clock which read 2 AM. Every time she closed her eyes she saw Jim. Earlier the day before she crossed Jim's ghost over. Her best friend was truly gone now, and Melinda was inconsolable. It had been one week since Jim had been laid to rest, and it took that long for Melinda to convince Jim's sprint that he had to do the right thing, and cross over. Now, plagued with memories Melinda decided to give up on sleep. She slid her feet into her slippers, and tied her silk robe as she walked downstairs towards the kitchen.
As Melinda turned on the light her pale face took in the warm brown, and topaz colored kitchen which was a contrast to Melinda's cold despondent state. Melinda glanced at the handle of vodka on the counter Rick had left a few days earlier. She wasn't much of a drinker, but she didn't feel like herself, and feared she never would again. She opened the bottle, and poured it into a glass that she removed from her cupboard. She took a tiny sip at first, and grimaced as the vodka burned her throat, and settled into her chest.
"Damn, I definitely need a chaser, " Melinda commented to herself in a listless voice.
She opened a can of ginger ale that she retrieved from her fridge, and settled on one of the wooden stools seated at the island in the middle of the kitchen. As she drank she looked around the kitchen that she and Jim had shared so many memories in. The inescapable tears rolled down Melinda's bloodshot eyes. Experiencing her home without even having Jim's ghost there was especially tough since Melinda had not spent more than a few minutes outside of her bedroom since his funeral. Just then she noticed Jim's small cordless radio that he used to listen to when he would do handy work throughout the house. Melinda pressed down on the CD player on top, and a Three Days Grace album reflected back. The band was one of Jim's favorites of all time. Melinda smiled as she remembered when Jim somewhat tricked her into seeing them play live.
Melinda rolled her eyes as the band played their umpteenth song inside the night club. Jim promised there would be dancing, but this wasn't exactly what Melinda had in mind.
"Jim, this is basically a concert, " Melinda complained close to her husband's ear.
The couple was seated at a table towards the middle of the dimly lit club as they watched the band onstage, and observed the small mosh pit that had formed up front.
"Mel, there are technically people dancing...well jumping up and down at least, ". Jim gave Melinda a slight guilty look as he nodded his head to the music.
" Fine, but no complaints when I take you to see one of my rom-coms at the movies," Melinda said with humor in her eyes.
Jim laughed, and kissed Melinda on the lips. " Deal,".
Melinda stared at her empty glass as she reminisced. She sighed even wishing she had the distraction of a ghost to keep her flashbacks at bay. She had not seen any spirits beyond Jim's since his tragic death. She had promised Delia she would reopen the shop next week if only to keep herself busy.
Melinda decided to fix herself more alcohol. This time she decided to take her drinks to the sofa inside the family room. She stared out of the dark window, at the ink black sky and observed her pale and gaunt reflection. She had not consumed much more than toast, and yogurt since Jim's death. She remembered all the times he made dinner, and how they would sometimes eat on the couch instead of in the dining room. Melinda shook her head violently as if to shake the memories out of her mind. She stood up slightly swayed, and tripped over her feet as she went into her bathroom to look for something to help her sleep. She pushed aside useless aides in her medicine cabinet until she found what she was looking for. She opened the medicine bottle, and took two capsules out. A thought crossed her mind to take more.
Delia was sleeping soundly in her boyfriend's arms, and though she slept well the dreams about her good friend did not escape her. Her house phone rung, and took her away from her dream about Jim.
"Huh?, " Delia groaned before turning toward her nightstand, and answering the phone.
"Hello?"
Delia heard static on the other end of the phone.
"Hello, is anyone there?, ". Delia let out a Irritated sigh, and looked down at her phone for the caller I.D. The call was placed from Melinda's house. Delia who now had a ominous feeling in the pit of her stomach hung up her phone, and called the number back. The phone rung on as no one answered it.
"Who is it babe?, " her boyfriend yawned, and asked in a tired voice.
"Tim, I think Melinda is in trouble, " was all Delia could say before she rushed out of bed to find random clothes to throw on.
"Why do you say that?, " Tim asked now fully alert. Despite his questioning he too left their sanctuary to get dressed.
"No, stay since you have to get to work in a few hours, ".
"Nonsense, I'm not letting you leave the house alone this time of morning. I will just call out if I have to, " Tim said.
Stay tuned for part two of Melinda's Manic State. I hope you guys enjoyed it, and please leave any feedback positive, or negative. Thanks :)