IN THE SUN
Chapter 13: Interview

Pen and paper in hand, Michael Rainey sat down across from me in the lobby next to one of the cameramen. Michael was a really nice guy. His sister had been a medium, but committed suicide in her early twenties due to the fact she had no-one to talk to and it all got to be too much for her. I couldn't imagine how hard that must have been for her. As director, Michael wanted to interview me, Nick, Chris and a fourth medium, a woman in her mid-thirties who came in from Omaha. I didn't learn anything else about her, much less meet her that night; we would all get together as a group the day after the gig I was playing with the band. It looked as if I was the last one to come in to talk to Michael separately. Nick didn't leave the room; he and Chris stayed off to the side and talked so quietly I was surprised they could hear each other.

"So. Liza. Tell me about yourself."

"Well...." I thought, then giggled. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything. Start at the beginning."

"My name is Elizabeth Leroux-- I go by Liza. I am twenty-four years old and I am a medium."

"How old were you when you first started seeing spirits?"

"Four years old."

"Wow, that's really young. What happened? Was it just.... instantaneous? Did you just wake up one day, and....."

"Uuh, no, actually; my father and I were in a car accident on the way home from market one day. My doctor said that we both should have died, a-and I actually did. I was legally dead for three and a half minutes. My doctors busted their asses and brought me back, only I..... I brought the dead with me."

"God. That- that's incredible. I'm so sorry you had to go through that."

"Yeah, well," I shrugged, smiling. "I wouldn't change a thing."

"Why not?"

"All my life, all I've ever known is the supernatural. It's as normal to me as breathing and eating and brushing my teeth in the morning. I've had my ups and downs and things I really wish had happened differently, but in the end, I'm not sure I'd change a thing."

"That's wonderful. Has there been any once incident that's stuck with you?"

"Well.... um. My best friend from childhood died about four years ago, see. She, was a medium, too. Another car accident. I got banged up pretty bad, my face included." I touched my left cheek. "Anyway, Gwen wasn't so lucky. She......" I glanced down at the floor, tracing the patterns of the gnarly scars up and down my right leg. "I had to talk her through keeping conscious, but she died before the ambulance got to us." Michael offered me a Kleenex, and it wasn't until then I realized there were teardrops landing on my arms. "Thanks," I sniffled. "So yeah, about.... well, let's say three or so months after she died, she came to me one night-- I was with Nick-- and basically said her goodbyes, that it was time for her to cross over. And we watched her go."

Michael listened intently to my story. "Liza, I'm so sorry you lost your friend like that. It looks as if we've both lost mediums close to us."

I nodded. "Yeah. I'm real sorry about your sister."

"Thank you, Liza." Michael smiled kindly. "Now. One last question for the evening. What would you say scares you the most?"

I was surprised by the question. "What-- what scares me?"

"Mm-hmm," Michael nodded.

"What scares me..... hmm. Well, in my life, I've seen a lot of freaky, crazy shit, whether it be due to the fact I'm a medium, or..... other things. Being a medium, I can see what most people don't. Feel what most people would assume a passing breeze. And although it can be terrifying.... it's all I've ever known. I suppose you can say that what I'm most afraid of is what I can't see."

"It went okay? The interview with Michael."

"Oh, yeah, it went great."
 "Good," Nick smiled.

"Hey, did he ask you what you were most afraid of?"

"Why, yes.... yes he did. I thought it was a very interesting question."

"Yeah, me, too. Did you tell him about the rats?"

"Oh, for goodness sake....." Nick laughed. "I shouldn't have even told you about my one, strange little fear, it seems, if all you're going to do is tease me!"

I giggled. "Nuthin' but love for ya, baby!"

I explained everything that happened in the courtyard to Nick and Chris at dinner some. That night the seven of us found an amazing Cajun restaurant down the street, and we enjoyed a night of delicious food and good laughs. It was strange, finally being able to discuss my abilities with my band-mates. But it felt good to let it all go. Finally, the check came, and by that time it was so late that even the four cups of coffee I'd had throughout the day began to wear off. I knew it was a sign for me to call it a night, so when we got back to the hotel I slipped into an old pair of sweat-pants and an old t-shirt and collapsed onto one of the two double beds in the room Nick and I shared. Curling up under the covers, I messed around with my phone for a few minutes with the lights on, waiting for Nick to get out of the shower. I eventually got bored and plugged it in to my charger. Nick came out as I was getting comfy under the sheets.

"You need the lights?"

I shook my head. "Nope. Hit 'em."

Nick let out a short breath, leaning over to kiss my cheek. "Goodnight, dear Liza."

"Mmmm," I grinned. "'Night."