"Every night, I see them," Meilin said. She sat in her therapist's office. Ming suggested that Meilien start seeing one. "They haunt my dreams. I know they're dead. I know they'll never hurt me again. Yet, they hurt me in my dreams."
It had been almost two months since the ordeal. However, it still felt like yesterday to those involved. "Who all knows of your dreams?" Mrs. Ebeid asked. "Talking to someone in your comfort circle might help."
"You're the first person I've told," Meilin confessed. Her parents knew when they first happened. It became so bad that she had to sleep on a cot in her parent's room. When Meilin noticed how sleep-deprived her parents became, she pretended they ended. She made sure to scream into her pillows when she woke up.
"Talking to others might help as well," Mrs. Ebeid explained. "However, I want you to keep a dream journal. When you have a nightmare, write down what happened in your journal. We'll analyze your dreams at your next appointment. Do you want me to lend you one? A normal notebook should do."
"I should have one that will work," Meilin responded.
"Have you shifted into your panda recently?" Mrs. Ebeid asked.
"Occasionally," Meilin said.
"Your assignment this week is to document your dreams," Mrs. Ebeid said. "Is there anything else you wish to discuss? We have barely touched that you almost died. The doctors said your chances of waking up weren't high."
"I don't remember much of those days," Meilin said. "Everything from being rescued and returning to Toronto was a blur."
"Okay," Mrs. Ebeid sighed. "You're dismissed."
That night, Meilin was drawing in her notebook. The fact that her broken arm was still healing made this activity hard. However, Mrs. Ebeid told her to focus on her creative outlet. She had spent most of her summer drawing. Occasionally, Abby, Miriam, Tyler, and Priya would come over. It was rare she left the house other than for therapy or a doctor's appointment.
Ming entered her daughter's room. "Your friend Miriam is calling," Ming said. She gave Meilin the phone.
"Thank you," Meilin said. She answered the phone. "Hey, Meriam."
"Hey," Miriam said. "I was wondering if you wanted to go swimming at Tyler's place tomorrow. I think you told me you're getting your cast off tomorrow. If not, you can still come along. We won't be swimming the entire time."
"I am getting my cast off tomorrow," Meilin said. A part of Meilin wanted to say no. None of them had seen her scars yet. She was embarrassed about them. However, Meilin also wanted to see her friends. "I'm down for swimming."