When the Sun Sets

The truth

Today is the day I'm going to tell my mom about how I saw Laurent after the accident. Saying I'm nervous is an understatement. I hope and pray she will believe me. I took a shower for the first time in a week, put on some random clothes, and waited for my mom to come. She didn't want me to drive so she said she would pick me up at my house. I finally heard her car about ten minutes later and we headed to a local cafe.

The ride there was silent. My mom didn't know what to expect me and I didn't know what to expect from her. Neither of us tried to break the seance until we got to the parking lot.

"Larry," she says, sighing. "I want you to know that I will still love you even after what you're going to tell me in the cafe. Please remember that."

"I will, mama." I say as the nervousness kicks in.

No she won't. My mind dared.

I held the brown, wooden door for my mom and she smiled at me to say "thank you." We sat at our booth, ordered food and drinks, then my mother started to stare at me.

"So," she said, swallowing hard. I could tell she was nervous too. "What did you want to tell me?"

My heart began to race and my palms started to sweat. I didn't know if I could do this.

"I uh..." I tried to speak, but I couldn't get a single sentence out. I tried to stand up and leave, but my mother grabbed my arm.

"Where are you going? Sit back down and tell me!" She cried.

"Okay, okay," I took a deep breath. "I... saw Laurent.... After the accident." Her eyes grew wide. "He looked normal besides sort of a glow around his body. I thought I was going crazy, but I could actually feel his skin. He was real, mama." I said, looking for any hint of disgust or terror on my mother's face. She didn't show any of those emotions, only shock. Her eyes were wide.

"You...saw him?" She felt my forehead. "Are you sure you're not sick?"

I felt heartbroken. She didn't believe me. Of course she didn't. Who would?

I took her hand off of my forehead and gently laid it down on the table. "I'm not sick, mama. I should've known you wouldn't believe me. I'm sorry I wasted your time." I put money on the table for the food that never came, and left.

As soon as I started to walk home it began to rain. Just my luck. My mom thinks I'm insane and now I have to walk home in the rain. Every step I took back home was filled with regret of ever bothering to tell her about Laurent. I was an idiot.

By the time I got home, I was dripping from head to toe. I took my shirt and pants off, got in bed, and cried. I can't believe that I thought she would believe me. I bet she's telling everyone how crazy I've become. Maybe I am going insane.

I drifted off into a light sleep and dreamed of the darkness and the voice again. As the person began to speak, the voice became clearer.

"Larry,you need to get up. Larry, please." The person began to cry. My heart ached for them, like I knew who they were, but I couldn't quite pinpoint it. I tried to listen closer, but the voice faded away as I fell into a deep sleep.