Amnesia and Star Child

A month on and Leila sat down at her table, leafing through the morning paper while sipping a mug of coffee.
It was time to make a move, she was sick of living in Boston she needed some place out - away from the hustle and bustle.
The name ‘Lincoln Park’ made her lose concentration.
She found herself wondering about Mike, wondering if he was okay now that they had all gone home. He hadn’t been in contact with her for the three months since Linkin Park had left Europe.
MTV had some news, mainly rumors.
Mike had been sent to a psychiatric ward. Mike had gone to hospital. Mike had been looking unwell, Mike hadn’t been seen around much - blah, blah, blah.
All the times she had seen him - of course he wouldn’t be around much.
She missed his quirky jokes.
Leila sipped her coffee and resumed her search, flicking through the pages until she found an interesting advert.
It was a house in Agoura, small, but it looked homey.
“Mira!” Leila whistled.
All at once a German Shepherd dog came running, tail wagging as she buried her wet nose in Leila’s outstretched hand.
“You know what girl, I think it’s time for a change of scene.” Leila looked down at the loyal black and tanned bitch. “Yeah? Does that sound good? Get away from this and head for Agoura?”
Leila looked out the window to where the cars kept going on and one by and sighed deeply.
Mira growled and Leila smiled, ruffling the beast’s shaggy mane.
“We’ll go and investigate tomorrow then.” She said with a smile.

~*~*~

I scream - so loud I’m sure the rest of the street can hear it - and bolt upright, breathing fast and sobbing.
“No...” I sob.
Rosie touches her hand to my shoulder but I take little notice, I press my hand to my chest, feeling the thudding of my heart, feeling the sweat soaked material of my shirt sticking to my skin, taking a deep breath, I put my head in my hands, sobbing uncontrollably for what seems hours.
I gasp and lie back down, sobs still catching in my throat.
But eventually I calm down and climb out of bed, well, more like dragged out - Rosie’s insisting I get up.
You’ve been asleep all day, Mike, please - no more dreaming - come on Mike - get up!
“Rosieee...” I grumble.
But I do as she asks and get up, Having a quick shower, going and getting dressed in something other than yesterdays clothes and eating a packet of chips that I’d put in the fridge.
What did I say? You ask.
Yes, you heard me right - in the fridge.
My mental functioning is going out the window more everyday - I’ve been trying to wash dishes in the toilet, or I’d go to put the milk away in the closet and the clothes away in the freezer.
So I guess it’s standard to be putting salt and vinegar chips in the fridge.
I’m crackin’ up - no, that’s wrong.
I’ve cracked up.
Just have to wait - the men in white will come around and take me away to a loony bin any day now.
Rosie has no idea what exactly is going wrong with me.
Sleeping all day, spending my waking hours crying or cutting and trying to maintain the house in some kind of order - none of which is exactly working.
I give the alley cat that hangs around my house a bowl of milk every morning but for some unexplainable reason yesterday I gave it Poweraid.
Hell, that poor cat - it wouldn’t have known what hit it.
I feel pity for any birds that got in its way.
We need to get out for a while Mike, you need fresh air.
Rosie sits down at the table, heart light flickering, and her tail waving lazily in the air.
“Right. And go where? Phoenix has gone on a holiday with his wife to god knows where, Joe spends all his time practicing Jujitsu, Chester will have his hands full with Sam and Draven, Brad will be out with his wife - and I’m not gonna go to Rob - fuck that. It’s just gonna result in...” I shake my head bitterly.
Blue cackles at me.
Rose sings softly like a nightingale and then looks at me with her head lowered.
“No. I’m not going anywhere. It’ll only cause headaches.”
I feel like Gollum - Gollum versus Smeagle.
And Gollum’s gonna win.
Just get out somewhere, it’s almost night, surely you can go to a nightclub or something?
“Have you lost your mind Rosie? I’m not going there - no way...” I begin.
We argue.