Insomnia

Nina panicked a few minutes after sitting down, the leather couch squeaking as she shifted, debating whether to make a run for it. Secrets are secrets for a reason. What if…

“Hallo.” The door opened in from the front office. “I’m Dr Halibut. Nice to meet you, Nina.”

Her last chance for escape vaporized in front of her.
“Hello, Doctor.”

She entered slowly, perusing her notepad, making her way to the larger, softer chair.
“I see you haven’t been to a counselor before. What brought you in?”

Eh. Nina exhaled after holding her breath a little too long.
“I‘ve been having dreams lately. Disturbing dreams. Losing enough sleep to interfere with my work, and my boss suggested I see someone. Get back on track.”

She smiled, squeaked in her own leather chair.
“I see. Fairly common problem, really. I’m sure we’ll get to the bottom easily enough.”  Dr Halibut moved a tissue box onto the small coffee table, her motions fluid, measured.  “Tell me about your last dream.”

Nina took a moment, studying Dr Halibut, her gaze moving over her, then back up to her face. She nodded.
Nina closed her eyes.

“I was running, running through the brush. Scent of blood deep in my mouth, tongue tasting the minute particles as I raced to catch more. I could see my quarry zigzagging in front of me, see the fear sloughing off in waves as it pushed itself to its utmost, desperate for survival. I growled, lunged even closer, and felt my heart speed even faster as my claws passed through its hair, almost snagging hold.  Almost.”
Nina paused to lick her lips, unclench her fingers from the armrest. She was breathing faster than normal.
“The chase was exhilarating, I could feel every muscle stretch and contract, every pore release my joy and hunger. The night was mine, and I was invincible. I loved it.” Nina peeked though her lashes, noted the therapist’s rapt expression, lips slightly apart. “I caught her. She’d stumbled in her terror, and I was on her, severing her spinal cord with my jaws. Blood soaked her clothes as I--”

“Excuse me, did you say ‘clothes’?”

Nina opened her eyes, leveled her gaze into Halibut’s. “I think she was wearing a denim jacket. Was a chore to get through.”

“I….see.” Halibut smoothed her skirt, stalling for composure. “Was this what disturbed you about your dream? That you were attacking a person?”

“No. I’d have to say that, during the dream, I was happier, more alive, than I’ve ever been awake. I’ve tried religion, travel, meditation, many different things to find peace. True peace. Never have.” Nina rose from the sofa, started to pace. “But in my dream, I have no fear, no doubt. I am completely alive, free, and I know I am where I belong. When I wake, the loss leaves me shattered.”

“So, this sense of loss, this is what disturbs you, then?” She tilts her head to watch the young woman move around the room, ensuring she doesn’t leave. Or walk behind her.

Nina paused by a potted fig tree, focused for a moment on one of the leaves, as she gently tugged it, then sniffed her fingers.
“No. I’d have to say that what disturbs me about this dream is the fact that, although I’d never seen the woman before last night, I saw her this morning after getting out of bed. I saw her on the news.” She stood still, looking down into Halibut’s wide eyes.

Halibut shuddered. “The woman.  She was--”

“Murdered. Yes. Torn to pieces. I think I did it. I know I enjoyed it,”  She smiled, baring her teeth. “And there’s one more thing.”

The leather chair squeaked as Halibut shrank further down. She doesn’t ask.

“I wasn’t alone on the chase.”

Nina picked up her backpack and walked out, leaving the door ajar.