Mirage

MIRAGE

Written by Jenna Jorgenson

Note from author: “The following story came to me in a vivid dream. Midday at work the next day, I suddenly remembered this dream sequence and furiously started writing down any scraps that I could remember. Unsure what prompted or inspired this. Not based on true events. Could be slightly graphic.”

He’s so hot. His olive skin and lean body. Endearing, too.

It’s a warm, spring night and the crickets are going to town. Summer is taunting us.

We’re young, in love, and make out every chance we get.

We’re sitting in my car and…yada yada yada…how does my body fit between him and the steering wheel without getting crushed? I don’t question it. We’re thrusting emphatically - windows fogging up, the whole nine yards.

Isaac.

The next day I pull up to his house to deliver his forgotten school bag from our passionate car sesh the night before. I stare for a second. He’s rich. I’ve been here a few times before, but it still amazes me every time.

I park my rusted 2005 Honda CR-V on the side of his mansion near some tree branches, so as to not impede on the view from a passerby. I’m leaning over, sit up and scream at the sight of Mr. Cruz standing right there. My mom’s side of the family was always on edge—in the genes.

Mr. Cruz is a very nice Asian-Latino man, full of power and bravado. You can tell he has a lot of money just by the way he stands there and smiles with a glint in his eye…always comes out of nowhere, though.

I go up to Isaac’s room, but alas, no boy in sight. I text him. Minutes later I remember he’s at lacrosse practice - right, it’s Thursday. Mr. Cruz made it seem like Isaac was home?

CUT TO:

It’s dark outside and I’m alone in Isaac’s bed, drunk and watching a movie in my sports bra. I’m out of it. Wait, what the hell. What am I doing? I try standing, but end up wanting to lay back down and finish the movie. Drifting off, feeling the weight of sleep creep up on me…when I have another moment of clarity! What the hell am I doing! Isaac isn’t even home! Why am I chilling in his bed alone? Why am I drunk! Weird!

I will myself to get up, put the rest of my clothes on and leave before someone finds me, but-

SUDDENLY, I wake up, yet it’s not morning - it must be the middle of the night? I pause, or has it been just a couple of hours? Must be the latter.

I get up and walk out of Isaac’s room. Mr. Cruz is right there. ZOOM IN: his charming face, nodding slowly as he flashes a smile and his blue eyes sparkle.

“Where are you going?” he asks.

“I’m leaving. Just had to drop off Isaac’s bag, I should get going. I’ll come back when he’s home.”

Mr. Cruz cocks his head and smiles. “Why don’t you stay? Isaac will be home any minute.” Something feels off. But Mr. Cruz has a strange allure about him, so I turn around, shut the door and lay on the bed. Something seems off but I can’t put my finger on it.

After what feels like a few seconds, I become intensely sleepy and once I hear Isaac come in and feel him beside me, sleep pulls me under.

CUT TO:

It’s light outside - must be the next day. I feel the absence of another body next to me. Where did he go? I think - I’ve never stayed over on a school night, mom and dad are going to kill me!

Just then, Isaac comes in. Hot damn! Everything goes out the window. Yada yada yada…we have a very passionate night. Both exhausted, we fall asleep.

It’s morning again. I sit up, massive headache. I look over and my mom is here? Hi mom! Thank goodness!

“Here, honey. Let’s get you back in bed, you’re not feeling well,” she says.

“What? Mom, I’m fine, I want to leave! Something’s going on and Mr. Cruz is weirding me out. And what are you doing here?”

Mr. Cruz comes in. “Everything alright?” he says.

Everything is definitely not alright! I scream in my head.

My mom looks at Mr. Cruz, “Going great, just putting her to bed. :)”

“Good to hear.”

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?

Pieces of last night flash through my mind sporadically. Glimpses of Mr. Cruz? Was Mr. Cruz in bed with me? Chills shoot down my left arm. Everything feels like jello…

Morning again. I’m awake early and try to assess what’s going on: mom is here but she’s clearly in on whatever’s happening, Mr. Cruz is strange and always disappearing, time seems to be very fluid and for some reason I cannot leave. I hear Mr. Cruz leave the house. I need to get out of here. I’ll explain everything to mom and then we’ll leave.

Before I know it, mom is telling me what a wonderful man Mr. Cruz is and how we could live here forever. Okay, they’re all drinking the Kool-Aid… As I take a step toward the door, she starts ballooning up into a literal giant, wagging her finger at me and blocking the door.

So I use the oldest trick in the book… “Look! What’s over there?” I point to something imaginary and bolt for the door, only to be greeted by Mr. Cruz in the hallway, smiling. I have a flash of that same menacing smile cloaked in dark light. Was it from the other night? Mr. Cruz guides me back to the room. Shit.

Another day elapses. How could it have possibly been a whole day? Now, I am determined. I listen for Mr. Cruz to leave the house as I waste no time to distract mother and break out of the room. But she is persistent on me helping her with some chore. Now’s not the time for chores, mom! I try reasoning with her again, telling her we need to leave. She’s nodding her head and I feel like I’m starting to break through, there’s a glimmer of hope in her eyes…but then she turns skeptical. I explain that we both need to leave in order to be safe! She tells me that we are perfectly safe here, Mr. Cruz will take care of us. Again— I am struck with flashes of memories and pangs of a feeling that Mr. Cruz has done terrible things to me.

But he won’t take care of us! I try to plead. She doesn’t listen and blocks the door. Time is ticking! I have no idea when Mr. Cruz will return and I do not plan on being here when that happens. I become impatient as the impending return of Mr. Cruz draws near.

I push past her and she falls, sorry mom. Have to keep moving. My heart is pounding. I go out onto the landing above the staircase and look out through the huge windows - coast is clear.

I start down the stairs furiously when I see Mr. Cruz walking up the driveway through the sliver of glass in the front door. I jump the last few steps and quickly dart behind a post, then swiftly make my way to the side door. I have to time my exit perfectly so that when he walks through the front door, I’m leaving through the side door at precisely the same time. A delicate dance.

I watch and wait until the front door just opens. I sprint to my car parked on the side of the house among the tree branches. I look back, Mr. Cruz is nowhere to be seen. I am frantic as I find my key and jam it into the ignition. I think I see Mr. Cruz out of the corner of my eye…my foot floors the gas pedal and I skiiiirt out of there!

I call Isaac, he doesn’t answer. I call him again. He picks up, breathing heavily.

“Hey! What’s up? I was just responding to your text.”

“Isaac, what the hell! Where have you been!?”

“Woah, chill. I’m at lacrosse practice, it’s Thursday, remember? Oh also, I think you have my backpack. I need that for my homework tonight.”

“What? I texted you like five days ago!”

“No…your last text was from literally two minutes ago. What’s going on?”

I check my phone, he’s right. It’s been two minutes since I texted him.

I look up and I’m parked outside Isaac’s house. Mr. Cruz is standing right outside the car, grinning. I look down and Isaac’s backpack is in my hand. Like none of this ever happened.