Chapter 3

That night, she visited my dreams, and though no words were spoken, her message was clear. I could feel the air of her breath on my neck as her apparition whispered my name.

Wren…

 My hands ran along her side, her velvet smooth skin sending electricity into my fingertips. I felt a sense of ease as her head rested against my chest, and her scent filled my nose.

I felt like my body was on fire, aching with such a need to possess her. Nothing had ever felt like this before, and though I felt myself waking, I clung to her a second longer. 

Wake up. It's time to go…

The familiar beep of my alarm pulled me back to reality and the darkness of my room. I lay sprawled in the comfort of my bed; the persistent wail of the alarm pierced through my mind like a hot blade.

Yet, amidst the chaos, an unexpected transformation unfolded. The ceaseless clamor of the alarm gradually shifted, morphing into something unexpected—a delicate symphony of sound that seemed to slice through the air with depth and reason. Each note, once harsh and intrusive, now flowed seamlessly into the next, weaving a tapestry of melody that wrapped around me like a gentle embrace.

In this ethereal moment, a memory stirred within me, rising from the depths of my subconscious like a whisper carried on the wind. The melodic cadence and haunting refrain evoked the sensations of my dream. It was as if the music itself had taken on a life of its own, embodying the softness of her touch, the warmth of her presence.

With closed eyes, I surrendered myself to the intoxicating reverie, allowing the melody to transport me back to when her skin was a canvas upon which I traced the map of my affection. Each note became a brushstroke, painting vivid portraits of shared moments and stolen glances. 

My body went through the repetitive motions while my mind repeated that melody. It wasn't until I was in the morgue that I even realized I was no longer in my bed. 

When did I get here? How did I…

I was startled to see the door open with Darcy standing right in front of it. 

"Hey, you ok? You've seemed a little off. Did you take your meds today?" she asked with concern. 

It hadn't been six weeks since Allie left, and I lost what little resolve I had left. I had seen it coming for months. The distance, the long nights "working," or the lack of intimacy between us for years. I didn't blame her; my diagnosis a few years back had taken a toll on me and our relationship. I was too much for anyone. So I let her slip away.

"I'm fine. Just some brain fog; I think the chemicals are getting to me", I awkwardly chuckled. 

She hesitated to smile but rolled her eyes at me and chuckled, too. When she turned to leave, I opened my mouth to ask about Mr. Wrirs. 

"So, what are we doing for the newest arrival?" I questioned.

Her look was almost one of confusion. I watched her turn on her heels and enter my workspace. 

"Mrs. Scott's plans were already made. Did Jakob not fill you in?"

It bothered me slightly how comfortable she was using his first name. After seven years of working here, it was clear that Mr. Babineau or The Director would forever remain the only titles I would ever bestow upon him.

"No, the male, Mr. Wrirs. I met with his sister yesterday while the Arturo wake was held". 

She gave me another puzzling look; this one was new, one I had never seen before. 

"No one I knew had made an appointment. It might be one of Jakob's friends. He likes to handle those personally. I can go ask him if you'd like," she offered with a smile. I shook my head. 

"No, I will talk to him after lunch and get an update. I need to embalm him soon", I smiled. 

Sensing the end of our conversation, Darcy turned on her heels once more and was gone as quickly as she came. 

I looked at the clock—over an hour until my normal lunchtime—but curiosity got the better of me as I marched out of the room and directly to Mr. Babineau's office. I let myself in without even a knock, like normal.

He was sitting at his desk in the double-breasted navy suit I loved so well and doing the Wednesday morning crossword, another part of his ritual that I had learned. His smile spread across his face as he welcomed me in. I took the seat across from him as his eyes returned to the paper before him.

 "A division or rift, especially between two lovers that causes harm that starts with an "S", 6 letters?", he questioned. 

What?

The confusion must have been plain on my face. He smiled and started again. 

"Sorry, Wren. How can I help you?" he smiled even if his eyes didn't. 

I shifted in my chair. 

"Miss Wrirs from last night... what are her wishes? I wanted to start embalming before I finished, Mrs. Scott." I asked nervously, just to speak her name.

His look of confusion was almost as much as Darcy's had been. 

"Who?" he asked, looking at the large monthly planner like the one he had supplied Darcy and me. 

"The woman you met with after Miss Arturo's wake? You asked me to speak with her about pricing and services…? Her brother is in the morgue right now", I explained. 

His glasses came off his face, being set down on top of the unfinished crossword. His eyebrows crafted a worried look before he spoke again. 

"Wren, I have no idea who or what you are talking about. I left after the Arturo wake. I had a dinner date with Grace…" his words slowed before he continued… "Are you feeling ok, Wren?", he asked, more concerned this time. 

Without words or hesitation, I rose to my feet and hurried toward the direction of the morgue to confirm that my mind hadn't deceived me once again. Instead, I found the four bodies from the previous day. My eyes searched for the missing body over and over again. I was desperate to find him.

It wasn't real…none of it was real.

I turned to see the concerned director looking at me like I had looked for a body that was not there. The horror in his eyes only proved my insanity. 

Say it was a joke. Tell him you were just playing around….Wren, say something!

"Got-cha?!", was all I could muster. 

A look of disappointment followed by a small laugh hardly gave the reassurance I was looking for, but he nodded. 

"I forgot it was April Fools Day, didn't I?" he smiled. 

"Yep", I forcefully chuckled. 

He looked in the room and at me once more before laughing and turning to leave. 

"Schism", I said quickly.

"Oh, you're right! Thank you, Wren."