I began screaming Kourtnee’s name.  Quietly at first, then louder each time I said Kourtnee’s name.  The light popped on.  Both Kourtnee and Mrs. Jackson were standing in the doorway asking me what was wrong.  I started crying.  Kourtnee came over to me and held me.  Mrs. Jackson left the room.  When Mrs. Jackson returned to the room, she had a glass of water.  I had my head buried in Kourtnee’s chest crying.  Kourtnee told me to sit up and made me take a sip of water.  Mrs. Jackson disappeared again.  She came back a few seconds later with a wash cloth.  Mrs. Jackson handed Kourtnee the wash cloth.  Kourtnee wiped my face and then handed the wash cloth back to Mrs. Jackson.  Mrs. Jackson walked out of the room.

Kourtnee rocked me in her arms.  She asked me if I felt like talking about my dream.  I shook my head no.  Kourtnee rocked me some more.  She hummed as she rocked me.

I was beginning to drift off to sleep when Kourtnee to me to go to her room.  I didn’t move.  I felt safe in Kourtnee’s arms.  I didn’t want to move from the spot that I was in.  Kourtnee told me to go to her room again.  I started crying.  Kourtnee told me to calm down, and then she said that I didn’t have to go to her room.  She tried to get up to go turn the lights off, but I wouldn’t let her move.  She told me to let her go, but I wouldn’t.  Kourtnee had to call Mrs. Jackson and ask her to turn off the lights.  Mrs. Jackson did.  Kourtnee maneuvered as best she could, so that she could lay down.  We went to sleep.

I was stuck in the mud.  I tried to get out, but the more I tried to get out, the harder it was to move.  There were people standing around me.  Everyone was saying, “Tell Kourtnee.”  I did not see Kourtnee.  I began sinking into the mud.  It began to get into my mouth.  Just before the mud got into my nose, I woke up screaming.

Kourtnee sat up and hugged me.  She asked me if I wanted to talk about my dream.  I shook my head no.  She consoled me until I went back to sleep.

I was stuck in the mud.  I tried to get out, but the more I tried to get out, the harder it was to move.  There were people standing around me.  Everyone was saying, “Tell Kourtnee.”  I did not see Kourtnee.  I kept looking for Kourtnee, but I couldn’t see her.  I said her name, but no sound came out of my mouth.  I began sinking into the mud.  It began to get into my mouth.  I woke up and ran to the bathroom.

I didn’t quite make it to the commode.  I threw up all over the bathroom floor.  Kourtnee came into the bathroom.  She gasped and called Mrs. Jackson’s name.  I was standing like a statue, surrounded by what I had just released.  Kourtnee grabbed me and tried to move me, but I wouldn’t move.

Mrs. Jackson came into the bathroom and asked what was wrong.  Kourtnee told her that I had thrown up.  Mrs. Jackson told us to leave the bathroom after she wiped the vomit off my pajama pants leg.  Kourtnee had to drag me out of the bathroom.

Kourtnee told me to take my pajama pants off.  I didn’t move.  I just stood there.  Kourtnee shook me by my shoulders.  I batted my eye at her.  She told me to take off my pajama pants.  I slowly compiled.  Kourtnee went to the dresser and got me a clean pair of pajamas pants.  She helped me put them on.  Kourtnee helped me over to the bed.  I laid down on the bed.

Kourtnee went into the bathroom.  I heard them talking, but I don’t know what they were saying.  I wouldn’t close my eyes.  I kept staring at the ceiling.  Kourtnee had been in the bathroom talking to Mrs. Jackson for awhile.  I yelled Kourtnee’s name.  She came out of the bathroom into the room.  She asked me what I needed.  I didn’t say anything.  She came over to me and sat on the bed.  I laid on her.  She rubbed my head.

I woke up.  My head was hurting.  The light was on.  Kourtnee was lying on the bed next to me.  Mrs. Jackson was sitting in the love seat, asleep.  I didn’t want to wake either one of them.  I slipped out of the bed and went into the kitchenette.  I got some crackers and a Sprite.  I sat down at the table as I ate the crackers and drank the soda.

Kourtnee walked into the kitchenette.

Kourtnee:  Are you okay, precious?

LaDawnya:  No, mame.  My head hurts.

Kourtnee:  Did you have another nightmare?

LaDawnya:  No, mame.

Kourtnee:  Do you want me to go get you something for your headache?

LaDawnya:  Yes, mame.

Kourtnee left the kitchenette, then returned and handed me two pills.  I took them.

LaDawnya:  It’s time for us to go to work.

Kourtnee:  You can’t go anywhere in your condition.  You are going to have to stay here.

LaDawnya:  What about work?

Kourtnee:  Don’t worry about it.  I’ll call Paula and tell her to cancel my meetings.

Kourtnee left the kitchenette.  I went back into my room.  Mrs. Jackson had disappeared.  I got in the bed and went to sleep.