Eden Forest (Part one of the Saskia Trilogy) by Aoife Marie Sheridan Page B

yoga,”
    Christine says.
    “Yeah, just a headache. I think I might have the flu or
    something, just don’t feel so good.”
    Christine doesn’t look convinced, but leaves it alone. “Okay,
    well if you want to talk, you know…”
    I give her a little smile. “Yeah, I know. Thanks, Christine.”
    Susan is in bad form also, but I don’t ask her what’s wrong.
    More than likely, it has to do with Max and that is a conversation
    I can really take a pass on.
    Work drags by and when half past five comes, I am truly
    grateful. I drive home with my wipers on full to keep the rain
    off. Irish weather, we have, like, seventy percent rain most of
    the year.
    When I pull into the drive, I notice another car parked
    outside our house and someone is sitting in it. I run for the front
    door, but still get soaked. Rooting around in my bag for my
    keys, I hear the other car door slam.
    “Sarajane.” Linda, my yoga instructor, is walking up the
    driveway with no jacket on. The rain is already dripping down
    her face. She has never come to my home before.
    “Linda, hi. What are you doing here?” I can’t help but ask.
    “I needed to speak to you.” I get the key in the door. She
    stands in the rain, looking at me.
    I pull the door open. “Come in.” I grab a towel from the
    bathroom and give it to her in the hall so she can dry herself off.
    “Thanks,” she says while rubbing her face with it.
    “Go on into the kitchen. Just let me change. I’ll just be a
    moment.” She nods and heads in the direction of the kitchen. I
    run upstairs and change out of my wet clothes. When I return
    to the kitchen, Linda is sitting down at the table, drying her hair
    with the towel. I fill the kettle.
    “Cup of tea or coffee?” I ask.
    “Coffee, please, three sugars.”
    “Three sugars, not worried about the calories?” I joke. Linda
    looks like she works out all the time. She is muscular for a
    woman. Not as in she has massive arms, but nothing moves and
    it goes beyond being toned.
    She smiles at me. “I love sugar.” I make two coffees and sit
    down beside her, pouring milk into mine. I offer her some, but
    she shakes her head. “No thanks, I like it strong.”
    “So is everything all right?” I ask.
    “Of course. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You
    just seemed upset when you left last night.” She takes a sip of
    her coffee.
    “Yeah. Sorry about freaking you out.” I give an embarrassed
    smile. “I just got upset, but I’m fine now… Well, except for a
    severe headache I have all day.”
    She puts her cup on the table and joins her hands together,
    looking very serious. “I need to ask you something about what
    you saw when we meditated last night.”
    I wasn’t expecting this and my headache was getting worse.
    “Look, Linda, I’m not being rude or anything, but my head is
    pounding. I would prefer to forget it.”
    She reaches across and pats my hand, looking truly concerned.
    “Did the headache start after you left last night?”
    I try to think back to last night, but the pounding in my head
    is getting pretty severe. I stand and stumble against the table,
    spilling my coffee everywhere. I jump back just before it hits the
    floor.
    Linda’s voice sounds like it’s far away. “Sarajane, are you
    okay?”
    I feel like I’m going to get sick. She grabs both my hands to
    steady me. I close my eyes against the nausea that’s clawing
    up my throat. A haze starts to fog my vision, and everything
    becomes confusing. There’s a man’s face that I can see. He has
    really long white hair and wears a long blue cape. He looks
    like a wizard from a kid’s storybook. He opens his mouth and
    speaks, making me jolt with shock. Linda clenches my hands
    tighter.
    “Adora, I have tried all day to communicate with you.”
    Linda responds by speaking, but this is all going on inside my
    head, only Linda’s voice is coming from in front of me where
    she stands. I keep my eyes closed.
    “Sorry, Mirium, to worry