Page 71 of Plain Sight

“You’re not dead,” Mason says. “You’re dreaming. This is a dream. It isn’t real.”

“Look what I found.” Remy’s right next to my ear. “I found pictures.”

“No pictures, Remy.” Mason’s as gentle with her as he was when she was seven. “Put those away.”

“I don’t think I can wake up.”

“That’s—”

Something snaps, like a chain coming out of the wall. None of the angles in the apartment make any sense. The couch isn’t there. Then it is. The next-door neighbors’ ancient air conditioning unit whines, but it sounds like an ambulance siren—wailing and wailing, up and down, up and down, up and down.

What little I can see of the apartment shudders. Earthquake? Maybe.

“—found pictures. It’s Mom and Dad, see? Mason won’t⁠—”

“—dream. This isn’t happening. This is happening too often. What was that?”

Another earthquake. My jaw really hurts.

“Jameson.” Gabriel’s voice distorts. “Wake up.”

Another earthquake.

“I don’t think I can⁠—”

Another earthquake.

“—okay.”

Another earthquake.

Mason’s voice is so close that it might even be inside my head. There’s a constant thumpthumpthump behind it. Something soft. Cotton.

“He keeps doing that.”

Another earthquake.

“—quiet?” I don’t know whose voice that is.

“No,” Lily answers. I’d reach for her, but I don’t know where she is. Jesus, I want her so much. I want to hold her hand. Oh—she is holding my hand. That’s her wedding ring. “Not that I’ve seen. He’s usually very⁠—”

A hand on the side of my face reminds me that my teeth hurt. Bad.

The other voice is talking about the weather, how sunny it is, how it’s a good day for the pool, and in the middle of all that he says how is he with needles?

But maybe not, because needles don’t have anything to do with the weather.

“Charlotte brought bathing suits.” The whole world rocks. At least all of me. This is why people like to spend time on ships. Because of the water. “She even packed one for Robin.” My brother sounds so proud of Sunshine. He should be proud. She’s so smart to pack bathing suits. Another earthquake. “Hasn’t ever been able to stand them. Our mother used to sing this song—” Mason starts humming the song.

Gabriel laughs. “I forgot about that. The doctor’s office had balloons painted on the wall. Every day was a party.”

“Happy birthday,” Remy sings.

“That wasn’t the song,” Mason answers. “I learned to swim in a pool.”

“I learned to swim in a lake,” another voice says.

“You’re welcome,” a third one says. “Ungrateful bastard.”