30 I’m so coming for you…

"HIV?" Peter wondered. It took him some seconds to realize that would mean he is now living with the virus. "That's not possible. I have always been careful. I can't have that evil virus"

Anger surged through his veins and pounded in his purse. He screamed at the phone "Fuck you! Whoever you think you are. Do you think you can scare me? I hope you rot in there forever!" he paused, expecting some kind of reply; instead, he heard a soft female voice.

"Peter! It is Heaven!" the voice said almost in a whisper. At the sound of the voice, his blood ran cold. He still recognized it.

Confused and shocked, he asked "Heaven… what are you doing over there?"

"You sent me here, you bastard!" she screamed back at him from the other side. "Am coming for you… I'm so coming for you…" he could hear her laughing devilishly between the words. They both began laughing, laughing so loud in his head. He picked up the phone and threw it against the wall, smashing it into pieces but their laughers and the cries of others in hell continued in his head.

He held his head with both hands; it felt like it would explode, screaming

"Je-sus…" he woke up frightened, looking around scared to the bone and out of breath. Sweating furiously like someone that just concluded a marathon. He sat bolt upright in the bed, his heart pounding, the dream so real that he couldn't breathe.

Startled, Judith sat beside him asking "What is it?"

"I had a strange dream about my younger brother" he responded wiping his face with his hand. His heart rate began to slow as the nightmare slowly faded, shrinking back into his subconscious, lurking, and ready to strike again whenever he sleeps.

"Oh, it is just a dream. Your mind is still dealing with the lost" she comforted him.

"This was like no ordinary dream. It was so real and really terrifying" he said folding his hands around his chest. As if a window was open, a sudden chill swept through him, cutting on the marrow of his bones.

She pulled him in for a shallow embrace; he rested his head on her full bare chest.

"You know when people die; it becomes our responsibility to remember them" consoling him, she continued "So what was this nightmare about?"

He took a deep breath, certainly unable to tell her that he was accused of having HIV even if it was just in a silly nightmare. So he responded

"He was blaming me for his death, saying I stood there and did nothing"

"It is alright" she assured him. "It is just your brain playing tricks on you. You haven't forgiven yourself. I think you should work towards forgiving yourself and the nightmare will die down".

"Thanks, dear" he appreciated her before asking "How was your night?" looking at her face.

"It was great. Really had a peaceful rest" she said reaching for his phone beside the bed. She double-tapped the screen and it came alive. The digital clock was 7:55 AM. Judith jumped out of bed and his arms, screaming "Jesus!"

"What is it?" Peter asked confused at her sudden fright.

"It is to 8 AM, I'm already late for work!" she cried, scanning the room for her clothes.

"Oh, I forgot you are going to work this morning," he said scratching his head "So what are you going to do?"

Alarmed at his question, she responded "Go to work. It is better to be late than not showing up"

"Of course! The bathroom is just opposite the door"

"I will have to borrow your car; mine is still packed at the club" she threw him the key to her car.

He caught it and said "No problem. You see why I chose to be a businessman. I can't be rushing out like this every morning"

"Good for you. Here is my phone" she threw the phone on the bed "Please put in your number. I will call you in the evening to return your car"

"Just to return only my car?" he asked with raised eyebrows.

She smiled "Alright, we can also hang out. Please allow me to get ready" she rushed out of the room to the bathroom.

Peter took her phone and saved his number in it, while he took hers. Then it done on him that she was leaving for work already. His plan for maybe morning sex or even a kiss has been busted.

Few minutes, she came back into the room, looking pretty and refreshed. She gave him a quick kiss, collected her phone and was about rushing out. He held her back and said, "Drive carefully, it is about to rain and remember that the bridge is still under construction".

She touched her chest; slight bent her head and said "So sweet, you are really caring". Her grin died and with a straight face, she added "I'm scared of water and can't even swim. So you don't need to tell me to be careful over a bridge"

She gave him another kiss and rushed out screaming "Have a nice day!"

"You too dear" he responded slowly. Sinking back into his thoughts, could he really be living with HIV? No need beating himself over it. He will simply visit the hospital and take an HIV test. But first, he would visit the club and collect her car.