Heavy on my Mind

- Mina -

When we arrived at the bar, Spot immediately ran behind the counter. Corey was already there, holding a bone, and said, “Hey, big guy. I was wondering when your mama was going to bring you by to say hi to your family.” We both laughed as I took a seat. Corey then asked, “What are you doing back here? I thought you planned to relax. Mina, I think you’re addicted to work.” 

I couldn’t help but smile. “Got hungry and wanted a beer, and guess who’s out of both at home?” 

Corey nodded, “Well, we have both, as you know. The usual?” I nodded, and he turned to get me a beer, popping the cap and sliding it across the bar. “So, are you going to tell me what’s really going on? Because even Spot noticed you’re acting strange today.” 

I took a sip, allowing the cold beverage to clear my mind. “Just... strange dreams mostly. And that guy, Luciano. He kissed me.” 

Corey blinked and exclaimed, “Wait, what!?” I chuckled at how he almost dropped the glass he was cleaning. 

“Yeah. In the alley. Out of nowhere. Then he walked off like it was a movie scene where everything suddenly ended. That’s not even the worst part,” I said, taking a deep breath before continuing. “Last night, he came in with a gun, and I was trying to call for an ambulance when I saw he was shot. But then he allowed me to help him, and all I could think about was getting him out of here.” I took another sip of beer and recounted the rest, including the kiss. 

Corey rested his elbows on the bar, his eyes narrowing. “Let me get this straight,” he said. “So, he arrived bloodied up, threatened you with a gun, got treated, returned the next day, and kissed you? Could this be a trauma reaction?”

“Probably,” I admitted, finishing half the bottle. “But it felt real, too damn real, and it’s not just when he visited. I’ve been dreaming about him, vivid stuff. Like he’s inside my head since that night.” 

Corey raised an eyebrow. “That’s really not comforting to hear, Mina.”

“No shit,” I muttered. We sat in silence for a moment, with Spot happily chewing on his bone as if nothing was wrong in the world.

Then Corey asked softly, “Do you believe he’s coming back?” 

I paused before replying. I focused on the bubbles rising in the amber liquid, my heart pounding as I remembered Luciano’s lips and the subtle promise in his tone. “I don’t believe he has actually left. I think he’s still nearby.”

Before Corey could say anything else, the bell above the door rang. We both looked toward it. A man in a dark suit entered, looking neat and sharp, with eyes that scanned the room as if he knew all the exits, or was learning them right then and there.

It wasn’t Luciano, but I felt this wasn’t just a coincidence. Corey glanced at me. “I’ll take care of it,” I said softly, sitting upright on the stool and putting the beer down, ready just in case. 

The man said little, merely nodding before sitting at the far end of the bar. His gaze moved across the room constantly, as if he were taking in every face and shadow. He didn’t seem like a regular and wasn’t here for the beer. I leaned toward him and said, “Fifteen minutes until the last call. So that you know.” 

He looked into my eyes, calm and unreadable. “I won’t be long,” he said, and there was something in his tone that made my stomach tighten. I nodded silently and walked away. 

Corey leaned closer, whispering, “Friend of our mysterious stranger?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted honestly. “But he’s not here to get drunk.” Corey didn’t push further, knowing me well enough to know when to step back. We finished cleaning in silence as the last customers left. 

After a few minutes, just before one a.m., the place was deserted except for the man in the suit. When I rang the bell and announced last call, he was already standing up to leave. He didn’t say goodbye or look back. He just left. 

Once the door was locked and the stools were flipped, Corey gave Spot a final pat on the head. “I’ll close the register now. Are you all set?”

“Yeah,” I replied, glancing at the back alley door. “Just going to walk Spot before heading home.” 

“Night, Mina. And if that strange dream guy appears again, don’t let him kiss you unless he buys you a drink first.” Corey smiled as he began closing down the register.

I rolled my eyes, laughing softly. “I’ll remember that.” Spot trotted alongside me as I stepped outside, the heavy door clicking shut behind. The alley was calm, shadows deep between the buildings. My hand instinctively brushed the revolver hidden under my hoodie, just in case.

That’s when I noticed him again. The man from before, standing at the alley’s edge as if he hadn’t gone anywhere. Spot paused, ears alert. I remained quiet. He came closer, non-threatening. “Luciano asked me to find you,” he said, his voice sleek and cold like metal. “He’ll contact you soon.”

My throat tightened. “Why didn’t he just come himself?”

“He’s busy,” the man said. “But he wanted you to have this.” He reached into his coat, pulling out a small velvet pouch and pressing it into my hand before I could react. Inside was a delicate silver bracelet, strangely warm to the touch. A single charm dangled from it, a small, fierce wolf with eyes carved from dark black stone. 

My heart pounded as Spot emitted a soft, curious growl. I looked up, but the man was already walking away. “Wait,” I called out. “What does this mean?” 

He paused at the alley’s edge. “It suggests he’s still not finished with you.” Then he disappeared into the darkness, leaving me with more questions than answers and a bracelet that felt like a chain. 

I lingered there for a few moments before Spot, growing impatient as he nudged me toward our apartment. We walked in silence, with Luciano weighing heavily on my mind. 

What does he possibly want from me? I only helped, and honestly, I didn’t really have a choice. I wondered why he sent someone to deliver this to me as I nervously fidgeted with the pouch in my hand.

Finally, at home, Spot settled comfortably on the couch while I cleaned up. Once I was dressed, Spot and I curled up together and watched a movie. The pouch sat untouched on the coffee table. Eventually, we both fell asleep, and this time it was a peaceful but sad sleep. Mom and Dad visited my dreams. I was ten, and we were returning from vacation. 

That was the last trip we took together. Mom was in the passenger seat, listening to her favorite music and singing loudly. I recall her turning to me and saying, “Minnie Mo, we have to go back one da-” then I woke up. I was drenched in sweat. I haven’t dreamt that in years. Why am I having it now? I wondered as I was about to change my clothes.