All Chapters of SLEEPING NEXT TO A STRANGER : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

NINA. Dad stares at me in silence, his expression unreadable. My hands tremble slightly, but I curl them into fists, anchoring myself. Then he sighs, shaking his head, and speaks softly, "My sweet girl," and approaches me, taking my hands gently.I stiffen. "I love him, Dad. I don't care about his economic background or social status, and I…"Dad interrupts, voice firm but gentle. "You don't. But he does care about yours."I stiffen again, pulling my hands free from his grasp. "That is not true! We've spent hours, days, even months talking about these things. He's never shown an interest in my money. He loves me for myself. You have to trust me."Dad shakes his head. "I do trust you, Nina. But I will watch out for you and protect you more. That boy is not what he seems. I get the feeling there are ulterior motives behind him.""That's ridiculous." My voice rises a notch, my heart pounding in annoyance. "You don't even know him. You hardly had a complete sentence with him!""I don't w

NINA. The drive to the police station was a nightmare, the kind where you're screaming and screaming, but no one can hear. My body was moving independently, my fuzzy flip-flops smacking the pavement as I was led away by the officers. There were onlookers. I heard some of them whispering, their glances flicking from my ridiculous pajama bottoms to my face.I wished I could scream at them. What are you gawking at? Y’all never seen a woman being arrested in nightwear?They escorted me to a cold, clinical interrogation room, the fluorescent lights overhead humming gently. I stared at the table stupidly until a detective, middle-aged, tired-looking, sat across from me."Miss Davies," he started, extending his palms wide on the tabletop.I bestowed upon him a skeptical blink. "I wish to make a telephone call to my attorney."He shook his head and scooted a tacky police station phone over in front of me. I grasped it up in shaky hands and called the number of Lauren Hilton.She answered on

NINA.I stood before the mirror and felt awed. The reflection indicated a stranger standing at a strange facsimile of me. I reached out and touched my face and my cheekbones; this was certainly a different me. I think I looked like... Lauren Hilton."Hello, dear, are you okay?" the elderly woman's voice echoed in a soft, quiet voice.I was slow in replying to the elderly woman since I was lost in thought. "Y-y-yes, ma'am," I could hardly order my head as I turned on the tap and washed my hands, trying to clear the fog out of my brain. As I emerged from the restroom the elderly woman appeared beside me and lent me her support. She clasped my limp hands and guided me to my ward. Her welcoming eyes and smile spoke volumes of reassurance, but my mind was battling with thoughts of the strange person who looked back through the looking glass at me. "Thank you, ma'am," I said , trying to smile, yet my mind seized upon the reflection in the mirror. The elderly woman Mrs. Jenkins arranged

NINA."Shh, darling, it's alright," Drew said in a soothing tone as he rubbed my frail back. That sweet voice from Drew calmed my terror-laden thoughts, and comfort filled me.As night fell, a nurse entered the ward , she took a look around the ward and eventually set her eyes on Drew. "Good afternoon, sir," she said cheerily, "This form declares you to be a discharged patient; you may leave now." She turned over to me, still sprawled on the bed, its own soft look turned toward me. "I do hope you're doing well, ma?" she crooned.I offered a weak smile barely over a whisper. "Yeah, gradually." The nurse nodded while handing discharge papers to Drew, and he helped me sit up, offering his support as I swung my legs off the bed.Taking my time with Drew's help, I stood up with a shaky feeling. Drew then placed an arm around me, "This is just to get you home and rest."He accompanied me and comforted me and cradled me in his arms, while others stood about silently; perhaps, jobs have be

NINA."No, I can't go. Who knows if it's a plan to take my life," my self-monologue wavered with a wave of fear and uncertainty in my mind. "It is not like me, and I am not up to any more temptation; I added that in silence; my heart burdened by doubt."Honey, you were going to say something?" Drew asked, coming closer with a worried expression. I faltered, deciding what to say. "Uh, hmm," I stammered while looking for the right words. "Nothing, love.""Well, have your dinner then," he smilingly said. He walked out and came back again with a tray of food on which some aroma emitted. "But what about Morel, my love?" I asked him, sounding slightly worried about our child."Morel already slept off," he said and set the tray before me.I stretch my hand to finish eating now, while the aroma of good food tempts my entire being. Drew quickly stops me, however, holding my wrist gently. "No, honey, you are just recovering, let me feed you, okay?" he whispers softly to me, his eyes having conc