Dreamcatcher

5

Last night the only thing that was on mind was Liam.

He knows.

He knows.

Leigh could tell something was a bit wrong that night. She came over to my bed, asking if I were awake. In the end, we went to the bathroom and had a little chat. She already knew about my visions, but I told her how I thought the Dreamcatcher only enhanced the vividity and realism of my dreams.

But I also explained how now four people know: Ben, Leigh, Cedric, and Liam.

I may trust Liam, but not with a sort of secret like that. He'll spread it on to Mairead who'll think either I've gone completely mad, and I need a therapist, or will tell my parents who'll think I'm mad and need a therapist. Or Mum and Dad will think it's real, be super scared, and send me to a therapist anyway.

I guess the message is clear: I don't want or need a therapist. I've had enough of my occupational therapist. I stopped sessions with her years ago just after my diagnosis.

So I try to focus on something nice as I walk down to school alone. Leigh has early morning swimming. 

The autumnal trees are still brown, but their leaves are a fiery mixture of red, orange, and gold. The grass looks healthily green, like always. The sun has already risen, its shining rays heating the ground. Azure and vast, the sky gathers serene and puffed clouds. It's a nice day. Slightly boring.

But today, during lunch, there is excitement! I hurry though the crowd of pupils, trying to find Ben, but I run into someone.

'I'm really sorry, are you okay?' I ask hurriedly. I'm about to continue walking when the person speaks.

'It's fine.' Lapo turns his back to me and pulls down his sleeve just as I catch a brief glimpse of his bracelet's gemstone.

Opal.

Black opal.

BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL-

That's why he looks so familiar! The boy in my dream, my soulmate! 

It's Lapo.

'Bye,' he says.

'Lapo, your bracelet, it's a...' I trail off as I realise Lapo's disappeared. Of course. Because he's so protective over his bracelet and won't let anyone see it. Cedric and Liam, his dormmates, have told me just how ignorant and silent he's been. 

Lapo and I are soulmates. Well shi-

BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL-

'You've been staring at the wall a while,' says the voice I could recognise anywhere, anytime. 'It murdered your family or something?'

'Leigh!' I giggle. 'Of course not! But I do have some news.'

Leigh's face turns so serious I start to wonder if it's actually her. Did someone take my Leigh and pretend to be her?

'News,' muses Leigh. 'Tell me tonight in the dorm. Bye.'

And just like Lapo did, Leigh disappears. I exhale before realising I've only got two minutes till my next lesson

The afternoon flies by. We have a wellbeing lesson, where our teacher explains that this term's topic is soulmates. Lapo shifts uncomfortably in his seat as Miss Chen talks, even daring to glance in my direction.

By the time the school day ends, I literally cannot focus on anything but the fact that Lapo and I have the same bracelet. Cedric asks me what my favourite colour is, and I don't even think about how he should know. Instead, I mumble, 'Lapo...'

'Ooohhh, someone likes Lapo!' Cedric takes this as a chance to annoy me.

'No, it's really not like that,' I say, sighing and wondering why he's even my friend, let alone best friend. 'Text it to you later.'

I have one thing to do before I walk up to Mayfield, my boarding house: find my twin.

Eventually I see him entering the library, but I grab him and walk out, his wrist firmly enclosed in my hand. 'William Edevane,' I hiss, 'If you fucking tell anyone about my visions, I will end y-'

'Woah.' Liam puts his hands up and gives me a look. 'Your secret's safe with me as long as you tell me exactly what's happening in this latest vision, Aislinn. Or I will tell Mum and Dad.' He pauses, thinking. 'No, I'll tell Mairead too.'

'Oh, fuck you blackmailing little rat,' I curse. I do give in, though. Five minutes later, all that's on my brother's mind is that my soulmate is his dormmate. He promises to research more on this, and ask Lapo about his bracelet etc.

I suppose that makes up for him blackmailing me.

But still, Lapo.

BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL BLACK OPAL-