Calling Mr. Nelson Pugh ✔️

*** FOUR ***

I slid off of the bed and onto the carpet with a loud thump. I didn't even notice the pain as my hip banged against the bed frame, nor as my ass slammed on the barely padded floor. That pain would come, but in that moment the outside world did not exist, not beyond my phone. The only thing that meant anything was the faint sounds of a house some one hundred and seventy miles away. But Eleanor's voice was gone and I could hear only the distant sounds of retreating footsteps.

Even that world blurred and faded as my breathing accelerated. Much longer and I would have fainted. Already I had gone light-headed and the world had begun to spin. Soon I would fall unconscious if I did not focus. I had to calm myself immediately. Slowly, I took a deep breath.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Ten. Nine. Eight.

When Eleanor returned to the line I needed to be calm and rational. Convincing her that she was in real danger would take all of my faculties.

Five. Four. Three.

If I couldn't make her understand, then that failure would be on me. All that might result would be my fault. But what, what would that be?

One. Breathe in. Breathe out.

Still stressed. The exercise done my breathing sped back up instantly. This wasn't working. Not yet.

Repeat.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Ten. Nine. Eight.

This wasn't about fault.

Seven. Six.

So what if I was or wasn't in the clear of some unknown outcome. This was about Elly.

Five. Four.

This was about the girls.

Three. Two.

This was about my family.

One. Breathe in. Breathe out.

Focused. Better. My breathing hadn't returned to normal, but it had definitely slowed. I was no longer hyperventilating.

Somewhat grounded once again, I took stock of the situation and I knew that I should call the cops. With that in mind, I reached for the hotel phone.

"Nelson."

Oh thank God! Eleanor, Elly, was back.

"Nelson, it's okay."

"It was Mrs. Kelly?" Had I lost it over nothing? I had been so sure, but it occurred to me that maybe my imagination really had run unbelievably off base. This wouldn't have been the first time. Could it be happening again? Was this another full blown episode?

"I don't know. Whoever it was, they were gone." She paused. "Are you better now?"

"Yes," I lied. No matter what doubts snuck in, nothing had convinced me that Elly and my daughters were safe. Who knocks in the middle of the night and then just disappears? Could that be a coincidence or was it connected to the calls?

"Good," she said. "I think we need to try something new. We need to talk to Dr. Smith about other options."

I knew this was coming. These conversations always came after an episode. That night, however, I hoped that I could use this particular conversation to my advantage. I could feel the wave returning.

"I will," I said, lining up to catch the ride in. "As soon as I get back. But first I need you to do something for me."

"Nelson, this isn't a negotiation. This is serious. You were completely panicked. Crazy panicked."