Page 31 of The Liar I Married

TWENTY-SEVEN

NOW

Something isn’t right. My limbs are heavy and I can hardly keep my eyes open.

I’m sure Dolly is drugging me. After my shower, she came in all cheery with a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows floating on the top.

I peer at the remnants of the drink on the nightstand, glad that I didn’t finish it.

It didn’t taste right and I only had a few mouthfuls, so whatever she put in it was powerful enough to knock me out fast. I rack my brain, trying to come up with some reason why she’d want to do this to me.

I’m not hysterical; in fact, we had a long talk after John left.

I didn’t say too much but it was as if she already knew what we’d discussed.

She even mentioned the argument I had with John the night of the accident.

I told her I didn’t recall what it was about only that there was an argument.

Now I know something is terribly wrong because the only person who could have told her is John.

Are they working together to make me appear to be unstable?

Greed makes people do terrible things, so it’s possible.

When she questioned me earlier, I was so careful to hide my feelings, so why is she drugging me?

What the heck is happening? She is supposed to be helping me.

I try to make my muddled brain work and the only conclusion I come up with is she needs me out of the way for a few hours. What the heck is she planning?

My attention moves to the camera; it’s a simple nanny cam placed on a shelf opposite the end of my bed.

I hate being under observation all the time.

Being watched is horrible, and trust me, I haven’t forgotten being followed in the months before the accident.

There are many things I remember that I will not reveal to anyone.

Some things are best kept private. I grit my teeth, determined to disable that camera.

The room spins around me as I cling to the edge of the bed.

With heavy legs I make it to the nightstand and force myself to keep moving.

Each step takes momentous effort but I’m determined to win.

My vision blurs as I stumble toward the small camera.

I know when she’s looking at me, the red light on the front blinks and it’s not blinking now.

My hands shake as I take hold of it and rip it from the wall.

I carry it like a trophy back to the bed and then drop it into the compartment below the seat in my walker.

A door in the passageway opens and closes.

Panic grips me as I crawl into bed, my body heavy and uncooperative.

I drag the covers over me and pretend to be asleep.

My pulse is thumping so fast in my ears I have to strain to hear.

Muffled footsteps approach and Dolly enters the room.

She’s speaking to someone on the phone and her voice is low and urgent.

“She’s starting to remember the argument with you. What do you want me to do?” She sighs. “She’s asleep. No, she can’t overhear me. I’ve given her enough medication to knock her out for eight hours. Likely she’ll forget all about the argument by morning.”

I try to keep my breathing even but inside I’m in mental turmoil.

The woman I thought was a caring friend is working against me and the only person she could be talking to is John.

I clamp down hard on my jaw, my mind racing.

Why is John doing this? What are they hiding from me?

The drugs try to pull me under but anger is spiking my adrenaline.

I’m fighting to stay awake. I need to piece together the fragments of my shattered reality.

Dolly’s voice fades as she leaves the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

She betrayed me but I’m stronger than they imagine.

I’ll find out the truth, no matter the cost.