Bloods Gem by Gloria Conway

for
breakfast.
    As we ate, Gina promised she would take us
to the club the next night. She also explained our itinerary for
the day. Telling us we'd meet up with Cameron, Gina's boyfriend,
for lunch. After, we would go to a symphony. Thrilled, Kate and I
went upstairs to get ready.
    At a grill called Beef Corp, we sat around
the table impatiently waiting for our food. After we were done
eating we went back to Gina's house and prepared for the symphony.
She let me borrow a long red dress, sparkled with faux diamonds.
She also set me up with jewelry and high heels.
    Putting my hair up in a bun, I curled my
bangs on each side. I turned the curling iron off and headed
downstairs.
    We were lead to a private box seat divided
by curtains. The small compartment had half a dozen seats lined in
rows. It sat one level above the orchestra section. Kate sat next
to me as the lights dimmed.
    As the music played, I closed my eyes and
relaxed against the back of the chair. A vibrating sensation below
my feet slowly traveled up my body, lulling me into a trance. Faces
flashed across my mind. I tried to shake it off, but saw Kate and I
yelling at each other. A cast covered my hand. Our voices
muffled.
    The sound of clapping halted the visions. I
opened my eyes and looked up. Kate had stood, clapping along with
her sister and Cameron. I jumped from my seat startled. She glanced
in my direction. “You okay Faith? What’s wrong?”
    I shook my head. “Not sure. I keep getting
these images in my head.”
    “ Well, we're going home now, the show
is over. You can lay down when we get back to the house,” she
said.
    I nodded.
    At Gina's once again, there was mention of
poker. After changing into comfy sweats and a baggy shirt, I ran
back down stairs since they were wanting to play cards. Kate
insisted that I rest instead of playing.
    “ I'll go to bed if I don't feel well,”
I said. She patted my back and smiled.
    After getting the table ready, Cameron
started dealing the cards. I focused on the cards as they were set
down in front of my opponents.
    My vision suddenly seemed to grow sharper.
The details in the table we sat at seemed extremely close. I sat
back, thinking that perhaps I was going to faint. Thinking to warn
Kate, I glanced upward, but her hands caught my eye. I could make
out every single line in her hand. From the tips of her polished
nails to where they connected with the wrist. She held an ace and
jack in her hand. I put a hand to my mouth, surprised. They all
glanced at me. I acted like I was yawning.
    “ Sorry, I'm getting tired,” I said
excusing myself. They wished me a goodnight and I ran
upstairs.
    Starring out the window, I wondered what was
wrong with me. Am I a freak or something? If I decided to tell
someone they would surely have me committed I thought.
    I decided not to call Chris that night, laid
my head down on the pillow and shut my eyes.
    We flew across the night sky. My dream man
held me close, taking me to a place surrounded by glowing trees.
Each tree radiated a different color. Butterflies surrounded the
trees, taking on the color of each individual tree. Approaching a
purple tree, I reached out to touch the branch and butterflies
began swarming under and around me. My body was lifted from the
ground and they carried me to a nearby lake. Placed in the middle
of the lake, I noticed the water beneath me glowed bright blue.
Sinking under the warm water, I began to explore.
    My dream man by my side, taking my hand in
his, we saw bright red gems glowing alongside clusters of rocks,
the deeper we swam. He picked one up and handed it to me. Once in
my hand the gem began to grow. I tried throwing it but it had
attached itself. As it grew it moved upward and over me and I was
suddenly enclosed. No longer attached to my hand, I could see
through the clear red glass. My dream man swam under the gem
pushing it up out of the water. Once we surfaced, I saw him holding
one hand up as he guided me and the gem closer to