Jenny sat upright in the chair she was in. The comfortable armchair was positioned discretely towards the rear of her ‘other world’ shop. It was not visible from the street but was in a relaxing place bathed in the lights that reflected across crystals and prisms. This private space enjoyed the wafts of scents from candles and burners. Jenny snatched for breath and rapidly returned from her regression. Her eyes rolled down and her skin quickly reclaimed its colour. She had greater control than ever before. She wiped tears from her eyes.
Jenny had closed the shop at ten pm and decided she felt well enough to chance trying regression again. She had had second thoughts when she received an affectionate text from Oliver. Jenny decided not to seek his counsel. He would likely advise caution and further abstinence. However Jenny was too troubled by the knowledge of her natural parents. Somehow someway she wanted to find her father and the past was the only place he now existed.
Feeling both sadness and elation Jenny stood up from her chair. She stretched her cracking bones until she felt able to walk. She sipped from a bottle of mineral water and walked around her store. By the till she noticed her mobile flashing to announce it had texts waiting.
The run of messages on her inbox went JAMIE, MARY, JAMIE, MARY, several times. She opened the top one.
Please call urgently, Oliver is okay but we have some terrible terrible news.
Jenny knew a third terrible wouldn’t have been out of place, her father’s warnings had carried real gravity. Jenny pressed the green phone symbol to call Mary and held the phone to her ear. As the phone began to ring Jenny closed her eyes and took a deep breath, preparing herself for bad news.