Free Do Not Go Gentle by James W. Jorgensen Page B

far side of the bridge, where everything seemed colorless and devoid of life. He barely reached the other side again, but this time, as he struggled to pull himself onto solid ground, he looked down at his legs. To his horror, he saw that an enormous snake, which was trying to pull him down into the abyss, ensnared his legs. Jamie screamed in rage and kicked his legs furiously, trying to dislodge the serpent. Jamie clung to one of the bridge supports with his right arm, and reached down with his left. A knife appeared from nowhere and Jamie swung it at the snake. The beast hissed and darted its head forward in an attempt to sink its fangs into Jamie’s arm. Jamie felt his grip failing, and he roared in his rage as….
    Jamie awoke with a start, his body covered in a sheen of sweat and his headache now pounding an anvil chorus in his head. He sank back down to the sectional.
Ah, Mother of God, enough. Enough already.
He hadn’t told Eileen about his nightmares, but they were getting steadily worse. Jamie sat up, calming his racing heart and wiping the sweat from his forehead. Jamie was not a believer in the significance of dreams, but the nightmares were starting to make him wonder.
Is there something more going on here than meets the eye?
I really don’t need this shit.
    As he rose on unsteady feet to get something for his headache, he wondered yet again whether this was just a case of the flu or if there might be something more serious, something more permanently wrong—something that might mean the end of his career as a police detective.

Chapter Five
    â€œYou know you didn’t need to stay home to take me to the doctor, don’t you?” Jamie asked.
    â€œFor the four hundred and ninety second time, give that song a rest,” Eileen replied, exasperated. “Why is it so difficult for you to just accept help from those who love and care for you? I swear, you’ve got to be the most vexing man on the planet.”
    Jamie chuckled. “I doubt I’m even in the top ten and you know it.” He shook his head and looked out the window of their Honda Pilot at the passing streets. “It’s just hard for me, Eileen.” All humor dissipated from Jamie’s voice. “I’ve never really
been
ill before. Sure, the occasional cold or flu, but nothing that didn’t pass quickly. No broken bones—”
    â€œThough not for want of trying, according to your mother,” Eileen interjected.
    â€œYeah, yeah, but you get my point. No major surgeries—just a tonsillectomy when I was five and the vasectomy when Riona was five. I just
don’t get sick
.”
    Eileen didn’t say anything for several moments. “True, but maybe Jerry will find something and fix you up right away.”
    Jamie sighed. “I know. I just don’t like being sick.”
    â€œNo one does, you daft man.”
    â€œIt’s more than that. It’s—” Jamie groped for words. “It’s like a sign that I’ve done something wrong. I also don’t like having everyone fuss over me because I’m sick.”
    â€œIt’s not fussing—it’s taking care of you when you need it. Despite your belief, Jamie, everyone needs help now and again.”
    â€œI never said I didn’t. Ah, I’m bollixing this all up. Sure, part of what I feel is that being ill is a sign of weakness, but I also just don’t like being the center of attention.”
    Eileen laughed. “Since when?”
    â€œYou know what I mean. My whole life, I’ve been held up as an example to my siblings and my cousins. ‘Jamie gets excellent grades. Jamie works a job
and
goes to school. Jamie got into Notre Dame.’ If I’m to be held up as a standard, then I can’t afford to be ill now, can I?”
    â€œTis not like that, and you know it. No one used you to browbeat anyone.”
    â€œMaybe not intentionally, but the repetition always