Unsettling In

Finally, relief, I had made it to Oregon with my daughter and after a few weeks still settling in. In the new place with my daughter and so happy to finally be out of that heat ridden state. I had picked up a several couches from a thrift store and Julia, my sister, was over visiting and helping me pick which couch to put where because I had had them for a few weeks and only then started to arrange them. Two of them were the old style couches.. very Victorian style. The other one was more plain light tan color, nothing of note but it would do its job. They were all jumbled in the living room with no real order. Kira and Julia were snuggled on the plain one under my horse blanket as I was trying to get the fireplace to work. I didn't blame them for sitting on the most plain couch, it just happened to also be the most comfortable. I could hear the coffee was ready as I just got the fire started. Moving to get a cup, something out of the corner of my eye catches my attention. I make mental note that it is on the couch on the other side of Kira. I dismiss it and move along into the kitchen - coffee is a must! I come back out and hand Julia her cup, loving the instant warmth the cup brought to my hands I sit on one of the other couches. Kira watches her cartoons while my sister and I continue to discuss which couch where.. One of the couches has a more modern pattern on it, almost silly like really. I thought about putting that one in my room. The other, a beautiful deep red velvet color. We thought to paint one of the walls a similar red to accent it there in the living room. The dream jumps forwards for days, I notice because it was like watching it in really fast forward for a minute - almost a blur. The dream slows, I am once again aware of my surroundings. It's snowing outside, the fire is lit and the wall is already painted this deep red with a couch against it, it looks as amazing as we thought. The other two are still nearby with Kira watching her cartoons on the plain one. I begin to tell my sister about how Kira won't sit on the other couches. Julia picks her up and put her on the red  couch that is already set up where I wanted it. She stays a moment then begins to giggle to herself and moves back to the other. I shrug it off and was like, 'called it.'. Julia and I begin to get dinner ready, some kind of meat we were baking and making more coffee. Watching the heavy snowfall just out the window with smiles - the world that dark blue hue it gets when night is setting but you never saw the sun behind those thick gray snowing clouds all week. I look from the window to Kira in the living room, watching her show all snuggled up. I smile to myself and pull out my phone to take a picture. The fireplace near her and making her some hot chocolate - It was like picture perfect. I take the picture without really looking 100% I was still finishing the coco and wanted her to be holding it for the "perfect" picture. I look at the photo and notice a large annoying orb right next to Kira. I clean off my phone and take another picture, again not really looking. The orb is there again and I begin to feel slightly annoyed.. the dream being quite light and the sense of home slightly being tainted by this annoyance. I get the hot chocolate and take it to her, stepping back to where I was for the perfect shot when I pause the picture to make sure I have every element in there I want as she still watches her shows when I notice it. There is a small figure sitting next to Kira, small and doll like, Victorian style with her little dress and long hair. I turn around to ask Julia if she got her a doll and I just hadn't noticed until then and she gives me a look then glances at the couch; my eyes follow and the couch is empty. I look at the pictures and the orbs are right where the doll is. I pull the camera up again to try again and there is the doll, sitting perfectly. Seeming to be watching cartoons with Kira. Her hands placed perfectly on her lap and she was sitting upright. That's when I notice Kira and her random ramblings at the TV weren't to the TV at all. She would occasionally look at the doll and be talking to her. Julia and I look at each other wide eyed and decide to not say anything out loud - should the doll be listening. Nothing bad had happened so far and I plotted to get rid of the couch first thing in the morning, hoping the storm let up so I could get it FAR away from the house instead of just setting it outside. We move Kira to another couch and sit on either side to keep her there. She remains but I lift the camera to look at the other couch again, curiosity gets the best of me. The doll is staring at Kira, no longer looking at the TV. I remember breathing deep and thinking of what to do at that particular moment.. it didn't seem hostile but I didn't like that Kira was communicating with this unknown. As I am mulling over the possibilities I realize the doll has shifted it's focus to me. I stare back for all of five seconds before I break and move my phone, no longer looking at the spot through the camera; just looking at the empty couch now. I stand up and begin to poke at the fire and look up at Kira. She is still on the other couch and Julia is in the kitchen making rice. We eat dinner in silence, even Kira not making a peep - making this all that much creepier because she is such a chatter box. In the morning it wasn't clear enough to drive anywhere so we just put the couch out in a covered spot and head back in to find Kira watching cartoons and being herself again. I lift the phone and see nothing through the camera. We breathe a sigh of relief and Julia moves to make more coffee, something that is always abundant in my house - perhaps seeking more comfort and return to some sort of normalcy.  I go to pull out an extra blanket until the fire starts really roaring again. As I sit and wait for the coffee, snuggling with Kira, I pull out my camera again to take a picture of the building fire when there she is, closer than before with a ribbon in her long hair, her bangs perfectly straight across those large unblinking eyes, her buckle shoes and perfectly laced dress.. standing in front the slowing building fire, staring at me. 


Originally: Posted 23rd November 2012 by Hybridpassions