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and became angry if any man shows his the car he owned was just like the one in
wife, Vicky, any attention even if it is only the dream. Why hadn't he thought of that
in a professional or casual interaction. before, he wondered. Why hadn't he
realized that, at the time he bought it. He
Three years later, Scott is about to rushed his timeline to leave town, as fear
complete his sophomore year course load. began to grow within him. He quickly
At the same time, he knows something is wrapped up all of his affairs in a matter of
wrong. The dream comes still nightly and hours, and bid goodbye to a couple of
occasionally twice in one night. The friends. However, he did not, as he had
buzzing sound he had been hearing planned, stop by to say goodbye to Tom,
during his dreams has in time become Vicky and the kids.
high pitched. It is no longer limited to his
sleep; he was now hearing it when awake. Four hours later he arrived in Gainesville.
The noise within his head had slowly
In June, Scott's parents unexpectedly subsided during the drive. He received
offered to pay for his last two years of the keys to his new apartment from the
college. He was seeking a Journalism leasing office and began unloading his few
degree, and the closest school to offer the items. He was tired and stressed so he
degree was the University of Florida. He inflated an air mattress. The other
pondered the offer for a month then furnishings would have to wait until
decided to accept. A choice he would have tomorrow. Tonight was the first night in
never made if the course of his life had years where Scott would sleep the night
remained as it was before working at the through. The dream was there, but it
video store, and as it was before meeting lacked the intensity it had built up the
Tom. In choosing so, he would leave last eleven years. For the first time, Scott
behind the only town he had ever lived in heard the entire argument that led up to
for twenty-two years. As the months Tom brandishing the knife and taking his
passed by, he began to feel sad. He would life. Scott woke the next morning realizing
be leaving for Gainesville in one week that he could not continue his friendship
facing a future of uncertainty. But the with Tom. The dream never returned
choice was right. I made sure he knew other than in fragments intertwined with
that. nightmares.
Scott barely slept those last nights. Each One year later, between school semesters,
time he approached deep sleep he would Scott returned to his hometown to visit
awaken. His head pounded and the friends and went to the beach. He had no
ringing in his ears was ceaseless. The intentions of seeing Tom but fate had
night prior to moving, his body collapsed different plans. Across the parking lot of a
into a deep sleep. The dream replayed convenience store where he was filling his
more intense than any time prior. Bits of gas tank, Scott heard his name was
sound beyond the high pitched tendinitis called. Tom approached in his pickup
became clearer. Voices. Unintelligible truck. Scott's heart skipped a few beats
voices. Then the words, 'I know what and he was on the verge of panic. "Got a
happened', came through clearly from a moment?" Tom asked in a tone different
voice he recognized. Scott in his dream than usual. "Sure" Scott replied.
turned in the car to see that Tom was the Standing next to Scott's car, Tom asked
man sitting beside him. The remainder of how school was and made casual
the dream played out, with no doubt conversation for a few minutes. Then Tom
whom the assailant was. Awake now, asked why Scott left without saying
sleep wouldn't be possible. goodbye. Scott had no answer he was
willing to say. Then Tom said "I don't
The next morning, Scott packed the last
items into the trunk of his white Buick know if you know about this but the day
you left Vicky asked me for a divorce.... I
Century. A revelation came to him that
thought all sorts of crazy things... I
102 | Extensive Listening & Reading
