Page 289 of Valentino

“What seems to be the problem? You can’t fall asleep or you can’t stay asleep?”

“I can fall asleep but I….” I glance around to see if anyone can hear us.

“Let’s take this into the consult room.”

“That’s really not necessary.”

Too late, he’s walked into the office and is holding the door open.

Fuck’s sake, just give me some tablets and be done with it.

I follow him in and he points to the chair.

“I’m in a rush.”

“This won’t take a moment, so you were saying?”

“I can go to sleep easily but I…. Dream.”

He frowns. “Dream?”

“Like.” I clasp my hands. “Nightmare kind of situation.”

“Nightmares?” He listens intently. “You have different nightmares every night.”

“Not different.”

“You have the same nightmare?”

I nod.

“How often?”

“Sometimes….” I shrug, embarrassed. “Three times a night.”

“Always the same nightmare?”

I nod. “Yeah.”

“Have you seen a psychologist?”

“Look, I just need a sleeping pill prescription, that’s all.”

“Did these nightmares happen after a specific event?”

“Yes.”

“A traumatic event?”

I get a vision of Carlo on the bathroom floor, leaning up against the tiles and bleeding out. The look in his eye….

I clench my jaw and drag my hand through my hair. “Yes.”

“You have a post-traumatic syndrome injury to your brain.”

“No. It’s nothing like that.”

“Yes it is. You need to see a doctor immediately.”