This week, I thought I’d share a dash of the crazy from Shadows.

“I know you’re in there,” BANG BANG BANG. “Open the bloody door, Sarah,” Tanya, my sister, yelled. Her knocking was insistent. I opened the door to find her with a disapproving scowl on her face, and one of her kids perched on her hip. Spittle ran down her youngest son’s chin. Slime-green snot oozed over his trembling upper lip.
I still saw stars from getting off the couch too quickly for my body and mind when I noticed there was something decidedly wrong with Tanya’s face.
“Your boss has been calling for the last hour.”
I knew she was talking to me, and I was supposed to respond, but her face distracted me. There was something wrong with it, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
“Sarah, you’re over two hours late for work.”
Justin, her eight-month-old, screamed. As he screamed, his face became a grisly mask. The snot turned into blood, and his skin turned grey.
“Sarah, are you listening to me?”
Tanya’s face kept changing. It looked like a crazy plastic surgeon had taken hold of her and left all of his tools sticking between her skin and facial bones. They were all at different angles. She looked like a human Picasso.
I couldn’t move.
“He’s been trying to call you on your cell for an hour, but you’re not picking up.”
The world spun too quickly. It spun out of control. Nausea welled, bringing the taste of bile. I tried to get away from them. Tanya grabbed my arm. I pulled away and threw up all over my red roses.
Justin screamed louder. I threw up again. Tanya rocked Justin and watched as I purged once more. The roses would never be the same again.
A phone rang somewhere. It could have been at the other end of the world. Justin’s screaming faded into a haze that enveloped me.
“That’s probably your boss again,” her voice was faint. “I’ll tell him you’re indisposed.” And she was gone. Just me and the roses. I dropped to my knees. The tiles were hard and cold. I was still wearing the skirt I’d worn to work the day before. The edge of the tiles dug into my bare skin. I vomited again. This time the roses were spared but the Lamb’s Ears ground cover took the full brunt.