SHARED HALLUCINATION

   Artwork by Felicien Rops        We didn't speak during the cab ride to the airport. Nor did we speak all through the security or when  boarding the plane. Once in flight, I dozed off, only waking to answer the call of nature. When I came  back from the toilets, Haiden was spread across the whole row of seats.      “Do you want me to move to another seat?” I asked.      Startling awake, he grabbed his coat and magazines, giving me the finger while moving to an empty  seat a couple of rows ahead.       Whatever , I thought. It didn't matter if it was a plane, train, or automobile, something would inevitably  set him off when we traveled. He would either panic, or throw a tantrum, and I knew from experience it  was better to leave him alone.      Over the loudspeaker came the announcement for our arrival to Valencia in fifteen minutes. Sitting  down, I clicked my ...

Artwork by Felicien Rops My mood had not brightened by the time I went to pick Haiden up from the train station.  After receiving one terse email with his train times, he must have miscalculated, or there'd been  a problem at the airport, because I sat there for over three hours watching as train after train  pulled into the station and left again. Finally, I saw Haiden lift his hand against the window as his  train rolled in, but I couldn't look him in the eye. There was a cold, black wind blowing around  inside of me that tasted like bitter ashes.  Once inside the car, I waited for him to roll a cigarette. After sitting at the station for so  long, I was freezing and wanted to hit the road so I could turn the car heater on, but I was afraid  to do so without his permission. The atmosphere felt tense to me and I didn't want to be  accused of trying to rush him.  “Was your plane delayed?” I asked.  “No,” h...