Night Guests

My husband woke me. His eyes were open and he was pointing to the foot of our bed.

"Who are these people?" he asked, "Do you see them?"

I did not see these people.

He lowered his arm and turned to focus on the space beside him, then cautiously reached out. He told me that he was seeing two women, and that the young woman he was attempting to touch had stepped back, then both women vanished. Curious for both of us, of course, but we had read neurologist Oliver Sacks's book, Hallucinations, and were feeling well-informed and reassured. Hallucinations are more common than most people realize. Neither of us had trouble going back to sleep.

The following night my husband was again visited by the young woman beside our bed. He didn't wake me this time, but tried again to touch her. He reported to me in the morning that the figure again disappeared when he attempted contact. Some concern is creeping in though not fear or alarm. The night guests might become an unwelcome nuisance.

The pale young woman returned for a third night; my husband is prepared. She stands beside the bed with a new guest. This time she brought her dog.

"Who are you?" my husband inquired, "Is that your dog?"

The young woman looks directly at him and smiles slightly. There is no other response. She faded and was gone. My husband does not aspire to continue the paranormal research and begins to think of possible mundane causes for the nightly visitors.

The most mundane yet terrifying information anyone can read is the list of possible side effects to any drug he or she might be taking, whether prescription or over the counter. My husband thought to check online for all possible side effects for a new drug his doctor had prescribed.

• confusion, trouble concentrating, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior

My husband contacted his doctor who said the hallucinations constituted an allergic reaction to the drug, and he was to taper off immediately. And just that fast, it's over. 

I miss the apparitions, their stories, their dog. My husband does not.

Who are you?