[ WP ] You are a schizophrenic maddeningly in love with the man/woman of your dreams . But you 're becoming increasingly unsure if she 's real , or just another hallucination .

The closing melody of the strings and brass played quietly over the black background of the rolling credits as the movie came to a close. 
 
 How the hell did that movie end? I had no idea. I am to lost in the scent of Rose, the girl from 3B that I've been having dinner with for twice a week over the past three months. 
 
 His hands moved slowly through her soft, red ringlets of her hair leaving the tangle every so often in order to caress her neck, pale as a winters moon. 
 
 Everything about Rose drives me crazy. It was not just the looks; that was superficial when it came to her. She's a biochemistry student from Chapel Hill - my alma marta. In 5 weeks time, she would be passing in her dissertation and hopefully get a post at John Hopkins. 
 
 She had dreams of going off to Cambridge University to teach. 
 
 She was just fun to be around. Staying home on a Friday night to play video games? Robin was more than excited to do that with me. Go catch a midnight showing of Citizen Kane down at the small theatre? She'd run down as I put on my shoes on to grab tickets and save some seats - as long as I grabbed the coke and popcorn. 
 
 She exhaled, slowly departing her lips from my neck and nestled into my chest. She sighed deeply. 
 
 `` I had so much fun tonight. You really can cook... I need to keep you around.'' 
 
 My heart flutters. 
 
 `` I'm not going anywhere.'' I say, kissing the crown of her head. 
 
 `` I have to get up early tomorrow. I have to be in the lab all day.'' 
 
 `` You can just stay here for the night, get up when you need to.'' 
 
 `` We both know that I will never get to sleep if I stay in that bed tonight, Mr. Snider.'' 
 
 I ca n't help but laugh and blush. She always knows how to read my mind. 
 
 `` Okay... okay. You win. We still on for Sunday?'' 
 
 `` Absolutely.'' she whispers, as she goes in for one last kiss. 
 
 I walk her to door; she bends down to throw her sandals on. 
 
 `` If I get back early enough from the lab, let's go to that new Library Bar place downtown.'' 
 
 `` Barrels n' Books? I've been wanting to check that place out for a while now.'' 
 
 `` Now you can! Goodnight!'' She sneaks in one last kiss. 
 
 That little devil. 
 
 I close the door and turn around slowly smiling. That night was - 
 
 The recorder! 
 
 I run over to the TV set and push aside the books beside it. The little recording device was still blinking red. I press stop, rewind, play. 
 
 Silence. The sounds of light kissing. 
 
 My iPhone rings in my pocket and I turn to look at the clock. 9:30 PM. My mother is never late with her nightly reminders. At least she is n't here tonight - I told her I was having Robin over for dinner so she went to visit her sister in Jersey. 
 
 I am 28 years old, mother. I can remember to take my damn pills. 
 
 The kissing stops. 
 
 `` Pretty good movie, huh?'' I hear myself say. I remember saying this to make her laugh after a 20 minute make out. 
 
 Silence. 
 
 My phone rings again. I take it out of my pocket and see the Called ID: Mom. 
 
 I throw the phone to couch and rub my palm across my chin. My skin is feeling itchy. Why the fuck did n't it pick up Robin's laugh. I love her laugh. 
 
 I rewind the tape recorder. I will prove to them that she loves me. 
 
 `` Pretty good movie, huh?'' I hear myself say. I remember saying this to make her laugh after a 20 minute make out. 
 
 Silence. 
 
 The phone rings again. The vibrations amplifying on the couch cushion. It cuts out after 2 rings. 
 
 Whatever. I will answer her after. 
 
 My headache is coming back. Why wo n't this recorder rewind faster!? 
 
 I walk into the kitchen to start picking up the dishes before my mom gets home. I put it on the counter and press play as I turn to get the dishes from the table. 
 
 The kissing stops. 
 
 `` Pretty good movie, huh?'' I hear myself say. I remember saying this to make her laugh after a 20 minute make out. 
 
 White Noise. Silence. 
 
 `` Brandon! Are you in there?! Your mother called me saying you are n't picking up your phone!'' 
 
 White Noise. Silence. 
 
 `` How is the dissertation coming along? You never answered me at dinner?'' 
 
 White Noise. Silence. 
 
 I look down at my hands with the plates from dinner. 
 
 She ate her food. Why was her plate full? Did she get seconds? 
 
 `` You got to make sure to let me pick you up after you drop your dissertation. We are going to Louie's for an Irish Car Bomb!'' 
 
 White Noise. Silence. 
 
 `` Of course it is going to be good... it's you we are talking about!'' 
 
 White Noise. Silence. 
 
 The plates in my hand shatter to the ground as a migraine starts throbbing at the crown of my head. 
 
 The phone rings, vibrating off the cushion of my couch. 
 
 `` Brandon! It's Will! Open up the door!'' 
 
 The phone rings. The door knocks are louder and the white noise of silence is the only answer the tape recorder receives. 
 
 The noise makes my head hurt. 
 
 My pill. I need to take my pill. 
 
 My voice crackles out of the voice recorder: 
 
 `` Of course I think about all the time. You are always on my mind. I love you, Robin.'' 
 
 The White Noise of Silence is the only response I hear as the room goes black.
