“Project REMdy”

Adult Content, 18+- This short story may contain triggering content such as grief, the possible death of a loved one, adult language, mature sexual content, violence, and potential triggers.

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I DO NOT consent to my story being translated, copied, or otherwise reproduced by anyone.

© All rights reserved

Audio Narration by Star Williams- 

Find Star Williams on (Tiktok- @tiana_nottheprincess, Twitter- @Tiana_Voice) 

Thank you, Star, for bringing my story to life and giving me the courage to move forward with this project! 

Note to my Tiktok followers:

Without you, I don’t know if I would ever move forward with this project or my Debut novel. Over the years, I’ve allowed my light to be snuffed out, but you all came along and decided to fan my flames, and with that, my flame grew brighter and stronger. I will be forever grateful. If you ever wonder if you make a change in this world. You all have been the biggest spark that has ignited me. Thank you, sister-mine. 

Voice Narration: Star Williams

As I nervously settled into the chair across from Dr. Steven, I couldn’t help but notice the coffee stains on my skirt. I had been so rushed to get to her office that I hadn’t had time to clean up the mess I’d made. But that was the least of my worries. Her disappointment and frustration washed over me like a tidal wave. My chest felt like a drum, reverberating with each thud of my racing heart. This wasn’t going to be a routine check-in. I knew it from the way her eyes pierced through me and the anger that was barely contained by the blank mask she wore.

 

I had poured myself into Project REMdy, hoping to find a breakthrough that could save my mother’s life. But now, as I sat across from my boss, it seemed like all that effort had been for nothing. Her words are being thrown at me like darts.

 

“Where are we on Project REMdy? It’s been months, and we’ve gotten nowhere.” Leaning back in her chair, she crossed her arms, her eyes boring into me.

I sat there, my mind racing as I thought of a response. People knew Dr. Stevens for her sharp tongue and hot temper. I have seen her reduce colleagues to tears with a single remark, but I wouldn’t let that intimidate me, not if we would progress on Project REMdy.

Taking a deep breath, I replied, “We’ve hit a bit of a roadblock, but I’ve been brainstorming some ideas. I think if we tweak the parameters of the experiment and adjust the dosage-”

Dr. Stevens cut me off with a dramatic slap of her hand on her desk. “I don’t want to hear about your ideas. I want results. Do you know how much this company has spent on this project?”

A knot formed in my stomach. The pressure is on, and failure is not an option. Dr. Stevens is losing patience with me, and I’ve got to get her on board with my ideas. To convince her they are worth pursuing.

Leaning forward, I met her gaze head-on. “I understand the magnitude of the investment the company made. I’m just as invested in this project as you are, but now we need to take a step back and assess our approach. If we keep doing what we’ve been doing, we’ll never see different results.”

For a moment, she studied me with a critical eye. Most likely testing to see if she could wordlessly intimidate me. It surprised me to see her nod her head slowly. “Fine, you have till tomorrow. If you can’t by then, we’re pulling the plug.”  

I couldn’t believe it. My boss had given me an ultimatum: show progress on our sleep research project by tomorrow, or the project gets scrapped. And with it, any hope of finding a cure for my mother’s coma.

Finally, back at my desk, I stared at the folders before me. The conversation with Dr. Stevens replayed in my mind. The way she spoke to me, it was as if I was her child, not a colleague. I can’t keep letting her get away with treating me that way.

My assistant Grace sat across from me, completely unbothered, with her legs crossed as she used her pen to pick at her nails. “Why are you in here?” stopping mid-pick, she lifted her gaze to mine. “I know you’re not taking that tone with me after I cleaned that spilled coffee on your desk.” She said, emphasizing her words. “Don’t take whatever you got going on with Dr. Stevens out on me. Besides, I’m here for moral support.” Giving her a look, I knew only she could silently understand. She replied, “Ok, well, maybe it’s an escape from the phones.” She shrugged, leaning back into the chair.

“I swear that woman is the devil herself. We have been working on Project REMdy for months, and now that we’ve gotten nowhere, she puts all the pressure on me.”

 

“That’s because you let her, Iris. Get it off your chest. Stop letting her walk over you.” Of course, she’s right, and lord knows how badly I would love to tell Dr. Stevens about herself, but what good will that do? It will only land me losing my job.

“Steven’s been acting up since she took over the department.” My eyes widened at the fact that she had taken it there. “All that power went straight to that bald head of hers.”

“Grace!” I called out while we both broke into a fit of laughter. “What? You mean to tell me you never wanted to mention her head?”

“My strength isn’t measured by how well I tear down another woman. My mother taught me better than that.” At the mention of my mother, we both fell silent. The subject always brings up unwanted memories.

At that moment, a bolt of inspiration struck me, igniting a fire of possibility in my mind.

“What if I used mom’s book?” she went noticeably stiff in her seat.

Grace and I have been friends since high school. She took the job as my assistant to get back on her feet after a messy divorce. She knew precisely what book I was speaking of.

“Are you sure, Iris?” she said, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Your mom said your family had passed down the spell book for generations. Messing with stuff like that could be dangerous.”

I nod, knowing Grace is that one woo-woo friend. That one that’s superstitious about everything. You walk past a pole, and she screams bloody murder because you split it. You set your purse on the floor, and she says you will be broke for the next few years. So, I say nothing, knowing I don’t need this right now. I’m getting desperate; hell, my job might depend on it. My mother depends on it.

“I won’t do anything reckless, Grace. Mom was a green witch. There might be some herbs or remedies that could prove useful in finding a solution to Project REMdy. It’s worth a shot.”

Grace nods, understanding the predicament I’m in.

“Just be careful, Iris. You know how things go for people that like playing with fire.” I smile, knowing she only speaks with my best interest at heart, but she underestimates that I’m willing to do whatever it takes to find a solution for Project REMdy.

Hey Dreamers, Stay tuned for new episodes every Wednesday.  Thank you for reading sister-mine.