x
I was standing outside taking a drag from a cigarette when a car came into the parking lot, and since I didn’t have any other appointments today but this one, I knew exactly who it was. When Kendall got out, she looked up at me, her golden eyes glassy.361Please respect copyright.PENANAfs8LvFGeoa
361Please respect copyright.PENANAKF7UxFj02X
I watched Christian take her hand and they walked toward me. For a split second I was envious of this teenage romance, but I was glad she had something stable in her life. Though I’d barely talked to Kendall for more than a few minutes, I knew she was troubled.361Please respect copyright.PENANAnibx1vMFAR
361Please respect copyright.PENANA71043Bo4dt
Then she got that phone call in my office and everything changed. I had met John Monroe once or twice in my life, but I liked him, and I’m sure Kendall did too. Now that he was gone, and I was here to help her, I wondered if—361Please respect copyright.PENANAjGPh4JbBnn
361Please respect copyright.PENANAAr0a8Zx2vM
“Hello, Dr. Alder,” Kendall said softly. “How are you?”361Please respect copyright.PENANADegwqVmUI7
361Please respect copyright.PENANApuuPo8C3y9
I looked at her face and saw how drained of color it was. She looked like she hadn’t slept in a few days, as well, because of the dark circles under her eyes. I frowned and dropped the cigarette onto the ground, stomping it out with the heel of my shoe.361Please respect copyright.PENANADctSMGrCuF
361Please respect copyright.PENANAHHn9olNfAN
“I didn’t know you smoked,” was all she said to me before she looked at Christian. “You can come in or wait, if you want.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAswVvFBB48z
361Please respect copyright.PENANAvXbEWUyubI
Her boyfriend looked at me and said, “I think that’s her call, Scott.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAdgIqNubUQg
361Please respect copyright.PENANANVrhgmnRbO
I saw Kendall bristle at his use of her last name. I didn’t understand her reaction, but I didn’t gauge it either. Instead I said to Christian, “You can do whatever you’d like. If she feels comfortable enough for you to sit in, I think it would be okay.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAcY8NRKQGId
361Please respect copyright.PENANAt0vHrGanC0
“He should hear what I have to say,” Kendall said.361Please respect copyright.PENANAP5TNdhHydc
361Please respect copyright.PENANANy22mi540j
As I turned around to head into the building, I heard her say something quietly to him. She told him that he was free to leave if he couldn’t handle this. Whether it was to leave the session or her, I wasn’t sure.361Please respect copyright.PENANAQ4JAl7VlIw
361Please respect copyright.PENANAU7mGph6NmC
The door shut behind me and I turned to see Kendall staring around at the waiting room like she’d never seen it before. I didn’t say anything. I took out of keys and unlocked my office door, standing aside so they could come in.361Please respect copyright.PENANA8B2EhBBvzx
361Please respect copyright.PENANAiOP4R44Fz3
Christian took a seat on the couch and whistled softly. “That’s a lot of awards,” he said, smiling, as he admired all of the plaques on the wall.361Please respect copyright.PENANAOGgjqyWEoY
361Please respect copyright.PENANASz5rR27bbs
I shrugged. “I guess I’m good at my job.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAY0CzUjh9Vg
361Please respect copyright.PENANA1OLMwSC2X4
Kendall sat in the chair across from my desk. She didn’t look at anyone, just straight ahead at the empty chair. When she started to shake, I came forward and touched her shoulder. She lifted her head, her eyes filled with tears.361Please respect copyright.PENANAxK8btEOHuH
361Please respect copyright.PENANAI5Q8F4Evzf
My eyes widened and I knelt down. “Oh, Kendall. What’s wrong?”361Please respect copyright.PENANAXlQepSJ4t3
361Please respect copyright.PENANAGOqR84HqSP
She shut her eyes and shook her head. “I’m scared,” she whispered.361Please respect copyright.PENANAUog9lVDD01
361Please respect copyright.PENANAo4wQ4wZV0k
Christian stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders. He leaned his head down toward her ear and said, “You’ve got to tell her about the dreams.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAQTUGivsYTi
361Please respect copyright.PENANACzOefHcb9a
“Dreams?” I asked. “What kind of dreams?”361Please respect copyright.PENANAlFIakAqRGl
361Please respect copyright.PENANA1FBBCpR9lj
Kendall opened her eyes. They were clear and sharp and deep golden. She exhaled slowly and muttered softly, “I have these dreams where I’ve done awful things. I’ve killed people, Dr. Alder, in my dreams. I’ve killed them and they’re all dying around me for real. First John Monroe, then Cassie Winters.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAT3oQWXTbZE
361Please respect copyright.PENANAU9u8MOFOUo
“Cassie Winters?” I asked, looking up at Christian.361Please respect copyright.PENANAV6TCIqDkK5
361Please respect copyright.PENANAIoVrBKZamX
“She went to school with us. My friend’s dad found her body this morning.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAJMhLpCJzYD
361Please respect copyright.PENANAGEUI93Tqze
He didn’t say how she died, which I was thankful for. I didn’t know if he was sparing the details for my sake or Kendall’s. My guess was both.361Please respect copyright.PENANA0ok6TdSzU0
361Please respect copyright.PENANA7gZAd4kzEP
“Kendall,” I said, “you can’t possibly think you’re capable of taking a human life, do you? They’re only dreams. They’re not real.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAd65MKFWP6p
361Please respect copyright.PENANAmgaNghqadH
“Then what is going on?” she hissed. She put her hands on her face and brought her knees to her chest. “What’s wrong with me?” she mumbled.361Please respect copyright.PENANAoDzIGohZUR
361Please respect copyright.PENANA7fFAikak21
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But I think you should come back next week and we’ll talk more. Is that okay?”361Please respect copyright.PENANAELTyIgL7PZ
361Please respect copyright.PENANAzB1bUh6GGK
“Okay,” she said.361Please respect copyright.PENANAcx8AlX9PAW
361Please respect copyright.PENANAn1PFKTWjMy
“Do you want to tell me about when the dreams started?” I asked, standing and taking a seat at my desk. I grabbed a notepad and a pen and leaned back in the chair.361Please respect copyright.PENANAzcfAUDAoRo
361Please respect copyright.PENANAAcCk5So0x5
“It’s been a few months,” Kendall said, looking at me. She dropped her legs so they hit the floor. “I didn’t understand the first one and I hate labeling them as a nightmare. I don’t want people to think I’m crazy.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAHlvu2eskvp
361Please respect copyright.PENANAqRYEtCqI8a
“Nightmares don’t mean that,” I said. I shook my head. “For the record, I don’t think you’re crazy.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAZelyHGU4OR
361Please respect copyright.PENANAAy2DPldRh2
“I don’t either,” Christian said, squeezing her hand. He looked at me and smiled from behind Kendall. Then he gazed down at her. “You’ve always been the one with the wild imagination.”361Please respect copyright.PENANA6FTgq1VPKc
361Please respect copyright.PENANAhwbbHlsXEu
“It’s more than that,” Kendall said quietly. She was becoming more comfortable, which was good. “If I didn’t do this, if I didn’t kill anyone, then that means one thing.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAF9JGLe7IRu
361Please respect copyright.PENANA8NzSAetCjd
I leaned forward and waited for her to finish.361Please respect copyright.PENANAevMuvFX8PS
361Please respect copyright.PENANAINcpJfO4TM
“It means that these dreams, these nightmares, aren’t mine.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAgti2v06s2k
361Please respect copyright.PENANAKF7UxFj02X
I watched Christian take her hand and they walked toward me. For a split second I was envious of this teenage romance, but I was glad she had something stable in her life. Though I’d barely talked to Kendall for more than a few minutes, I knew she was troubled.361Please respect copyright.PENANAnibx1vMFAR
361Please respect copyright.PENANA71043Bo4dt
Then she got that phone call in my office and everything changed. I had met John Monroe once or twice in my life, but I liked him, and I’m sure Kendall did too. Now that he was gone, and I was here to help her, I wondered if—361Please respect copyright.PENANAjGPh4JbBnn
361Please respect copyright.PENANAAr0a8Zx2vM
“Hello, Dr. Alder,” Kendall said softly. “How are you?”361Please respect copyright.PENANADegwqVmUI7
361Please respect copyright.PENANApuuPo8C3y9
I looked at her face and saw how drained of color it was. She looked like she hadn’t slept in a few days, as well, because of the dark circles under her eyes. I frowned and dropped the cigarette onto the ground, stomping it out with the heel of my shoe.361Please respect copyright.PENANADctSMGrCuF
361Please respect copyright.PENANAHHn9olNfAN
“I didn’t know you smoked,” was all she said to me before she looked at Christian. “You can come in or wait, if you want.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAswVvFBB48z
361Please respect copyright.PENANAvXbEWUyubI
Her boyfriend looked at me and said, “I think that’s her call, Scott.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAdgIqNubUQg
361Please respect copyright.PENANANVrhgmnRbO
I saw Kendall bristle at his use of her last name. I didn’t understand her reaction, but I didn’t gauge it either. Instead I said to Christian, “You can do whatever you’d like. If she feels comfortable enough for you to sit in, I think it would be okay.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAcY8NRKQGId
361Please respect copyright.PENANAt0vHrGanC0
“He should hear what I have to say,” Kendall said.361Please respect copyright.PENANAP5TNdhHydc
361Please respect copyright.PENANANy22mi540j
As I turned around to head into the building, I heard her say something quietly to him. She told him that he was free to leave if he couldn’t handle this. Whether it was to leave the session or her, I wasn’t sure.361Please respect copyright.PENANAQ4JAl7VlIw
361Please respect copyright.PENANAU7mGph6NmC
The door shut behind me and I turned to see Kendall staring around at the waiting room like she’d never seen it before. I didn’t say anything. I took out of keys and unlocked my office door, standing aside so they could come in.361Please respect copyright.PENANA8B2EhBBvzx
361Please respect copyright.PENANAiOP4R44Fz3
Christian took a seat on the couch and whistled softly. “That’s a lot of awards,” he said, smiling, as he admired all of the plaques on the wall.361Please respect copyright.PENANAOGgjqyWEoY
361Please respect copyright.PENANASz5rR27bbs
I shrugged. “I guess I’m good at my job.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAY0CzUjh9Vg
361Please respect copyright.PENANA1OLMwSC2X4
Kendall sat in the chair across from my desk. She didn’t look at anyone, just straight ahead at the empty chair. When she started to shake, I came forward and touched her shoulder. She lifted her head, her eyes filled with tears.361Please respect copyright.PENANAxK8btEOHuH
361Please respect copyright.PENANAI5Q8F4Evzf
My eyes widened and I knelt down. “Oh, Kendall. What’s wrong?”361Please respect copyright.PENANAXlQepSJ4t3
361Please respect copyright.PENANAGOqR84HqSP
She shut her eyes and shook her head. “I’m scared,” she whispered.361Please respect copyright.PENANAUog9lVDD01
361Please respect copyright.PENANAo4wQ4wZV0k
Christian stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders. He leaned his head down toward her ear and said, “You’ve got to tell her about the dreams.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAQTUGivsYTi
361Please respect copyright.PENANACzOefHcb9a
“Dreams?” I asked. “What kind of dreams?”361Please respect copyright.PENANAlFIakAqRGl
361Please respect copyright.PENANA1FBBCpR9lj
Kendall opened her eyes. They were clear and sharp and deep golden. She exhaled slowly and muttered softly, “I have these dreams where I’ve done awful things. I’ve killed people, Dr. Alder, in my dreams. I’ve killed them and they’re all dying around me for real. First John Monroe, then Cassie Winters.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAT3oQWXTbZE
361Please respect copyright.PENANAU9u8MOFOUo
“Cassie Winters?” I asked, looking up at Christian.361Please respect copyright.PENANAV6TCIqDkK5
361Please respect copyright.PENANAIoVrBKZamX
“She went to school with us. My friend’s dad found her body this morning.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAJMhLpCJzYD
361Please respect copyright.PENANAGEUI93Tqze
He didn’t say how she died, which I was thankful for. I didn’t know if he was sparing the details for my sake or Kendall’s. My guess was both.361Please respect copyright.PENANA0ok6TdSzU0
361Please respect copyright.PENANA7gZAd4kzEP
“Kendall,” I said, “you can’t possibly think you’re capable of taking a human life, do you? They’re only dreams. They’re not real.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAd65MKFWP6p
361Please respect copyright.PENANAmgaNghqadH
“Then what is going on?” she hissed. She put her hands on her face and brought her knees to her chest. “What’s wrong with me?” she mumbled.361Please respect copyright.PENANAoDzIGohZUR
361Please respect copyright.PENANA7fFAikak21
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But I think you should come back next week and we’ll talk more. Is that okay?”361Please respect copyright.PENANAELTyIgL7PZ
361Please respect copyright.PENANAzB1bUh6GGK
“Okay,” she said.361Please respect copyright.PENANAcx8AlX9PAW
361Please respect copyright.PENANAn1PFKTWjMy
“Do you want to tell me about when the dreams started?” I asked, standing and taking a seat at my desk. I grabbed a notepad and a pen and leaned back in the chair.361Please respect copyright.PENANAzcfAUDAoRo
361Please respect copyright.PENANAAcCk5So0x5
“It’s been a few months,” Kendall said, looking at me. She dropped her legs so they hit the floor. “I didn’t understand the first one and I hate labeling them as a nightmare. I don’t want people to think I’m crazy.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAHlvu2eskvp
361Please respect copyright.PENANAqRYEtCqI8a
“Nightmares don’t mean that,” I said. I shook my head. “For the record, I don’t think you’re crazy.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAZelyHGU4OR
361Please respect copyright.PENANAAy2DPldRh2
“I don’t either,” Christian said, squeezing her hand. He looked at me and smiled from behind Kendall. Then he gazed down at her. “You’ve always been the one with the wild imagination.”361Please respect copyright.PENANA6FTgq1VPKc
361Please respect copyright.PENANAhwbbHlsXEu
“It’s more than that,” Kendall said quietly. She was becoming more comfortable, which was good. “If I didn’t do this, if I didn’t kill anyone, then that means one thing.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAF9JGLe7IRu
361Please respect copyright.PENANA8NzSAetCjd
I leaned forward and waited for her to finish.361Please respect copyright.PENANAevMuvFX8PS
361Please respect copyright.PENANAINcpJfO4TM
“It means that these dreams, these nightmares, aren’t mine.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAgti2v06s2k