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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSE4QcWxc6O
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXYlMjoDKp
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhK5cN9LA4
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVilQ5anaQU
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—462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDC5hy55k0w
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AwxObtNhv
“Hello, Dr. Alder,” Kendall said softly. “How are you?”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4UV6Va1dG
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE58xJhCVuT
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceveKHeH42
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LkUniur5o
“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.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7FWTw2a7T
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kFoyhax0G
Her boyfriend looked at me and said, “I think that’s her call, Scott.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7dszK34kl
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZzRGSPq40
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.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVL6P94Cyil
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoLIDJJdfp
“He should hear what I have to say,” Kendall said.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2P0obvt25D
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9w2gLQL8D
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjiga9gnIA
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyrHgHKFw7
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYQig5ohFH
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Am2GCfqJT
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5H1fbPtsJw
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCHXt5qNsG
I shrugged. “I guess I’m good at my job.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEZ44jul2K
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVq3Y3Fuovi
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39Wlyce9qS
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySnR8Ig2TL
My eyes widened and I knelt down. “Oh, Kendall. What’s wrong?”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1nYiGdljH
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPe3FjmMAj7
She shut her eyes and shook her head. “I’m scared,” she whispered.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Wu3RV33NP
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVrOLOfhVn
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.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jr72sQV36
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXtxP8OhOi
“Dreams?” I asked. “What kind of dreams?”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTQx1V11mF
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACOZw4dt26
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.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RmoBb0dwA
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUm8m6ipF0
“Cassie Winters?” I asked, looking up at Christian.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX809P7nfCD
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuK5zmuZkn
“She went to school with us. My friend’s dad found her body this morning.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ941ASpv7Fq
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3d2AbxfMJs
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDt2GY8t4m
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KDi3C5lr3
“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.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1ESGvhDJR
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6C5ZHxltjM
“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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJsnhtpe4o
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3puaTBEmyc
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But I think you should come back next week and we’ll talk more. Is that okay?”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW36P2y9oEn
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi894Wq365I
“Okay,” she said.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pcfhA41sK
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoSf48EdmJ
“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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbz0vLLUII
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tPg0FP9SE
“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.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuComaMIbX1
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDHwxSV01W
“Nightmares don’t mean that,” I said. I shook my head. “For the record, I don’t think you’re crazy.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7X7Jpl1WEi
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhV4VSWSBv
“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.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQBykQLtML
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLcoGHel8d
“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.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTFRbm7Psf
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwLs4j5N8A
I leaned forward and waited for her to finish.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Q7xor7pnx
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSXOVlhhjj
“It means that these dreams, these nightmares, aren’t mine.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpF2FudJw31
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXYlMjoDKp
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhK5cN9LA4
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVilQ5anaQU
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—462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDC5hy55k0w
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AwxObtNhv
“Hello, Dr. Alder,” Kendall said softly. “How are you?”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4UV6Va1dG
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE58xJhCVuT
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceveKHeH42
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LkUniur5o
“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.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7FWTw2a7T
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kFoyhax0G
Her boyfriend looked at me and said, “I think that’s her call, Scott.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7dszK34kl
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZzRGSPq40
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.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVL6P94Cyil
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoLIDJJdfp
“He should hear what I have to say,” Kendall said.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2P0obvt25D
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9w2gLQL8D
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjiga9gnIA
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyrHgHKFw7
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYQig5ohFH
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Am2GCfqJT
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5H1fbPtsJw
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCHXt5qNsG
I shrugged. “I guess I’m good at my job.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEZ44jul2K
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVq3Y3Fuovi
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39Wlyce9qS
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySnR8Ig2TL
My eyes widened and I knelt down. “Oh, Kendall. What’s wrong?”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1nYiGdljH
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPe3FjmMAj7
She shut her eyes and shook her head. “I’m scared,” she whispered.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Wu3RV33NP
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVrOLOfhVn
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.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jr72sQV36
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXtxP8OhOi
“Dreams?” I asked. “What kind of dreams?”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTQx1V11mF
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACOZw4dt26
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.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RmoBb0dwA
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUm8m6ipF0
“Cassie Winters?” I asked, looking up at Christian.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX809P7nfCD
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuK5zmuZkn
“She went to school with us. My friend’s dad found her body this morning.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ941ASpv7Fq
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3d2AbxfMJs
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDt2GY8t4m
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KDi3C5lr3
“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.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1ESGvhDJR
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6C5ZHxltjM
“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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJsnhtpe4o
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3puaTBEmyc
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But I think you should come back next week and we’ll talk more. Is that okay?”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW36P2y9oEn
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi894Wq365I
“Okay,” she said.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pcfhA41sK
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoSf48EdmJ
“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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbz0vLLUII
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tPg0FP9SE
“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.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuComaMIbX1
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDHwxSV01W
“Nightmares don’t mean that,” I said. I shook my head. “For the record, I don’t think you’re crazy.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7X7Jpl1WEi
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhV4VSWSBv
“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.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQBykQLtML
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLcoGHel8d
“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.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTFRbm7Psf
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwLs4j5N8A
I leaned forward and waited for her to finish.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Q7xor7pnx
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSXOVlhhjj
“It means that these dreams, these nightmares, aren’t mine.”462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpF2FudJw31
