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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2VYHOixK1
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpe90zrD2No
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz77s6qNN97
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYazbOQq7n
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—482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvD9Hknn8d
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPP0utYMRJ
“Hello, Dr. Alder,” Kendall said softly. “How are you?”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOLigdospb
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKM3HKVwfqX
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYolMyT0ibM
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtarAOXbqTH
“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.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagXqk6tJLM
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHLnakoEMA
Her boyfriend looked at me and said, “I think that’s her call, Scott.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQksLRZ2T5
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVxBWEIbgJ
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.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcczTXmdFrH
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtvDT66DqZ
“He should hear what I have to say,” Kendall said.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDLj6ZPoJ3
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MpzLAjId8
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjHB5QuFxS
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTKgCftbUi
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDhYVE01PG
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITEzMfaI4C
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9LVoBYjFp
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4w4D8w1XeI
I shrugged. “I guess I’m good at my job.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cSUMyrABT
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm47V1dHKR
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrMHrydJ6U
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ315KrOhF9a
My eyes widened and I knelt down. “Oh, Kendall. What’s wrong?”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITJtivVgSn
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzrzkeELd9
She shut her eyes and shook her head. “I’m scared,” she whispered.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApVFslSO2x
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Scxcppaxo
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.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jo7AdL67X
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjX0brLfiDc
“Dreams?” I asked. “What kind of dreams?”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8EODJ9EpM
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49TtLsdZ2e
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.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUscwdftjQt
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SQLvJHjec
“Cassie Winters?” I asked, looking up at Christian.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41zsgTc1oD
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAN5edsvnPQ
“She went to school with us. My friend’s dad found her body this morning.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuguhK9JcuS
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEa758UYZh
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVOfHYBUOz
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjNcY13KbP
“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.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5owa5zHr1
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWppukrnrt
“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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj47xNckZnY
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVDrid81Ws
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But I think you should come back next week and we’ll talk more. Is that okay?”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZUuGzOQnL
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNO5DvjQ0yl
“Okay,” she said.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EWUllmhZf
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYBWDRA3Tu
“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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfhTcvVS0M
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPi0HHyDqr
“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.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSE15apglD
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLEdNs5Oat
“Nightmares don’t mean that,” I said. I shook my head. “For the record, I don’t think you’re crazy.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSGxJzO4o5
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9CK3103u7
“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.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwnliKtp42
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhBGbwUArm
“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.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDkpWyDml9
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3su1Q9uEOG
I leaned forward and waited for her to finish.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqzDJF2b7w
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpYQAAHAko
“It means that these dreams, these nightmares, aren’t mine.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTKSbFNsei
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpe90zrD2No
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz77s6qNN97
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYazbOQq7n
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—482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvD9Hknn8d
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPP0utYMRJ
“Hello, Dr. Alder,” Kendall said softly. “How are you?”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOLigdospb
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKM3HKVwfqX
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYolMyT0ibM
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtarAOXbqTH
“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.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagXqk6tJLM
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHLnakoEMA
Her boyfriend looked at me and said, “I think that’s her call, Scott.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQksLRZ2T5
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVxBWEIbgJ
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.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcczTXmdFrH
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtvDT66DqZ
“He should hear what I have to say,” Kendall said.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDLj6ZPoJ3
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MpzLAjId8
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjHB5QuFxS
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTKgCftbUi
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDhYVE01PG
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITEzMfaI4C
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9LVoBYjFp
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4w4D8w1XeI
I shrugged. “I guess I’m good at my job.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cSUMyrABT
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm47V1dHKR
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrMHrydJ6U
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ315KrOhF9a
My eyes widened and I knelt down. “Oh, Kendall. What’s wrong?”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITJtivVgSn
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzrzkeELd9
She shut her eyes and shook her head. “I’m scared,” she whispered.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApVFslSO2x
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Scxcppaxo
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.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jo7AdL67X
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjX0brLfiDc
“Dreams?” I asked. “What kind of dreams?”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8EODJ9EpM
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49TtLsdZ2e
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.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUscwdftjQt
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SQLvJHjec
“Cassie Winters?” I asked, looking up at Christian.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41zsgTc1oD
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAN5edsvnPQ
“She went to school with us. My friend’s dad found her body this morning.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuguhK9JcuS
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEa758UYZh
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVOfHYBUOz
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjNcY13KbP
“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.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5owa5zHr1
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWppukrnrt
“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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj47xNckZnY
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVDrid81Ws
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But I think you should come back next week and we’ll talk more. Is that okay?”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZUuGzOQnL
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNO5DvjQ0yl
“Okay,” she said.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EWUllmhZf
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYBWDRA3Tu
“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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfhTcvVS0M
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPi0HHyDqr
“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.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSE15apglD
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLEdNs5Oat
“Nightmares don’t mean that,” I said. I shook my head. “For the record, I don’t think you’re crazy.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSGxJzO4o5
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9CK3103u7
“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.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwnliKtp42
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhBGbwUArm
“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.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDkpWyDml9
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3su1Q9uEOG
I leaned forward and waited for her to finish.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqzDJF2b7w
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpYQAAHAko
“It means that these dreams, these nightmares, aren’t mine.”482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTKSbFNsei
