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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlJdpDjn1F
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVGES9rp4r
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMPWXTGziP
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPebzrAdKXe
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—54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqha6V2fnrj
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPV6FR4zxDR
“Hello, Dr. Alder,” Kendall said softly. “How are you?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡns6y2x9fi7
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIoEPkG4H8
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡow3ucVyLtc
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRFJpHgyWy
“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.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqh446pLb6
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTADX4QTDBn
Her boyfriend looked at me and said, “I think that’s her call, Scott.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeeuXDcec8
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTz4XEbnpn
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.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiX8g2Y9Gz
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwNL1LodZB
“He should hear what I have to say,” Kendall said.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMuVRsz3PZ
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkhosyrqH8
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeENZFyoSy
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeluacXJgN
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIH705zyxZg
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZvjMuYlTR
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTS6engrk0H
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JoeKuOi2N
I shrugged. “I guess I’m good at my job.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHM41zz0Vs
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROlX3Iev3e
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaXBpH6d08
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1APOEQneRi
My eyes widened and I knelt down. “Oh, Kendall. What’s wrong?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGI71GbKUGN
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TY6voNBCO
She shut her eyes and shook her head. “I’m scared,” she whispered.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDozs3qQhh
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9X0hZGsJB9
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.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJ3wQyVEax
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUbRuDUVtb
“Dreams?” I asked. “What kind of dreams?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdD9dU9UmTv
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqfzX58SJi
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.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbdB3HfXCJ
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Qmj3gsXDl
“Cassie Winters?” I asked, looking up at Christian.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9MIJJNRCx
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93JmFM4UJH
“She went to school with us. My friend’s dad found her body this morning.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETx1cBiFzV
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ025MLOwzG9
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PcPcRBhMl
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqewrr7K6H
“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.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7JLUvzq4g
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAa5NZiEAAr
“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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzSb5kDd4J
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJQEvK95bd
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But I think you should come back next week and we’ll talk more. Is that okay?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMnqznJeYk
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUTx6ZSJdW
“Okay,” she said.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8GjMb4Wgg
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaB2y2CVLQU
“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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wPZ4VYWEc
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7kyr6Jw3Z
“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.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdBQMDsIpj
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvPruUmtQ1
“Nightmares don’t mean that,” I said. I shook my head. “For the record, I don’t think you’re crazy.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJ80iA627a
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UoDKagcSF
“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.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwublWGgia7
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPQsP93Wba
“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.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d4vQOG71z
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNx4YT0EaiO
I leaned forward and waited for her to finish.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCE85uh8rt
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyGn4xcLEe
“It means that these dreams, these nightmares, aren’t mine.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrMoqGo4QH
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVGES9rp4r
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMPWXTGziP
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPebzrAdKXe
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—54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqha6V2fnrj
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPV6FR4zxDR
“Hello, Dr. Alder,” Kendall said softly. “How are you?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡns6y2x9fi7
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIoEPkG4H8
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡow3ucVyLtc
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRFJpHgyWy
“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.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqh446pLb6
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTADX4QTDBn
Her boyfriend looked at me and said, “I think that’s her call, Scott.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeeuXDcec8
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTz4XEbnpn
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.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiX8g2Y9Gz
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwNL1LodZB
“He should hear what I have to say,” Kendall said.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMuVRsz3PZ
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkhosyrqH8
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeENZFyoSy
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeluacXJgN
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIH705zyxZg
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZvjMuYlTR
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTS6engrk0H
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JoeKuOi2N
I shrugged. “I guess I’m good at my job.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHM41zz0Vs
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROlX3Iev3e
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaXBpH6d08
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1APOEQneRi
My eyes widened and I knelt down. “Oh, Kendall. What’s wrong?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGI71GbKUGN
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TY6voNBCO
She shut her eyes and shook her head. “I’m scared,” she whispered.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDozs3qQhh
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9X0hZGsJB9
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.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJ3wQyVEax
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUbRuDUVtb
“Dreams?” I asked. “What kind of dreams?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdD9dU9UmTv
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqfzX58SJi
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.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbdB3HfXCJ
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Qmj3gsXDl
“Cassie Winters?” I asked, looking up at Christian.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9MIJJNRCx
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93JmFM4UJH
“She went to school with us. My friend’s dad found her body this morning.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETx1cBiFzV
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ025MLOwzG9
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PcPcRBhMl
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqewrr7K6H
“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.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7JLUvzq4g
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAa5NZiEAAr
“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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzSb5kDd4J
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJQEvK95bd
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But I think you should come back next week and we’ll talk more. Is that okay?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMnqznJeYk
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUTx6ZSJdW
“Okay,” she said.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8GjMb4Wgg
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaB2y2CVLQU
“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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wPZ4VYWEc
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7kyr6Jw3Z
“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.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdBQMDsIpj
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvPruUmtQ1
“Nightmares don’t mean that,” I said. I shook my head. “For the record, I don’t think you’re crazy.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJ80iA627a
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UoDKagcSF
“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.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwublWGgia7
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPQsP93Wba
“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.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d4vQOG71z
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNx4YT0EaiO
I leaned forward and waited for her to finish.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCE85uh8rt
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyGn4xcLEe
“It means that these dreams, these nightmares, aren’t mine.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrMoqGo4QH
