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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DmWiGPwA8
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUF1pyNrRou
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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOApmWYv4Qa
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFogPGbH8Io
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—473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7XtAYovJR
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjCgbc39YV
“Hello, Dr. Alder,” Kendall said softly. “How are you?”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TuFfXHY8G
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfUYFg6Fku
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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWJutxq67c
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBCcOAroz1
“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.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7R3oGvKK6
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcgzOvn70w
Her boyfriend looked at me and said, “I think that’s her call, Scott.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xm89bQZhV
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEYTBrKFDB
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.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTBWdQKAx1
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPd8qGz7SI
“He should hear what I have to say,” Kendall said.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHb48TL6D8g
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmI3khz3LML
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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX659IJ7wYZ
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQ1RouQANH
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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCTRU1R8hk
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwF5mBwXQD
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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCT4gbiRAG0
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNv7sX2TyAc
I shrugged. “I guess I’m good at my job.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyGXTS1PE6
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38uDjXNNYx
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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEiEFjPiX6
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBFmMGjJJi
My eyes widened and I knelt down. “Oh, Kendall. What’s wrong?”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzKJgqqAI4
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQGCRCO8Nh
She shut her eyes and shook her head. “I’m scared,” she whispered.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzrH9dOBby
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugRrGJ83Be
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.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4gaW0wxN4
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡos3eT3TkCz
“Dreams?” I asked. “What kind of dreams?”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEY6ewt4i16
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTnDpmwOOC
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.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq6ryGKrRV
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqKnqQmTe1
“Cassie Winters?” I asked, looking up at Christian.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GhNJFN2kl
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bvWnZp95o
“She went to school with us. My friend’s dad found her body this morning.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIqhxdoqWR
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4z9JYKCaHq
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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrNP1YF4q3
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmzuD5tMHv
“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.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCzxPFXRSw
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1Es60pgsv
“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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2mLiEq8X3
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDTxECAka6
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But I think you should come back next week and we’ll talk more. Is that okay?”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdLgXP66vZ
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3N821lBdoR
“Okay,” she said.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmXbbshYPA
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gGdLmnywX
“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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaQhoNvane
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79SBso1Tk4
“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.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYykplvExbV
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxs2pONMkq
“Nightmares don’t mean that,” I said. I shook my head. “For the record, I don’t think you’re crazy.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEmNNmk8cq
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIZIu7Ohnq
“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.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNd08obZEJ
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumFWC2higZ
“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.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPujTOgzpiX
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTYojQAfnl
I leaned forward and waited for her to finish.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyYR3u47wc
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aW1dEhoP8
“It means that these dreams, these nightmares, aren’t mine.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYzs69qyjl
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUF1pyNrRou
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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOApmWYv4Qa
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFogPGbH8Io
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—473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7XtAYovJR
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjCgbc39YV
“Hello, Dr. Alder,” Kendall said softly. “How are you?”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TuFfXHY8G
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfUYFg6Fku
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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWJutxq67c
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBCcOAroz1
“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.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7R3oGvKK6
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcgzOvn70w
Her boyfriend looked at me and said, “I think that’s her call, Scott.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xm89bQZhV
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEYTBrKFDB
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.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTBWdQKAx1
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPd8qGz7SI
“He should hear what I have to say,” Kendall said.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHb48TL6D8g
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmI3khz3LML
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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX659IJ7wYZ
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQ1RouQANH
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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCTRU1R8hk
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwF5mBwXQD
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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCT4gbiRAG0
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNv7sX2TyAc
I shrugged. “I guess I’m good at my job.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyGXTS1PE6
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38uDjXNNYx
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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEiEFjPiX6
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBFmMGjJJi
My eyes widened and I knelt down. “Oh, Kendall. What’s wrong?”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzKJgqqAI4
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQGCRCO8Nh
She shut her eyes and shook her head. “I’m scared,” she whispered.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzrH9dOBby
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugRrGJ83Be
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.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4gaW0wxN4
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡos3eT3TkCz
“Dreams?” I asked. “What kind of dreams?”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEY6ewt4i16
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTnDpmwOOC
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.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq6ryGKrRV
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqKnqQmTe1
“Cassie Winters?” I asked, looking up at Christian.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GhNJFN2kl
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bvWnZp95o
“She went to school with us. My friend’s dad found her body this morning.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIqhxdoqWR
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4z9JYKCaHq
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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrNP1YF4q3
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmzuD5tMHv
“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.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCzxPFXRSw
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1Es60pgsv
“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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2mLiEq8X3
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDTxECAka6
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But I think you should come back next week and we’ll talk more. Is that okay?”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdLgXP66vZ
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3N821lBdoR
“Okay,” she said.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmXbbshYPA
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gGdLmnywX
“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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaQhoNvane
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79SBso1Tk4
“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.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYykplvExbV
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxs2pONMkq
“Nightmares don’t mean that,” I said. I shook my head. “For the record, I don’t think you’re crazy.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEmNNmk8cq
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIZIu7Ohnq
“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.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNd08obZEJ
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumFWC2higZ
“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.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPujTOgzpiX
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTYojQAfnl
I leaned forward and waited for her to finish.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyYR3u47wc
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aW1dEhoP8
“It means that these dreams, these nightmares, aren’t mine.”473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYzs69qyjl
