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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDwSXc38GQ
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMsw727IXN
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4PtLO3OzY
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATYDfNks3K
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—135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoKeFP80AV
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82dclf8esP
“Hello, Dr. Alder,” Kendall said softly. “How are you?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89XiCgoMRl
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡff7A3gaGrZ
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJkw0pkW20
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06vSW0KTsC
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLz5X5VX8sB
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8bs7c6Xnt
Her boyfriend looked at me and said, “I think that’s her call, Scott.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq59uP8gOJd
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKKltGxABU
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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9P5kkbmQ4h
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EtdCrYxHX
“He should hear what I have to say,” Kendall said.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjd1eVkyZH
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSzHFJVTxT
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKj426w7J3g
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjTQ1qxKxF
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbR8ys6PY1l
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1JVyfuJZ3
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ217OlYwrQN
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9DnDQJu01
I shrugged. “I guess I’m good at my job.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbnv8hpPdh
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8IEEtSqWv
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhY9EtozWD
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvllFOS6Im
My eyes widened and I knelt down. “Oh, Kendall. What’s wrong?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeNCBO7ieA
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbigiKhcYx
She shut her eyes and shook her head. “I’m scared,” she whispered.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeVK8filWG
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxf4TBHPDOL
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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhZ9lLosqf
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxF4L6B6YZI
“Dreams?” I asked. “What kind of dreams?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1F9t6FYyZ
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK01ElKAUTo
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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifLI6oszGt
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3B9sB0kvm7
“Cassie Winters?” I asked, looking up at Christian.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8OvGnyM11
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGw02ODA00
“She went to school with us. My friend’s dad found her body this morning.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8FLgBqIiF
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7s6pauv9F
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVtbqmau0O
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeFF942O5L
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibKM9cN3vi
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjl2is1bvp
“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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZ1EJfR8bc
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUJ79vgDTD
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But I think you should come back next week and we’ll talk more. Is that okay?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvOrmBpcnB
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwE3RyMHe2
“Okay,” she said.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55ojfXTOeL
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpN0iEHb4zA
“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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xfq1ZFxV3
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosswXMzgBe
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIEpAZPp4d
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2bowZ1fJB
“Nightmares don’t mean that,” I said. I shook my head. “For the record, I don’t think you’re crazy.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtUS9ZD0RN
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTAYDGG6xY
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffq4w57pUa
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpI50kSRPB
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIt7OFMhfv
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDSluYHngo
I leaned forward and waited for her to finish.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0C9E6xmBFd
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkqiHX6gTM
“It means that these dreams, these nightmares, aren’t mine.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXy3hRELmE
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMsw727IXN
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4PtLO3OzY
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATYDfNks3K
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—135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoKeFP80AV
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82dclf8esP
“Hello, Dr. Alder,” Kendall said softly. “How are you?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89XiCgoMRl
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡff7A3gaGrZ
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJkw0pkW20
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06vSW0KTsC
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLz5X5VX8sB
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8bs7c6Xnt
Her boyfriend looked at me and said, “I think that’s her call, Scott.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq59uP8gOJd
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKKltGxABU
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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9P5kkbmQ4h
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EtdCrYxHX
“He should hear what I have to say,” Kendall said.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjd1eVkyZH
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSzHFJVTxT
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKj426w7J3g
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjTQ1qxKxF
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbR8ys6PY1l
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1JVyfuJZ3
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ217OlYwrQN
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9DnDQJu01
I shrugged. “I guess I’m good at my job.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbnv8hpPdh
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8IEEtSqWv
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhY9EtozWD
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvllFOS6Im
My eyes widened and I knelt down. “Oh, Kendall. What’s wrong?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeNCBO7ieA
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbigiKhcYx
She shut her eyes and shook her head. “I’m scared,” she whispered.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeVK8filWG
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxf4TBHPDOL
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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhZ9lLosqf
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxF4L6B6YZI
“Dreams?” I asked. “What kind of dreams?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1F9t6FYyZ
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK01ElKAUTo
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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifLI6oszGt
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3B9sB0kvm7
“Cassie Winters?” I asked, looking up at Christian.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8OvGnyM11
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGw02ODA00
“She went to school with us. My friend’s dad found her body this morning.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8FLgBqIiF
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7s6pauv9F
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVtbqmau0O
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeFF942O5L
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibKM9cN3vi
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjl2is1bvp
“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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZ1EJfR8bc
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUJ79vgDTD
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But I think you should come back next week and we’ll talk more. Is that okay?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvOrmBpcnB
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwE3RyMHe2
“Okay,” she said.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55ojfXTOeL
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpN0iEHb4zA
“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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xfq1ZFxV3
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosswXMzgBe
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIEpAZPp4d
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2bowZ1fJB
“Nightmares don’t mean that,” I said. I shook my head. “For the record, I don’t think you’re crazy.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtUS9ZD0RN
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTAYDGG6xY
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffq4w57pUa
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpI50kSRPB
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIt7OFMhfv
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDSluYHngo
I leaned forward and waited for her to finish.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0C9E6xmBFd
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkqiHX6gTM
“It means that these dreams, these nightmares, aren’t mine.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXy3hRELmE
