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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCh2uxy6tjQ
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppRrbXTQzq
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPaCHY7Wcv
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OM6ikEpOY
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—113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdn8Fy5yoE
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZuaCb8J8l
“Hello, Dr. Alder,” Kendall said softly. “How are you?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfc92ismXSa
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8ojg3RmCg
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BfvLSHUBP
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQ2pTkRfiK
“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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdSPx9Tpwv
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFx7V2TNKOp
Her boyfriend looked at me and said, “I think that’s her call, Scott.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4gBt9Wlpe
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QsYF08zpF
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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44cc0f5OZU
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzYubsD7O2
“He should hear what I have to say,” Kendall said.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUTPTyQ17f
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHckTok9u89
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomInQUPt2D
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpyperY5s6
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9iE3HZdc7
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBu5YkZOO1
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskq0KFrIKU
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP537J7PIl2
I shrugged. “I guess I’m good at my job.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHDkNBENpt
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSNfSyVjhG
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6Lhevo4eJ
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65rJpfl42L
My eyes widened and I knelt down. “Oh, Kendall. What’s wrong?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRDl6vU2Ob
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2iujw0IBe
She shut her eyes and shook her head. “I’m scared,” she whispered.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHjUrJ9MOb
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxm2bH9GBbv
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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUy5pRCpAd
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2VXWmH68v
“Dreams?” I asked. “What kind of dreams?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGRkRztybF
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZzC4YuHn4
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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU17QZ4cHak
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcr14MTEfrP
“Cassie Winters?” I asked, looking up at Christian.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvOu8TsCAQ
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvSOlRSxy2
“She went to school with us. My friend’s dad found her body this morning.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLuUQgNuwe
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrK9VT3nwE
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡed961vXT3w
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWiqQ8HDDd
“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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXED7zwaX2
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcfYihugax
“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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7t5xkdfXR
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQP7tWH07F
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But I think you should come back next week and we’ll talk more. Is that okay?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WRiU9zoqK
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdSpipKwFH
“Okay,” she said.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7xcf18W1g
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4ctn7DXw3
“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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItgATy0D5F
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksNSE2UNZW
“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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4C0g5ooJlV
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3o3DhCEUH
“Nightmares don’t mean that,” I said. I shook my head. “For the record, I don’t think you’re crazy.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjf968O92C9
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGLZXQnlAI
“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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmLFqpX24R
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJn6TufIEhk
“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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNf0yeXpCjZ
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAm6fMwcPA
I leaned forward and waited for her to finish.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zYbssqb6I
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUXvtcsSOL
“It means that these dreams, these nightmares, aren’t mine.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9lffB2MOR
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppRrbXTQzq
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPaCHY7Wcv
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OM6ikEpOY
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—113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdn8Fy5yoE
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZuaCb8J8l
“Hello, Dr. Alder,” Kendall said softly. “How are you?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfc92ismXSa
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8ojg3RmCg
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BfvLSHUBP
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQ2pTkRfiK
“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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdSPx9Tpwv
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFx7V2TNKOp
Her boyfriend looked at me and said, “I think that’s her call, Scott.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4gBt9Wlpe
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QsYF08zpF
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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44cc0f5OZU
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzYubsD7O2
“He should hear what I have to say,” Kendall said.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUTPTyQ17f
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHckTok9u89
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomInQUPt2D
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpyperY5s6
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9iE3HZdc7
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBu5YkZOO1
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskq0KFrIKU
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP537J7PIl2
I shrugged. “I guess I’m good at my job.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHDkNBENpt
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSNfSyVjhG
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6Lhevo4eJ
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65rJpfl42L
My eyes widened and I knelt down. “Oh, Kendall. What’s wrong?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRDl6vU2Ob
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2iujw0IBe
She shut her eyes and shook her head. “I’m scared,” she whispered.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHjUrJ9MOb
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxm2bH9GBbv
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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUy5pRCpAd
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2VXWmH68v
“Dreams?” I asked. “What kind of dreams?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGRkRztybF
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZzC4YuHn4
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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU17QZ4cHak
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcr14MTEfrP
“Cassie Winters?” I asked, looking up at Christian.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvOu8TsCAQ
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvSOlRSxy2
“She went to school with us. My friend’s dad found her body this morning.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLuUQgNuwe
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrK9VT3nwE
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡed961vXT3w
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWiqQ8HDDd
“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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXED7zwaX2
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcfYihugax
“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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7t5xkdfXR
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQP7tWH07F
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But I think you should come back next week and we’ll talk more. Is that okay?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WRiU9zoqK
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdSpipKwFH
“Okay,” she said.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7xcf18W1g
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4ctn7DXw3
“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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItgATy0D5F
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksNSE2UNZW
“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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4C0g5ooJlV
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3o3DhCEUH
“Nightmares don’t mean that,” I said. I shook my head. “For the record, I don’t think you’re crazy.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjf968O92C9
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGLZXQnlAI
“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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmLFqpX24R
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJn6TufIEhk
“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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNf0yeXpCjZ
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAm6fMwcPA
I leaned forward and waited for her to finish.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zYbssqb6I
113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUXvtcsSOL
“It means that these dreams, these nightmares, aren’t mine.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9lffB2MOR
