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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcchIRMvlU
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2jxD2NMRH
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFA4SvQ5uor
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhg8tjJrrmz
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—467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnI7ZRKyzV
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VyUhacgHo
“Hello, Dr. Alder,” Kendall said softly. “How are you?”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQrCK85a4T
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Rh0Pcc9Jp
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2UdBQnoMQ
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUKFaDNDn2
“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.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlllljMBVE1
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeIy2NzxdL
Her boyfriend looked at me and said, “I think that’s her call, Scott.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegNdlPmNN9
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3qAqIaw4S
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.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQywkCQqLwH
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyq6cfNS61Q
“He should hear what I have to say,” Kendall said.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFrlwNB0LO
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqT9USQy5h
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLy8qrgh5Z
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWP16nGbsOO
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjf4yQWUoIp
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VPGxORthK
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4T0PxVeiIa
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1H7OJmI8J
I shrugged. “I guess I’m good at my job.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Uvk74O4rw
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5MffmeEjj
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeEhRZrL99
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDv7r3XQQ4V
My eyes widened and I knelt down. “Oh, Kendall. What’s wrong?”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTihza0C1Xn
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7J2o18bcWB
She shut her eyes and shook her head. “I’m scared,” she whispered.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcz3OnjKZDv
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqG84qbhCZm
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.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsi0Xerkby
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFKHQLFIvz
“Dreams?” I asked. “What kind of dreams?”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmomrUPEgXO
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETV1rehEaq
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.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPVfq8W8YP
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFiKmusawA
“Cassie Winters?” I asked, looking up at Christian.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GpitSxGfE
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3c42qrSfw
“She went to school with us. My friend’s dad found her body this morning.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwZruMJojQ
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5lU2zMJdO
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDatfdu3FLu
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3NFpnliJa
“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.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTelY5Hg4mB
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AdEZEmUJK
“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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zPPKP5lC7
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tHmYgk2ZW
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But I think you should come back next week and we’ll talk more. Is that okay?”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6kGONlGGm
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW833ozS3Gq
“Okay,” she said.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApdC7KBQjG
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CMU2RQbuw
“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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgTaMruoZ5
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2hD6H5cck
“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.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7QSXbPE6U
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrWJVPq9qe
“Nightmares don’t mean that,” I said. I shook my head. “For the record, I don’t think you’re crazy.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCNNgNVYdp
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1hBRFFsyI
“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.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXcuX0gzUE
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafji720snu
“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.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gvsKOUj9F
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOijU1MM6Ub
I leaned forward and waited for her to finish.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOluVZvY1a1
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LSqUNogMd
“It means that these dreams, these nightmares, aren’t mine.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0M7g8o0CBg
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2jxD2NMRH
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFA4SvQ5uor
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhg8tjJrrmz
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—467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnI7ZRKyzV
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VyUhacgHo
“Hello, Dr. Alder,” Kendall said softly. “How are you?”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQrCK85a4T
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Rh0Pcc9Jp
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2UdBQnoMQ
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUKFaDNDn2
“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.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlllljMBVE1
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeIy2NzxdL
Her boyfriend looked at me and said, “I think that’s her call, Scott.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegNdlPmNN9
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3qAqIaw4S
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.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQywkCQqLwH
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyq6cfNS61Q
“He should hear what I have to say,” Kendall said.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFrlwNB0LO
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqT9USQy5h
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLy8qrgh5Z
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWP16nGbsOO
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjf4yQWUoIp
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VPGxORthK
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4T0PxVeiIa
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1H7OJmI8J
I shrugged. “I guess I’m good at my job.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Uvk74O4rw
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5MffmeEjj
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeEhRZrL99
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDv7r3XQQ4V
My eyes widened and I knelt down. “Oh, Kendall. What’s wrong?”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTihza0C1Xn
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7J2o18bcWB
She shut her eyes and shook her head. “I’m scared,” she whispered.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcz3OnjKZDv
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqG84qbhCZm
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.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsi0Xerkby
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFKHQLFIvz
“Dreams?” I asked. “What kind of dreams?”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmomrUPEgXO
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETV1rehEaq
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.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPVfq8W8YP
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFiKmusawA
“Cassie Winters?” I asked, looking up at Christian.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GpitSxGfE
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3c42qrSfw
“She went to school with us. My friend’s dad found her body this morning.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwZruMJojQ
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5lU2zMJdO
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDatfdu3FLu
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3NFpnliJa
“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.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTelY5Hg4mB
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AdEZEmUJK
“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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zPPKP5lC7
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tHmYgk2ZW
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But I think you should come back next week and we’ll talk more. Is that okay?”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6kGONlGGm
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW833ozS3Gq
“Okay,” she said.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApdC7KBQjG
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CMU2RQbuw
“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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgTaMruoZ5
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2hD6H5cck
“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.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7QSXbPE6U
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrWJVPq9qe
“Nightmares don’t mean that,” I said. I shook my head. “For the record, I don’t think you’re crazy.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCNNgNVYdp
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1hBRFFsyI
“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.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXcuX0gzUE
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafji720snu
“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.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gvsKOUj9F
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOijU1MM6Ub
I leaned forward and waited for her to finish.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOluVZvY1a1
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LSqUNogMd
“It means that these dreams, these nightmares, aren’t mine.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0M7g8o0CBg
