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