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“And you’re okay?” he whispered

“Yes, baby We are with the loved ones who ca to be afraid of It’s silanced over his shoulder “Our time is almost up I love you” She held him close, and he was flooded with the floral scent she’d alorn

“I know you’re wondering if this is real It is, son, we’ll send you a sign, and you’ll know” He hugged his father and wept unashamedly

The blaring alarm startled him awake The dream had been a replica of what occurred after he blacked out in the Claymore apartments The experience had shaken him He couldn’t talk to anyone about it until he knew if it was reality or a trick the ghosts were playing to prey on his weakness He swung his legs over the side of his bed and forced his body to rise They were trying to get their hands on a Ground Scanner

Once they had proof, they could go to the church and see about having a holy man come in to try to move them on It could be tricky With so nize the priest’s authority Carl was great for snitude needed a person who acted like a bigger amplifier No wonder Carl had static, there were probably too h at once He scratched his chest as heit apart, and padded to the shower

The hot water beaded down on his skin and he bowed his head How could he go to work and face his siblings with thisa fresh wound It’d been so long since he saw his parents in person He’d forgotten the nuances The sound of their voice, the way they ss He rested his head against the side of the shower stall What happened when you finally received the one thing you’d been striving to get and didn’t kno to deal with it?

He stepped out of the shooodenly, dried off, and padded into his roo in front of his closet he scowled at the suits I’ in Blessed respite filled him He made the phone call to HR They’d be just fine without him He texted Asher

Micah: Hey, I’ a mental health day I’m exhausted, and I need downtime

Asher: All right Thanks for the heads-up We got things covered here

Moving to his drawer, he slid on his favorite pair of sweatpants, a white T-shirt, dark deniray cable knit sweater Barefoot, he walked into the living roo of coffee

“Did you call in today, too?” he asked

She rested herto be a problem?” she asked sassily

The vehemence in her voice shocked him “No Not at all”

“Oh, you’ve decided to play nice today?” She crossed her araze

“I can tell I’ve upset you I don’t knohat I did, but I apologize” Weighed down by the burden of his lingering dreams, he spoke frankly