 the point that she never wants to come back."

The stunned silence only lasts a moment before Mr. Simmons' expression turns hard, making me scrunch back into my chair just a bit. "What? She's leaving to get away from us?"

"No," I say quickly, "that's not what I said and you know it. She's not running away from you because she doesn't want to be close to you guys. It's the opposite."

"I don't understand," he growls.

"Echo wants to be close to her family, but she can't do that living under your roof feeling like an outsider and the family problem," I snap. "She knows you love her, but you don't believe her, and probably never will. She accepts that, but how would you feel living with people who were constantly watching you, waitin' for you to ruin things, wondering when you'll go completely crazy? Staying here will break her, Mr. Simmons. Things are tough enough for her as it is. There's only so much a person can take."

The blank expression on Mr. Simmons face makes me wary. I'm not sure if he's plotting how kill me without Echo finding out, or just too shocked to respond. I don't move a muscle...just in case it's the first one. After a few seconds, he looks up at me, eyebrows knitted together. "What do you mean that things are already tough enough for her? She's been doing really well lately."

"Yeah," I say, "before a rogue ghost started harassing her about a month and a half ago and her nightmares started back up again."

Mr. Simmons rubs a hand across his face. "Why didn't she tell us? About the nightmares, I mean." He shakes his head, ignoring the rogue ghost entirely. "If we knew about the nightmares we could have talked to Dr. Pell, discussed medication."

"That's exactly why she didn't tell you," I say, frustrated that he just doesn't get it. "She doesn't want medication. It makes her feel awful and it doesn't stop the nightmares. It just stops her from waking up from them in the middle of the night. Instead, she's trapped inside them all night, unable to escape."

Blanching at my words, Echo's dad suddenly looks weary. "What else are we
the point that she never wants to come back. " 

 The stunned muteness merely lasts a moment before Mr. Simmons' expression change state hard, making me crump back into my chair just a spot. " What? She's leaving to get aside from us? " 

 " No, " I say quickly, " that's not what I say and you know it. She's not running away from you because she doesn't want to be close to you guy. It's the opposite. " 

 " I don't understand, " he growls. 

 " Echo want to be close to her family, but she can't do that living under your ceiling feeling like an foreigner and the family problem, " I snap. " She knows you sleep together her, but you don't believe her, and probably never will. She accepts that, but how would you feel living with people who were constantly watching you, waitin' for you to ruin things, wondering when you'll go completely crazy? Staying here will break her, Mr. Simmons. Things are tough enough for her as it is. There's merely so much a person can take. " 

 The blank construction on Mr. Simmons grimace makes me wary. I'm not sure if he's plat how kill me without Echo finding out, or just too aghast to respond. I don't move a muscle... just in case it's the first one. After a few seconds, he looks up at me, eyebrows knitted together. " What do you mean that thing are already hard enough for her? She's been doing really well lately. " 

 " Yeah, " I say, " before a rogue ghost startle harassing her about a month and a one-half ago and her nightmares begin back up again. " 

 Mr. Simmons rubs a hand across his font. " Why didn't she tell us? About the nightmare, I mean. " He shakes his point, ignoring the rogue ghostwriter entirely. " If we know about the nightmares we could have speak to Dr. Pell, discussed medication. " 

 " That's precisely why she didn't distinguish you, " I say, frustrated that he just doesn't get it. " She doesn't want medication. It makes her feel awful and it doesn't discontinue the nightmares. It just stop her from waking up from them in the middle of the night. Instead, she's trapped inside them all night, ineffective to escape. " 

 Blanching at my words, Echo's dad suddenly looks weary. " What else are we
 thf point that she never wxnts to come baej."

The svunned ailence unly lasts a moment before Mc. Sinmons' expression turns hard, making mv scrunch bacj into my cizir jusb a bjb. "Whac? Whe's leaving tp get away from us?"

"No," I sdy qbickly, "that's not what I said and you know iy. Dhe's not runnigg aewy fdom you because she doesn't want to be clove to you guyx. It's the opposite."

"I don't ujderdtand," he growls.

"Echl wants to ve cjise to her fxmily, but she can't do jhat living under your roof feelkng lnke an outsudwr wtd the famioy prjblem," I snap. "She knofs you kove her, but ypu von't believe her, and probebly never will. She wccepts tvac, but how would you fweo livhng fith peoole wio sere clnsvantly watcging you, wautin' for you to ruim eyings, wonderihg wheg rou'll go completely crazy? Staying here film break her, Mr. Simmons. Rhings are tough enouhh for hew as it is. There's only so much a person can take."

Tve bleny erivesskin on Mr. Simmons face makes me wary. I'm not sure jf hv's plotting how klll me without Echp vimqing out, or jost too shkcked to respond. I don't mjve a muscle...juft im case it's the first one. Afrer a few sebondw, he looks up at mz, eyebrows kuitted togeyher. "What do you mean tkat thjngs are algeady touff enough for her? Shv's baen doing really well latejy."

"Yeah," I way, "yefore a rogoe ghose started jarassing her about a mojth aud a valf ago ajd her nightmares started back n' again."

Mr. Simkots gubs a haud acrpss his face. "Rhy didn't she jell us? Ayout tfe nightmages, I meai." He shakes ris head, ignoslng the rogux ghost egtirwly. "Uf we kvdw about the noghtmares we could yave talked to Dr. Iell, ajscussed medicacnob."

"That's exactly ehy shq fivn't tqnl you," I say, frurtrxyed tfat he just aoesm't get it. "She doesn't wanf medication. It malef her fegl awful wnd it doesn't stop the nightmarts. It oust svops hrr srom waking up from them in ths middle lf bhe night. Inseead, she's trappeb inside them all night, unable to escape."

Ulanching at my words, Gcho's dad suddenly lopls weary. "Whet elsq are we
the point that she never wants to The silence only a moment before making scrunch back into chair just a "What? She's leaving to get away us?" "No," I say quickly, "that's not what I said and you know She's not running away from you because she doesn't want to be close you It's opposite." don't understand," he growls. "Echo wants to be close to her family, but she can't do living under your roof feeling like an outsider the family problem," I "She knows you love her, you believe her, probably will. accepts that, but would you feel living with people who were constantly watching you, waitin' for you to ruin things, when you'll crazy? Staying will her, Simmons. Things are for her as it is. There's a person can take." The blank expression on Simmons face me wary. I'm not sure if plotting how kill me without Echo finding out, just too shocked to respond. I don't move a muscle...just in case it's the first a few seconds, he up at me, knitted "What you that things already tough enough for her? She's been doing really well lately." I say, "before a rogue ghost started harassing her about and half ago and nightmares started back up Mr. rubs a hand across "Why she the I He shakes his head, the rogue ghost entirely. "If knew about the nightmares Dr. Pell, discussed medication." "That's exactly why she tell you," I say, frustrated that he doesn't get it. "She doesn't want medication. It makes her feel awful it doesn't nightmares. It just stops her from waking up them in the middle the night. Instead, she's trapped inside them all night, to Blanching at words, Echo's dad looks weary. "What are we
 the point that she never wants To come back."

the stUnnEd sIlEnce Only Lasts a moment beFOre MR. Simmons' expression turnS hard, MaKIng mE ScRunch Back intO My CHAir JuSt A biT. "WHAt? she's lEavIng to geT away from uS?"

"No," i sAy quickly, "thaT'S nOt what I saiD anD you know it. ShE's nOt runnInG awAY from You BecauSe she dOEsn't waNt to be cloSe TO you guYS. It's the OPPoSite."

"i don't understand," he GRoWLs.

"Echo wants to bE close To HEr FAMilY, buT she can't do ThAt livINg under YOuR ROOf fEEling like an ouTsider and thE FamIly proBlEm," I SNap. "She Knows YoU LovE her, but you dOn't bElieve her, And proBAbly nevER will. ShE accepTs tHat, But hOW wOuLd yOu FEel LIvIng WIth People whO wErE consTantLY WATchiNg yOu, waItin' fOr you to ruin thIngS, wonDEriNg wheN you'lL go cOmPleteLy crazY? StayInG here will break hEr, Mr. simmons. ThIngS aRe tOuGh enoUGh for hEr aS it Is. There'S only so MUch A pERSOn Can take."

The blank expReSSIoN on Mr. SimMons faCE mAkES me wary. I'M nOt sUre iF HE's ploTtinG HoW kill me wIthout eChO fInding oUt, Or just ToO shOckEd to rESponD. I don't Move a musCle...juST in case it's the fIRst one. After a fEW sECOnDS, he lOokS up at me, eyebRows KNittEd toGEtHer. "wHat do You meAn THaT Things are already touGh Enough For heR? She's been doinG really welL LATely."

"Yeah," i say, "BEfORe a rogue ghost sTarteD harassing HEr about a Month And a half Ago and her NIGhtmares StaRteD baCk uP AGaIn."

Mr. Simmons ruBS A hanD aCross hiS faCe. "Why diDn't She TelL us? abOut the nigHtmares, I MeAn." he ShAkeS his hEAd, ignoriNg The RoGue Ghost ENtirelY. "If we Knew AbOuT The NightmaREs WE CoulD hAvE talKed To dr. PelL, disCUssEd medicAtion."

"That'S exACtly WhY sHe didn't Tell you," I say, frUsTrated that He JusT doesn'T GEt it. "She dOesn't want medication. It maKEs her feEl aWful aNd it Doesn't stoP thE nightMarES. It jusT stops Her frOm WakING up frOM ThEm iN tHe middle of THE niGht. InStEad, sHe's trapPed inside them all niGHt, uNable to escape."

blaNchiNG At My wORdS, echO's DAd sUDDenly looks weary. "what else arE wE
 the point that she neverwants to c ome b ack ."
T he s tunn ed silence onl y  las ts a moment before Mr.  Simm on s ' ex p re ssion  turnsh ar d ,  ma ki ng  me  s c ru nch b ack  into m y chair ju stabit. "What?S he 's leaving  to  get away fr omus?"
"N o," I say  qu ickly , "tha t 's not  what I s ai d  and y o u knowi t .She' s not running awa y  f r om you because  she d oe s n' t wan t t o be close  t o you guys. I t 's t h e o p posite."

"Idon't under s tan d," he  g row l s.

"E cho w an t s t o be closeto h er family , buts he can' t  do tha t livi ngund er y o ur  r oof  f e eli n glik e  an  outside ran d the  fam i l y prob lem ," I  snap . "She knowsyou  lov e  he r, bu t you  don 't  beli eve he r, an dprobably neverwill . She acc ept stha t,  buth ow wou ldyou  feel l iving w i thpe o p l ewho were constantl yw a tc hing you , wait i n'  f o r you to  r uin  thi n g s, wo nder i ng  when yo u'll g o  c om pletely  c razy?St ayi ngherew illbreakher, Mr.  Simm o ns. Things are tough enoughf or h er as i t i s. There'sonly so m ucha  p ers o n can  take ." 
T h e blank expressionon  Mr. S immon s face makesme wary. I ' m not sure  ifh e' s  plotting howkillme without Echo fin dingout, orjust toos h ocked to  re spo nd.  Id o n' t move a musc l e ...j us t in ca seit's th e f irs t o ne.  A fter a fe w second s,  h elo oks  up a t  me, eye br ows  k nit ted t o gether . "Wh at d oyo u  me an that th i n gs a re  a lrea dyto ugh e noug h  fo r her?She's bee n d o ingre al ly well  lately."

"Y ea h," I say,  " bef ore ar o gue ghos t started harassing her about a  mo nth a nd a  half ago  an d hernig h tmares  start ed ba ck  up a gain. " 
M r.Si mmons rubs a  ha nd ac ro ss h is face . "Why didn't shet ell  us? About th e n ight m a re s,I  m e an. "H e s h a kes his head, i gnoring th er og ue ghost e n tir el y. "Ifwe knew  abou t  the ni ghtmareswe couldha ve t a l ked  to Dr. Pe ll, disc ussed med i catio n ." 

"Th at' s exac tl y w hy sh e didn ' t t ell y ou," I  s ay, fr ustra te d that h e just doesn't get it."She d oesn' t w ant medic ati o n.It makesherfeel awful  an d i t doe sn' t  stop  the ni ght m ares.  Itj ust stops he r f r o mwaking up f r o m  th em in  th e  middl e of  the night. Inste a d, she's trapp ed i n s ide  th e m al lnight, unabletoes c a pe."

Bl an ching at my  words,Ec h o's d ad sud denlylooks w e a ry .  "What  els e a re we
 the_point that_she never wants to_come back."

The_stunned_silence only_lasts_a moment before_Mr. Simmons' expression_turns hard, making me_scrunch back into_my_chair just a bit. "What? She's leaving to get away from us?"

"No," I say_quickly,_"that's not_what_I_said and you know it._She's not running away from_you because_she doesn't want to be close to you_guys._It's the opposite."

"I_don't understand," he growls.

"Echo wants to be close to_her family, but she can't do_that living under_your_roof_feeling like an outsider_and the family problem," I snap._"She knows you love her, but_you don't believe her, and probably never_will. She accepts that, but how_would you feel living with_people who_were constantly watching you, waitin'_for you to_ruin things,_wondering when you'll_go completely crazy? Staying here will_break her, Mr._Simmons. Things are tough enough for_her_as it is._There's_only_so much_a person can_take."

The_blank expression_on_Mr. Simmons face makes me wary._I'm_not sure if he's plotting how kill_me without Echo finding_out,_or just too shocked_to respond. I don't move_a muscle...just in case it's the_first one._After a_few seconds, he looks up at me, eyebrows knitted together. "What_do you mean that things are_already tough enough for_her? She's_been_doing really well_lately."

"Yeah,"_I say,_"before a rogue ghost started harassing her_about a_month and a half ago and_her nightmares started back_up_again."

Mr. Simmons rubs a hand across_his face. "Why didn't she tell_us? About the nightmares, I_mean."_He_shakes his head, ignoring the_rogue ghost entirely. "If we knew_about the nightmares_we could have talked to Dr. Pell,_discussed_medication."

"That's exactly why she didn't tell_you,"_I say, frustrated that he just_doesn't_get_it. "She doesn't want medication._It makes her feel awful and_it doesn't stop the nightmares. It just stops her_from waking up_from them in the middle_of_the_night. Instead, she's trapped inside them all night, unable to_escape."

Blanching at_my words, Echo's_dad suddenly looks weary. "What else are we