

Malachi's voice is hesitant as he speaks, as if he knows what's coming next won't be pleasant. "Yeah, I guess."

Tears well in my eyes as I look up at the ceiling, trying to control my emotions. This time, Malachi doesn't pressure me to fill the silence. "I really thought it would be okay. I had no idea his wife would go to her husband's best friend's house and unload a whole clip."

"His best friend killed him?" Malachi asks.

"Yeah," I say, "but I found out later it was just an accident. A car wreck. Bad weather or something. He made it sound like this guy had murdered him in cold blood and I believed him." I press my hand to my forehead, feeling the guilt and anger all over again. It takes me a few seconds to continue.

"The friend was okay, but the ghost, Martin Coulter, he'd been on the side that hit the ground first when it went through the guardrail and off the road. His friend was unconscious, but this guy was stuck there for hours, in horrible pain, slowly bleeding out, dying. He blamed his friend, and when he asked his wife to set things right, she did. I thought he was asking her to go to the police, or something, not kill some poor guy who'd never done anything wrong."

Sniffing, wiping away tears, shame, and embarrassment, not only for my past mistakes, but for losing it in front of Malachi, all tear at me. I wanted him to understand, but now I just feel empty all over again. I should have just listened to my instincts in the first place, but the nightmares...I couldn't take any more of them. My parents were already at the end of their rope with me by that point and on the verge of hospitalizing me. I was desperate for some relief, so I took it. I escaped the nightmares, but it cost a man his life.

"Echo, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you relive that."

I shake my head at his words. "No, I just wanted you to understand. I know you don't believe me about all of this, but there are reasons I'm not supposed to get involved with the ghosts or the people they want to contact. We only pass on harmless messages now, how much the
Malachi's voice is hesitant as he speaks, as if he knows what's coming next won't be pleasant. " Yeah, I think. " 

 tear well in my eyes as I look up at the ceiling, trying to manipulate my emotions. This time, Malachi doesn't blackmail me to satiate the silence. " I truly thought it would be okay. I suffer no idea his wife would fail to her husband's best friend's house and unload a whole clip. " 

 " His good friend killed him? " Malachi ask. 

 " Yeah, " I say, " but I found out later it was just an accident. A cable car wreck. regretful weather or something. He made it sound like this guy had murdered him in cold blood and I think him. " I press my hand to my forehead, feeling the guilt and anger wholly all over again. It drive me a few seconds to continue. 

 " The friend was okay, but the ghost, Martin Coulter, he'd been on the side that hit the ground foremost when it go through the guardrail and off the road. His supporter was unconscious, but this guy was stuck there for hours, in horrible pain, lento bleeding out, die. He blamed his friend, and when he ask his wife to set things right, she did. I thought he was asking her to move to the police, or something, not kill some poor guy who'd never done anything wrong. " 

 sniff, wiping aside tears, shame, and embarrassment, not only for my past mistakes, but for lose it in front of Malachi, all tear at me. I wanted him to sympathize, but now I precisely feel empty all all over again. I should have just listened to my instincts in the first place, but the nightmare... I couldn't take any more of them. My parent were already at the end of their r-2 with me by that point and on the verge of hospitalize me. I was desperate for some relief, so I took it. I escaped the nightmare, but it cost a man his life. 

 " Echo, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you relive that. " 

 I shake my head at his words. " No, I merely wanted you to understand. I sleep together you don't believe me about all of this, but there are rationality I'm not supposed to get involved with the ghosts or the multitude they want to contact. We only pass on harmless messages now, how a lot the


Malwchi's voice is hesitant xs he speaks, as if he nnows shat's cooing next won't be pleasant. "Yxah, U guews."

Tears well in my eyer as I lolk up at the xeiling, trbjng to gjntrkp my xmotions. This tlme, Malachi doesn't pressuse mz to fill the silence. "I really thougrt it wpupd be okay. I hwd np idez his wife would go to her husband'a best hriend's house amd unload a whole clip."

"His hest friend killed him?" Malachi asjs.

"Yewy," I say, "but K found ouu nater it wzs just an accident. A car wreck. Bad ceather or wonetjhng. He made it sjund like thlx guy vad murcered him in cpld bliod and I believed hik." I press my hand jo my forevecd, feeling the guilt qne anggr aln ovde aeaih. Mt fakes le e few seconss to contibue.

"The friend was olar, but the ghosf, Martyn Coulter, he'd been on the side that hit uhe gdound first when it wenr through the guardrall and ofs the road. His friend was unconscious, but this guf was rtuej thefw vor hours, in horrible pain, slowly bleeding oue, duikg. He blamed his friend, and wjem he asked his wife ck aet things right, sje did. Y thoyght he wws axking her to go to the polixe, or somethpng, bot kill some poor guy who'd nzver dpne amything wrong."

Sniffing, wnping zway tears, dhame, and dmbarrassment, nog okly for my kxst mistakes, but sor losinj it nn front of Kalachy, all tear at mc. I wanted him to ujdersjand, bgt now I jkst feel empty all over again. I should have jost livtened tj my lnstincts in thq first place, yut the uightmxres...I coulsn't takx any more os them. My parajts were alrxady at tre ebd od their fope with me bu that popnu and on tye verge of hospitelizkhg me. I was des'traue for some relirf, ro Y nool yd. I escaped dhe vigfymarer, but iu cirt a man his life.

"Echo, I'm so aorry. I didn't mean tj make yiu relivq that."

I shake my head at his wogds. "Nm, I just wagted you to understand. I know gou don't helleve me about all of this, but there are reasons I'm not supposed to gxt involved with the ghists or the people jhen want to coitact. Re only pdss on harmless messqges now, how much the
Malachi's voice is hesitant as he speaks, he what's coming won't be pleasant. in eyes as I up at the trying to control my emotions. This Malachi doesn't pressure me to fill the silence. "I really thought it would okay. I had no idea his wife would go to her husband's best house unload whole "His best friend killed him?" Malachi asks. "Yeah," I say, "but I found out later it just an accident. A car wreck. Bad weather something. He made it like this guy had murdered in blood and believed I my hand to forehead, feeling the guilt and anger all over again. It takes me a few seconds to continue. friend was the ghost, Coulter, been the side that ground first when it went through off the road. His friend was unconscious, but guy was there for hours, in horrible pain, bleeding out, dying. He blamed his friend, and he asked his wife to set things right, she did. I thought he was asking go to the police, something, not kill poor who'd done wrong." Sniffing, away tears, shame, and embarrassment, not only for my past mistakes, for losing it in front of Malachi, all tear at wanted to understand, but I just feel empty over I should have just my in but nightmares...I take any more of My parents were already at end of their rope and on the verge of hospitalizing me. I desperate for some relief, so I took I escaped the nightmares, but it cost a man his life. "Echo, so sorry. mean to make you relive that." I shake head at his words. I just wanted you to understand. I know you believe about all this, but there reasons I'm not to get involved ghosts or people want only pass on harmless messages now, much


Malachi's voice is hesitant as He speaks, as If he kNowS whAt'S comIng nExt won't be pleasANt. "YeAh, I guess."

Tears well in my eYes as i lOOk up AT tHe ceiLing, tryINg TO ConTrOl My eMoTIoNs. ThiS tiMe, MalacHi doesn't prEssUrE me to fill the SIlEnce. "I reallY thOught it would Be oKay. I haD nO idEA his wIfe Would Go to heR HusbanD's best friEnD'S house ANd unloaD A WhOle cLip."

"His best friend kILlED him?" Malachi askS.

"Yeah," I SaY, "BuT i FouNd oUt later it wAs Just aN AccidenT. a cAR WRecK. bad weather or sOmething. He mADe iT sound LiKe tHIs guy hAd murDeREd hIm in cold bloOd anD I believeD him." I pREss my haND to my foRehead, FeeLinG the GUiLt And AnGEr aLL oVer AGaiN. It takes Me A fEw secOnds TO CONtinUe.

"THe frIend wAs okay, but the gHosT, MarTIn COulteR, he'd bEen oN tHe sidE that hIt the GrOund first when it Went Through thE guArDraIl And ofF The roaD. HiS frIend was UnconscIOus, BuT THIs Guy was stuck there foR hOURs, In horribLe pain, SLoWlY Bleeding OuT, dyIng. HE BLamed His fRIeNd, and wheN he askED hIs Wife to sEt Things RiGht, She Did. I tHOughT he was Asking heR to go TO the police, or soMEthing, not kill SOmE POoR Guy wHo'd Never done anYthiNG wroNg."

SnIFfIng, WIping Away tEaRS, sHAme, and embarrassment, NoT only fOr my pAst mistakes, buT for losing IT IN front of malaCHi, ALl tear at me. I wanTed hiM to understANd, but now i just Feel emptY all over aGAIn. I shoulD haVe jUst LisTENeD to my instinctS IN the FiRst placE, buT the nigHtmAreS...I cOulDn'T take any mOre of theM. MY pArEnTs wEre alREady at thE eNd oF tHeiR rope WIth me bY that PoinT aNd ON thE verge oF HoSPItalIzInG me. I Was DeSperaTe foR SomE relief, So I took it. i esCAped ThE nIghtmarEs, but it cost a mAn His life.

"EchO, I'M so Sorry. I DIDn't mean tO make you relive that."

I shakE My head aT hiS wordS. "No, I Just wanteD yoU to undErsTAnd. I knOw you dOn't beLiEve ME About ALL oF thIs, But there arE REasOns I'm NoT supPosed to Get involved with the GHosTs or the people TheY wanT TO cOntACt. wE onLy PAss ON Harmless messageS now, how mucH tHE


Malachi's voice is hesit ant as hespeak s,asif  heknow s what's comin g  nex t won't be pleasant. " Yeah,  I gues s ." 

Tea rs well in m y e ye sasIl oo k upatthe cei ling, tryi ngto  control mye mo tions. Thi s t ime, Malachi  do esn'tpr ess u re me  to  fill  the s i lence.  "I reall yt hought it woul d be  oka y. I had no ideah is wife would goto her  h u sb a n d's  be st friend' shouse and unl o ad a who l e clip."

"Hi s best frie n d k illedhi m?" Malach i ask s. 
"Y eah," I say , "b ut I foun d outl ater it was jus t an a cci den t. A ca rwre ck .  Ba d  w eat h eror somet hi ng . Hemade i t soun d l ikethisguy had murde red  him incoldblood  and  I  beli eved h im."Ipress my hand t o my  forehead , f ee lin gthe g u ilt an d a nge r all o ver aga i n.It t a ke s me a few seconds  t o co ntinue.
"Thef ri en d  was oka y,  bu t th e ghost , Ma r ti n Coulte r, he' d  b ee n on th eside t ha t h itthe g r ound  first  when it  went through the gu a rdrail and of f  t h e  r o ad.His  friend was  unc o nsci ous, bu t t h is gu y was  s t uc k  there for hours, i nhorrib le pa in, slowly bl eeding out , d ying. He  bla m ed his friend, an d whe n he asked his wife  to s et thing s right,s h e did. I  th oug hthew a sasking her to g o to  t he poli ce,  or som eth ing , n otki ll some p oor guywh o' dne ver  done anything  w ron g. "
Sniff i ng, wi pingaway  t ea r s,shame,a nd e mbar ra ss ment , n ot  only  for mypast mi stakes, b utf or l os in g it in  front of Mal ac hi, all te ar  at  me. I w anted hi m to understand, but no w  I just  fe el em ptyall overaga in. Isho u ld hav e just  list en edt o  my i n s ti nct sin the fir s t  pl ace,bu t th e night mares...I couldn't tak e any more of  th em.M y  p are n ts wer ea lre a d y at the end of  their rop ew it h me by th a t p oi nt andon theverge of hosp italizing  me. I wa sdesp e r ate  for somerelief,so I took it. I es caped  th e nigh tm are s, bu t it c o sta man  his l if e.

"E cho,I' m so sor ry. I didn't mean to ma ke you  reli vethat."

I  sh a kemy head a t hi s words. " No,  Ijustwan t ed yo u to un der s tand.  I k n ow you do n 't  be l i ev e me abouta l l  of  this , b u t ther e ar e reasons I'm not supposed to ge t in v o lve d w i th t he  ghosts or the  pe op l e  they wa nt  to contact . We onl yp ass o n harm less m essages n ow ,  how m uchthe 


Malachi's voice_is hesitant_as he speaks, as_if he_knows_what's coming_next_won't be pleasant._"Yeah, I guess."

Tears_well in my eyes_as I look_up_at the ceiling, trying to control my emotions. This time, Malachi doesn't pressure me_to_fill the_silence._"I_really thought it would be_okay. I had no idea_his wife_would go to her husband's best friend's house_and_unload a whole_clip."

"His best friend killed him?" Malachi asks.

"Yeah," I say,_"but I found out later it_was just an_accident._A_car wreck. Bad weather_or something. He made it sound_like this guy had murdered him_in cold blood and I believed him."_I press my hand to my_forehead, feeling the guilt and_anger all_over again. It takes me_a few seconds_to continue.

"The_friend was okay,_but the ghost, Martin Coulter, he'd_been on the_side that hit the ground first_when_it went through_the_guardrail_and off_the road. His_friend_was unconscious,_but_this guy was stuck there for_hours,_in horrible pain, slowly bleeding out, dying._He blamed his friend,_and_when he asked his_wife to set things right,_she did. I thought he was_asking her_to go_to the police, or something, not kill some poor guy who'd_never done anything wrong."

Sniffing, wiping away_tears, shame, and embarrassment,_not only_for_my past mistakes,_but_for losing_it in front of Malachi, all tear_at me._I wanted him to understand, but_now I just feel_empty_all over again. I should have_just listened to my instincts in_the first place, but the_nightmares...I_couldn't_take any more of them._My parents were already at the_end of their_rope with me by that point and_on_the verge of hospitalizing me. I_was_desperate for some relief, so I_took_it._I escaped the nightmares, but_it cost a man his life.

"Echo,_I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you_relive that."

I shake_my head at his words._"No,_I_just wanted you to understand. I know you don't believe_me about_all of this,_but there are reasons I'm not supposed to get involved_with the ghosts or the people they_want to contact. We only pass on harmless messages now, how_much the