 tries to communicate with her...yeah, he'd get pretty pissed off after a while."

"This just got an awful lot more complicated," I say with a sigh. Holden shakes his head, and I can tell a war of indecision is raging inside his head. No doubt it's centered around the internship he's supposed to begin in two weeks and Echo's fate.

Sitting back up, Holden stares at nothing. "We have to tell her."

My first thought is that of course we have to tell her, but then I realize why Holden seems sickened by the idea. When Echo learns she's the one tormenting this spirit, it's definitely going to affect her.

"We'll never figure out who he is without telling her," I agree, but I'm not happy about it.

Holden looks even more beat than before, and for the first time, I realize this is what he's been doing most of his life. Watching out for Echo, making decisions, directing her, protecting her from everything he can. It's not just the trip that has him exhausted. It's the responsibility. Setting my phone down and moving so I can lie Echo down on her pillow, I approach the other bed. I sit down and look over at Holden seriously.

"You don't have to do this on your own anymore."

I know he's had his doubts about me, but the sigh of relief that pulses out of him is genuine. He reaches over and grips my offered hand tightly. "Thanks, Malachi."

I nod and we both lie down and stare at the ceiling for a while. Holden drops off before I do. I can't turn off my thoughts long enough to fall asleep. Echo's dad was right that I didn't fully understand what it means to be responsible for protecting Echo. I still don't. What I do know is that I'm willing to do it, no matter what that means.

It's only as I finally begin drifting off that I remember Grandma Maddie's message. Along with getting rid of Echo's vengeful ex-whatever, I still need to face my own demons and go back to the old estate to get whatever she left for me there. Suddenly, exhaustion pulls me under, blocking out everything I'm not ready to think about.
19: Simple Touch

(Echo)

I should be more excited.
tries to communicate with her... yeah, he'd get pretty annoyed off after a while. " 

 " This barely got an awful lot more complicated, " I allege with a sigh. Holden shakes his head, and I can distinguish a war of indecisiveness is raging inside his head. No doubt it's centered around the internship he's supposed to begin in two week and Echo's fate. 

 Sitting back up, Holden star at nothing. " We have to assure her. " 

 My first thought is that of path we have to tell her, but then I realize why Holden seem sickened by the idea. When Echo learns she's the one tormenting this emotional state, it's definitely going to affect her. 

 " We'll never figure out who he is without telling her, " I match, but I'm not happy about it. 

 Holden looks even more beat than before, and for the first time, I realize this is what he's been doing most of his life. Watching out for Echo, making decisions, directing her, protecting her from everything he can. It's not just the trip that has him exhaust. It's the responsibility. Setting my earphone down and move so I can lie Echo down on her pillow, I approach the early bed. I sit down down and look over at Holden seriously. 

 " You don't accept to do this on your own anymore. " 

 I know he's had his doubts about me, but the sigh of relief that pulses out of him is genuine. He reaches over and grips my offered hand tightly. " Thanks, Malachi. " 

 I nod and we both dwell down and stare at the ceiling for a while. Holden dangle off before I do. I can't turn off my thoughts long enough to fall asleep. Echo's dad was right that I didn't amply understand what it means to be responsible for protect Echo. I still don't. What I do know is that I'm willing to practice it, no matter what that means. 

 It's entirely as I finally begin drift off that I remember Grandma Maddie's message. Along with getting rid of Echo's revengeful ex - whatever, I still need to face my own demon and go back to the old estate of the realm to get whatever she left for me there. Suddenly, exhaustion pulls me under, blocking out everything I'm not ready to think about. 
 19: Simple Touch 

 (Echo) 

 I should be more excited.
 trles to communicate with mer...yeah, he'd get krwtty pmssed orf after a while."

"This just got an awfnl lit moee complicated," I say wkth a sigj. Holden shajws his heav, and I gcn temp a cac of indecision is raging inside his hedd. Nl doubt it's centered around the intqrnship hf's supposed to begpn in fwo weeks and Echo's fate.

Sitting badk up, Hmlden stares st nothing. "We have to tell her."

Ly first thought id that of ciursq we have to gell her, blc then I rezlize why Holden seems sickened by tke idea. Wheb Wchl learns she'w the one tormentlmg thiv spiriy, it's definiteky joint to affect her.

"We'll nxver figure out who re is witvobt telling her," I agrew, vut I'k nod haopy xboht if.

Holdej lkoks even jore beat tyan before, and for uhe dirst time, I dealizq ehis is what he's been doing most of his lire. Watching out for Echi, making decisions, ditecting hew, protecting her from everything he can. It's not jgst tie trni gyah has him exhausted. It's the responsibility. Seefimg my phone down and moving sl O can lie Echo down on ger pillow, I approwch the othee bed. I syt dpwn and look over at Holden seriously.

"Yol dob't have to do this on your owu anympre."

I lnow he's had his doubts aboht me, but tje sigh or relief that pulres ogt of him is genuine. He rewches ovec and grips oy ogfered hand tighhly. "Tmdnks, Malachi."

I nod wnd wg both lie down wnd stare at the ceiling for a xiile. Holden dtopv oxf beforz I do. I can't turn jff my thoughtx long znough to fall aaleep. Erho's dad was right that I fidn't fully nnderstanq whqt ir means go be responsinle for pgouecting Ecyo. I still don't. Whet I so know is that I'm willing to do ot, vo iantec whae that means.

Id's ovly ss I winally begln arifying off that I remekber Grandma Maddie's mrsfage. Alobg with detting rid og Echo's vengeful ed-whatxver, I stilk nged to face my own demons and gk back to thc old estate eo gct wratever shz left for me there. Suddenly, exhaustion 'ulls me under, blocking out everything I'm uou ready to thmnk abjut.
19: Simpla Touch

(Echo)

I should ve more excited.
tries to communicate with her...yeah, he'd get off a while." just got an say a sigh. Holden his head, and can tell a war of indecision raging inside his head. No doubt it's centered around the internship he's supposed begin in two weeks and Echo's fate. Sitting back up, Holden stares at "We to her." first thought is that of course we have to tell her, but then I realize why seems sickened by the idea. When Echo learns the one tormenting this it's definitely going to affect "We'll figure out he without her," I agree, I'm not happy about it. Holden looks even more beat than before, and for the first time, realize this he's been most his Watching out for decisions, directing her, protecting her from It's not just the trip that has him It's the Setting my phone down and moving I can lie Echo down on her pillow, approach the other bed. I sit down and look over at Holden seriously. "You don't do this on your anymore." I know had doubts me, the sigh relief that pulses out of him is genuine. He reaches over grips my offered hand tightly. "Thanks, Malachi." I nod and lie and stare at ceiling for a while. drops before I do. I off thoughts fall Echo's was right that I fully understand what it means be responsible for protecting I do know is that I'm willing to it, no matter what that means. It's as I finally begin drifting off that I remember Grandma Maddie's message. with getting Echo's vengeful ex-whatever, I still need to face own demons and go to the old estate to get whatever she left me Suddenly, exhaustion me under, blocking everything I'm not to think about. Touch (Echo) should more
 tries to communicate with her...Yeah, he'd get PrettY piSseD oFf afTer a While."

"This just gOT an aWful lot more complicated," i say wItH A sigH. hoLden sHakes hiS HeAD, And i cAn TelL a WAr Of indEciSion is rAging insidE hiS hEad. No doubt it'S CeNtered arouNd tHe internship He's SupposEd To bEGin in Two Weeks And EchO'S fate.

SItting bacK uP, holden STares at NOThIng. "WE have to tell her."

My fIRsT Thought is that oF coursE wE HaVE To tEll Her, but then i rEalizE Why HoldEN sEEMS siCKened by the ideA. When Echo leARns She's thE oNe tORmentiNg thiS sPIriT, it's definitEly gOing to affEct her.

"wE'll neveR Figure oUt who hE is WitHout TElLiNg hEr," i AgrEE, bUt I'M Not Happy aboUt It.

holdeN looKS EVEn moRe bEat tHan beFore, and for the FirSt tiME, I rEalizE this Is whAt He's beEn doinG most Of His life. Watching Out fOr Echo, makIng DeCisIoNs, dirECting hEr, pRotEcting hEr from eVEryThING He Can. It's not just the trIp THAt Has him exHausteD. it'S tHE responsIbIliTy. SeTTIng my PhonE DoWn and movIng so I CAn LiE Echo doWn On her pIlLow, i apProacH The oTher beD. I sit dowN and lOOk over at Holden SEriously.

"You doN'T hAVE tO Do thIs oN your own anyMore."

i Know He's hAD hIs dOUbts aBout mE, bUT tHE sigh of relief that puLsEs out oF him iS genuine. He reaChes over anD GRIps my offEred HAnD Tightly. "Thanks, MAlachI."

I nod and we BOth lie doWn and Stare at tHe ceiling FOR a while. HOldEn dRopS ofF BEfOre I do. I can't tuRN Off mY tHoughts LonG enough To fAll AslEep. ecHo's dad was Right thaT I DiDn'T fUllY undeRStand whaT iT meAnS to Be resPOnsiblE for pRoteCtInG echO. I still DOn'T. wHat I Do KnOw is ThaT I'M willIng tO Do iT, no mattEr what thaT meANs.

It'S oNlY as I finAlly begin drifTiNg off that I ReMemBer GraNDMa Maddie'S message. Along with gettinG Rid of EcHo's VengeFul eX-whatever, i stIll neeD to FAce my oWn demoNs and Go BacK TO the oLD EsTatE tO get whatevER She Left fOr Me thEre. SuddEnly, exhaustion pullS Me uNder, blocking oUt eVeryTHInG I'm NOt REadY tO ThiNK About.
19: Simple ToucH

(Echo)

I shouLd BE mOre excited.
 tries to communicate with  her...yea h, he 'dget  p rett y pi ssed off after a wh ile."

"This just gotan aw fu l  lot mo re co mplicat e d, " I s ay  w ith  a si gh. H old en shak es his hea d,an d I can tell awar of ind eci sion is ragi nginside  h ish ead.Nodoubt  it'sc entere d aroundth e  inter n ship he ' s  s uppo sed to begin in t w ow eeks and Echo' s fate .Si t t ing  ba ck up, Hol de n sta r es at n o th i n g . " W e have to tel l her."

My fir st tho ug hti s that  of c ou r sewe have totell  her, but  thenI  realiz e  why Ho lden s eem s s icke n ed  b y t he ide a .Whe n  Ec ho learn ssh e's t he o n e t orme nti ng t his s pirit, it's d efi nite l y g oingto af fect  h er.
"We'll  neve rfigure out whohe i s without  te ll ing  h er,"I  agree , b utI'm not  happya bou ti t . 
Holden looks evenmo r e  b eat than  befor e ,an d  for the  f irs t ti m e , I r eali z ethis iswhat h e 's  b een doi ng  mostof  hi s l ife.W atch ing ou t for Ec ho, m a king decisions ,  directing he r ,p r ot e ctin g h er from eve ryth i ng h e ca n .It' s  notjustth e  t r ip that has him exh au sted.It'sthe responsib ility. Set t i n g my pho ne d o wn and moving soI can  lie Echod own on h er pi llow, Iapproacht h e otherbed . I  si t d o w nand look over a t Ho ld en seri ous ly.

"Y oudon 'thav eto do thi s on you row nan ymo re."I know h e' s h ad  hi s dou b ts abo ut me , bu tth e  si gh of r e li e f  tha tpu lses  ou tof hi m is gen uine. H e reaches  ov e r an dgr ips myoffered handti ghtly. "Th an ks,  Malac h i ."

I no d and we both lie downa nd star e a t the  cei ling fora w hile.Hol d en dro ps off  befo re  Id o . I c a n 't  tu rn  off my th o u ght s lon genou gh to f all asleep. Echo's dad  was right th atI di d n 't  fu l ly und er s tan d what it means t o be respo ns i bl e for prot e cti ng  Echo.I still  don' t . WhatI do know  is thatI' m wi l l ing  to do it,  no matt er what t h at me a ns .

It 'sonly a sI f inall y begi n  dr iftin g offth at I r ememb er  Grandma  Maddie's message. Alon g with  gett ing  rid of E cho ' s v engeful e x-wh atever, Isti llneedtof ace m y ow n  d emo n s and  gob ack to th e  o lde s ta te to get w h a t eve r she  le f t forme t here. Suddenly, e x haustion pulls  meu n der , b l ocki ng  out everythin g I 'm n ot ready  t o think abo ut.
19:Si m ple T ouch
(Echo) 

I sho u l db e more  exc ite d.
 tries_to communicate_with her...yeah, he'd get_pretty pissed_off_after a_while."

"This_just got an_awful lot more_complicated," I say with_a sigh. Holden_shakes_his head, and I can tell a war of indecision is raging inside his_head._No doubt_it's_centered_around the internship he's supposed_to begin in two weeks_and Echo's_fate.

Sitting back up, Holden stares at nothing. "We_have_to tell her."

My_first thought is that of course we have to_tell her, but then I realize_why Holden seems_sickened_by_the idea. When Echo_learns she's the one tormenting this_spirit, it's definitely going to affect_her.

"We'll never figure out who he is_without telling her," I agree, but_I'm not happy about it.

Holden_looks even_more beat than before, and_for the first_time, I_realize this is_what he's been doing most of_his life. Watching_out for Echo, making decisions, directing_her,_protecting her from_everything_he_can. It's_not just the_trip_that has_him_exhausted. It's the responsibility. Setting my_phone_down and moving so I can lie_Echo down on her_pillow,_I approach the other_bed. I sit down and_look over at Holden seriously.

"You don't_have to_do this_on your own anymore."

I know he's had his doubts about me,_but the sigh of relief that_pulses out of him_is genuine._He_reaches over and_grips_my offered_hand tightly. "Thanks, Malachi."

I nod and we_both lie_down and stare at the ceiling_for a while. Holden_drops_off before I do. I can't_turn off my thoughts long enough_to fall asleep. Echo's dad_was_right_that I didn't fully understand_what it means to be responsible_for protecting Echo._I still don't. What I do know_is_that I'm willing to do it,_no_matter what that means.

It's only as_I_finally_begin drifting off that I_remember Grandma Maddie's message. Along with_getting rid of Echo's vengeful ex-whatever, I still need_to face my_own demons and go back_to_the_old estate to get whatever she left for me there._Suddenly, exhaustion_pulls me under,_blocking out everything I'm not ready to think about.
19: Simple_Touch

(Echo)

I should be more excited.