Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 116220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
And why.
Was Elias right? About everything?
“There’s a reason this happened,” says Kyle. “A reason that video got posted. A reason everyone out there’s talking. Do you expect me to just lie to everyone again, go back into hiding?”
“Oh, Henry, please, I didn’t mean it in a bad way, I—”
“Kyle.” He speaks softer. “Kyle Amos … my real name.”
Tears fill her eyes. “Kyle Amos? Beautiful name. Why am I so emotional all of a sudden?” She lets out a laugh, wipes a few tears out of her eyes. “I knew there was something special about you, Henry—sorry, Kyle. Gonna take me a little bit. Yeah,” she decides with an abrupt nod, “Kyle fits you better. Never looked like a Henry Rosenberg to me.” Kyle takes a box of tissues from off a nearby filing cabinet, extends it to her. Cade plucks one out with a thankful smile, wipes her eyes, then crumples it up and stares down at it. “Kyle … I … I think I need to confess something to you.”
Kyle sets the box of tissues down. “Confess what?”
“You’re not the only one with … a secret.” She lets out a sudden breath, shuts her eyes. “Kyle, I’m … I’m telling you this because I trust you. I’ve only known you half a year, I trust you more than most of my friends. That says something. You’re probably feeling very exposed right now. What better way to help you than to expose myself, too?”
“Cade …”
She comes forth and takes hold of his right hand, enclosing it within hers, then shuts her eyes. “May your burdens prove smaller than they feel. May your path prove clearer than it seems. May your soul be strong, your bones be sturdy, and your heart be willing to see beauty in things big, tall, tiny and small, and nothing at all.” She opens her eyes. “Gran had a gift. I was the only soul she told before she died.”
“A gift?”
“I’m not going to call it anything. I’ll just be straight with you. I’ve seen things. I’ve seen her say things, and I’ve seen her do things, and I’ve smelled more aromas of incense than I care to count and learned way too many names of herbs and flowers and roots.” She squeezes Kyle’s hand between her own. “I used to think she passed the gift on to me, but I’m not so sure. She died too soon. She told me nothing. I … I know nothing. I’ve heard it skips generations sometimes. My mother didn’t do any sort of strange things. What if it skipped me, too? What if my daughter wakes up levitating one night in her sleep? Or visions plague her? Or she accidentally sets the house on fire? I’ve seen and heard so much, Kyle, my whole life. I know I act fearless, but I’m so afraid, every day. Do you think I’m crazy? Do you think I’m crazy and Gran was just a crazy lady and I’m just losing my damned mind?”
Kyle slips his hand out from between hers and brings Cade in for a hug. The two remain embraced for some time, neither saying a word, only the muffled noise of the bar is heard.
“I’ve seen things, too,” says Kyle.
“You have?”
“I don’t think you’re crazy. Not even a little. Ever since I became what I am, I’ve accepted just about anything is possible. Magic. Visions. Witchcraft. Ghosts. If you believe your gran had a gift, I’ll believe it, too.”
“Thank you.” The two of them separate. “I didn’t mean to make this all about me.”
“Actually, I very much appreciate taking the spotlight off.” Kyle lets out a sick little laugh, shakes his head. “I feel … I feel a bit better suddenly. Maybe your gran’s words really are some kind of magic. Did you know …” He shifts uncomfortably, then meets her eyes. “Did you know, that day you took my hand in your office, the first time you recited those words … I was … I was planning to head out to the desert and put an end to it all?”
Cade brings a hand to her mouth in surprise, another wave of tears coming.
“Someone came out, found me, interrupted my whole plan. Who’s to say your gran’s words weren’t responsible for that incredibly unlikely act of fate?” Kyle grabs the box of tissues and extends them. Cade takes another. “I really appreciate you sharing your secret with me. It stays with me, alright? I might not have had the luxury of keeping mine, but I’ll be damned if you’re robbed of the same.”
Cade wipes her eyes, balls up the second tissue to join the first, then nods. “That’s sweet of you, Kyle.”
He smiles. “Don’t sweat it.”
She seems to think of something, then squints. “Who came out and found you in the desert, by the way?”