FIFTY
We’re sittingon the edge of the small bed in Tim’s childhood room. The room is packed with stuff, and it’s clear they’re living out of suitcases right now.
There are still posters of the Power Rangers and Ninja Turtles on the walls, which would have given me fodder to tease Tim for the next decade if I weren’t too devastated to enjoy it.
If the situation weren’t so tense, I’d chuckle about how everything came about exactly as I knew it would. But here we are, sitting in silence, tears still streaming down my face, even though I’ve stopped sobbing. I’m wedged between Tim and Tally on the edge of the bed while Tim gently traces soothing circles on my back and Tally holds my hand in a vice grip.
Tally takes a deep breath before finally breaking the silence. “So… ghosts.”
I can’t help but cringe, and my stomach drops further.
That’s it.
This friendship will be over in the next few minutes.
I can’t bring myself to look at her, so I simply nod and focus on my trembling hands in my lap. My voice wavers as I stammer out, “I-I’m sorry. I very much appreciated the rescue, and I get that this is too much for you. I never wanted to drag you intothis. It just escalated and… I’m going to go now. Thank you so much for everything. I loved having you guys as friends.” The word ‘friends’ escapes with a sob, and I attempt to stand, but Tim’s hand on my shoulder gently pulls me back down onto the bed.
“Sit,” he demands.
“Explain.” Tally leans forward to look me in the eyes. My lip is quivering, and her gaze softens. “I’m sure we’ll understand better when we have the whole story.”
But deep down, I doubt anyone will truly understand. They’ll probably just think I’m crazy.
Just like they do.
But I owe it to Tally and Tim to tell them everything.
Even if it drives them away from me.
“I can see and talk to ghosts,” I begin, keeping my gaze fixed on Leonardo’s blue bandana so I don’t have to meet their eyes. He was always my favorite Ninja Turtle. “I’ve had this ability for as long as I can remember. My mom and my nan could do it too. It’s agift…” I explain with a hint of bitterness, “… that runs in the female side of our family. My mom didn’t want anything to do with it, but my nan used to communicate with spirits, helping them find their way to the light and the loved ones they left behind to cope. She taught me everything.”
As I speak, new tears begin to flow, but they are not for me this time. They’re for Nan, who would have known how to make people believe. She would have found a way to save Lio, never letting herself be pushed away because of her feelings.
She was so much stronger than me.
“So, you’re saying you’re like the medium on TV?” Tim asks skeptically.
“That’s not what she said!” Tally defends. “It isn’t, right?”
I nod. “Neither my grandma nor I ever accepted money for what we did, and we didn’t actively promote it either. It was justsomething we did, and people in need somehow found us. Word-of-mouth is a powerful thing.”
“You’re telling me you can see ghosts, but you don’t make money with it?” Tim’s brows furrow and he adds, “Sounds fucking dumb to me. You could make millions if what you’re saying is true.”
I let out a watery laugh.
Or I could end up locked away again.
“But what’s North’s problem, then? What was he talking about when he said you just wanted his money when you never asked for any?” Tim presses.
“I never even mentioned money. I have no idea. I just wanted him to get Lio checked again,” I explain.
“Why?” Tally inquires, her expression a mix of emotions I can’t quite decipher—maybe upset, concerned, or disbelief.
“Because Jessica told me to,” I whisper.
“Jessica?” They both say in unison, and Tim stops his soothing circles on my back.
I nod. “She was very insistent about it. I need to find a way to make it happen somehow.”
