“Just that one word?”
“Yes. Then I woke up. Screamed my way out of bed, more like.”
“Your mother told you that you had to live. That was the debt you owed her.”
“Yes.”
“Did you actually see her?”
“A shadow. Sort of a silhouette. But I knew it was her. Instantly. Almost before I heard her speak. I knew.”
“Colin, if that had been me, if that had been …”
He spoke her brother’s name for her. “Bacha.”
“I would be skinless. I mean …”
“I know what you mean.”
“I would have jumped right out of my skin and gone screaming into the night.”
“That is how I feel. Exactly.”
“Live,” Mira said. “Wow. I’m sure glad I don’t need to sleep anymore.”
“I’m sorry to have called.”
“No. You don’t get to apologize.” She breathed the word.Live. “What do you think it means?”
“I was hoping you could tell me.”
A long pause, then, “What’s the name of that wise woman who’s helped you through the hard times?”
“Celeste Talbot.”
“Maybe you should tell her about this.”
“That’s a great idea. I will.”
“Only not just yet. You don’t need all three of us to go into heebie-jeebie overdrive at three in the morning.”
“No. I’ll wait until tomorrow. Two doses of heebie-jeebies is enough for one night.”
“Is that a smile I hear?”
“Not even close.”
“Yeah, it is. You can’t fool me.”
“Good night, Mira. And thank you. So much. I’ve missed you.”
“Go smile yourself back into bed. And, Colin …”
“What?”
She whispered the word again. Drawing it out low and deep, her version of a Boris Karloff moment. Almost laughing as she did so.
“Live.”
