Page 7 of Hidden Echoes

He is beautiful. I have never seen anyone so beautiful.

Maybe because you're used to looking at old, disgusting men, Father made a point of it.

But he is not like that.

Maybe Father forgot. He was always very careful not to let men “my age” near me.

I've always been treated like a dangerous monster. Maybe because I am one.

I know that.

Is he real?

And her?

Please let him be real. Please.

“You don’t have any questions?” Charlie looks at me suspiciously and I shake my head.

What's the point in asking questions? It's not like anything will change.

Wait.

“Actually, I do have one.” My voice comes out as such a hushed whisper that I wonder if she actually heard it, but her expression changes to one of caring and I continue.

"Is the angel real?" I ask the same question I asked Zane before.

“The angel?”

“Zane,” I say with a smile. “Tell me if he’s real.”

Charlie looks at me as if she senses something in my words and then nods.

“Zane is real, unfortunately.” Her voice is filled with something I can’t quite decipher.

Maybe joy? I think I read about that feeling in a book before.

No, maybe not exactly that.

“What’s wrong with her?” Zane asks Charlie.

“Well, she just woke up from a three-year coma, so she's obviously a little disoriented.”

“Okay, then my work here is done,” he turns to Charlie. “I’ll be heading back to my seat.”

The heaven? Is that where he comes from?

“No you won’t, stop being such an asshole.”

“If I’m an asshole you’d know it,” Zane snaps. “Charlie girl.”

“Stop being such a boring brat.”

“When you stop acting like a grumpy old woman I will.”

“You put the girl in a coma, the least you can do is stay with her while she adjusts.”

“I don’t mind if you stay,” I interject with a smile and Charlie smiles, as if she finds my stance funny.

---