Page 113 of Black
It took me almost an hour to reach Daniel’s apartment in West Seattle. The neighborhood was a bit sketchy, and I was glad it wasn’t dark yet.
“Hey, girl, you made it,” Daniel said in a loud whisper after buzzing me in. “Come in but be quiet – Violet is doing a cleansing of the place.”
I stepped into the one-bedroom apartment and saw Violet, a friend of ours, walk around with something that was smoking in her hands. It had a peculiar smell.
“How long will it take?” I whispered and retreated to the kitchen, where I pulled myself up on the counter.
Daniel shrugged and opened his fridge, where sodas and beers were lined up. He handed me a Coca-Cola and popped a beer open for himself before he leaned against the kitchen counter and watched the show of Violet doing her thing.
Violet is in her mid-twenties and one of the quirkiest people I know. She’s a psychic or at least she says she is, and apparently it’s made her the black sheep in her family. Sometimes she can be completely sane and almost normal, until she starts talking about spirit guides, angels, crystals, healing stones, and what have you.
It’s not that I don’t believe her, but I also can’t say that I do, so seeing her walk around mumbling blessings and burning that grassy thing looked comical to me.
Luckily it only took a few more minutes and then she was done.
“Oh hey, Black,” she said. “I didn’t see you there.”
“Hey, Violet… how are you.”
“Good.” She walked closer and reached out for my Coke. “You changed.”
I didn’t even think, I just handed her my can. You see, when you’ve been homeless and poor for years you learn to share things, and it’s ingrained in me that we take care of each other. Not that Violet is homeless, but still.
“Yeah, I’m trying out a new look,” I replied.
Violet took a sip and nodded with approval. “I like it.” And then she turned to Daniel. “It’s okay now, I helped him pass on and he crossed over. The sage was just to cleanse out the negativity that lingers. Keep the windows open for a few more hours.”
My glance at Daniel was quizzical, silently asking; what the hell is she babbling about?
“The previous owner killed himself last month, and the reason I got the apartment is because the woman who moved in after him said the place is haunted. She left in the middle of the night completely freaked out,” Daniel explained.
I looked to Violet. “Is the place really haunted?”
“Not any longer. The guy was just confused and lost, but I talked to him and he’s in the light now.” She looked dead serious. “He won’t bother you.” Her last comment was directed at Daniel.
I couldn’t help it; I had to ask her. “Did he tell you his name?”
She turned her head and gave me a glance that felt as if she was looking into my mind.
“You think I’m making it up?”
Noise from screaming kids reached us through the open windows and I turned my head to see a playground close by. Inside the apartment everything was quiet until Violet repeated her question.
“Admit it, you think I’m a fraud,” Violet said calmly.
“I didn’t say that.”
She arched a brow. “Your energy said it for you.”
“I’m sorry… it’s just all a bit strange.”
“Not to me. I’ve never known anything different, but I understand. I’m used to skeptics.”
“So did he tell you his name and how he died?”
“No, and I didn’t ask.”
“Why not?”
