The Whispers

3

She was alone when she woke up. She looked at the clock on the bedside table. 05:15.

As she turned to the empty side of the bed where Ken had slept, she felt a rush of sadness and anger. Couldn't he have just woken her up to say goodbye? Yeah, maybe he felt it would be harder to say goodbye but still, he had to have sensed her sadness for the rest of their dinner!

There was no chance she'd go back to sleep, so she got up and shuffled to the kitchen for a strong coffee.

She plugged in the kettle and gathered a mug and sugar, then a paper caught her attention. On the counter was a note from Ken.

I'm sorry I didn't wake you. I couldn't stand seeing you sad again and you were sleeping so peaceful. I love you, Bea, it read.

"I love you too," she whispered.

She went through the motions of getting ready for work automatically, dreading what would happen today. Hopefully, Beth would leave her alone to actually focus on her work. Even though she knew that with Beth, hoping was futile, a woman could at least dream.

Rebecca was sitting casual in the seat opposite hers when Beatrice walked into her office.

She groaned. "What is it now?"

Rebecca looked at her with an emotionless face. "You know, Bea, I don't like doing this too but if I don't, people will die and I can't have that on my conscience."

"I nearly died yesterday, Becca!"

"I know, and I'm sorry. But if you don't do what she wants you're not just going to nearly die."

Rebecca let the meaning of her words hang heavily between them while regarding Beatrice in pity.

"Anyway," she broke the awkward silence, "I'm being discharged today and I'm here to deliver what you already know. Find Nathan McCarthy and marry him.

"What?" Beatrice's eyes nearly fell out of their sockets. "In case you forgot, I said I'm engaged," she said flashing her 18 carat diamond ring in Rebecca's face, who just shrugged.

"Don't shoot the message."

Beatrice huffed in annoyance. "Okay, let's just say I was to find this Nathan, how would I do that?"

"I'm sure you'll figure it out, Bea. I'm sorry this is happening to you." She was standing right beside her and she hadn't even heard or saw her move.

Beatrice turned slowly to Rebecca and nearly tipped the chair over when she flung her arms around her.

A few moments later, Becca pulled back, walked around the desk once again and slid the card on the desk to Beatrice.

Beatrice took it and examined it. Hardwood Mental Institution. "What's this?"

"If the going gets tough, and I know it will, that's the place you will feel more comfortable and where you'll be able to recollect."

"How do you know this place?"

"When my mom heard me talking alone, I was actually talking to my twin brother, she thought I was mad. That my brother's death was 'taking its toll' on me," Rebecca snorted. "That's the place she took me to. It's very peaceful, believe me."

Beatrice scribbled her cellphone number on a piece of paper and handed it to Becca. "If there's something you want to tell me, you'll find me in that number. Take care, Becca."

Rebecca laughed. Really laughed, and it was the best sound Beatrice ever heard. "I was about to say the same to you. Take care, Bea."

"I'll try."

She padded out of the hospital and closed the door softly.

Beatrice threw the card in her handbag and buried herself in work. Well, she tried burying herself in her work but her mind kept drifting back to Rebecca. She couldn't help but feel sympathy for the little girl. She was too young to be haunted by restless ghosts. And the mental institution! What kind of a mother was her mother taking a nine year old to a mental institution just because she'd claimed she'd been talking to her brother? Maybe she could try to talk to Rebecca's mother and try to explain what's going on with her daughter.

Urgh! I'm wasting too much energy on this and nothing has happened since yesterday...

The lights flickered and she looked around in fright.

Okay, maybe I talked early.