A Soul's Caress: Breathe

A Friend in Need

"What happened?" Ally asked as she poured Zayne a cup of coffee.

She watched his restless eyes as they glanced around the house and knew Zayne wouldn't say a word unless he knew they were alone.

"Devon's at work. He won't be back for a few hours if that's what you're worried about."

Zayne slumped into his chair, his body surrendering to the exhaustion that had been creeping up on him. His head fell into his hands like it was made of lead. Ally wanted to go to him, to offer her support, to give him a hug. But she knew better. Zayne would talk to her when he was ready and not a minute sooner.

Ally slid into the kitchen chair on the opposite side of the small square table between them. In a way, she was thankful when Zayne made sure her little brother was not a participant in their conversations. Working as a nurse, she could handle most of what he told her about his visions. Although lately, even she couldn't help but cringe at some of the details he shared with her.

Looking at Zayne now, however, Ally really wished Devon was here. Her little brother had always had a calming effect on Zayne. She couldn't explain it and had given up trying to understand it years ago. Somehow, Devon always knew just what to say, or not to say, to cheer their friend up. His gentle nature was an antidote to all the stress and misery Zayne suffered.

At first, she was happy that her baby brother could help the struggling psychic with his pain. But as Zayne's visions worsened, Ally refused to let Devon be a part of their conversations. She hated to put distance between the two younger men but it was her responsibility to protect both of them. It just sucked that by protecting one, she could be hurting the other.

Right now, though, she was regretting not having her little brother there. Zayne was in desperate need of Devon's soothing presence. And all she could do was sit quietly and wait for him to let her in.

The poor man looked as if his puppy died. His swollen and bloodshot eyes made her want to beat up whoever had made Zayne cry like this. It had been ten minutes since he knocked on her door and he still had not said anything. At first, she just hugged him, hoping that was enough. But, as the time passed, Ally knew she had to take more forceful measures.

So she could go and punch someone.

Hard.

Repeatedly.

"Come on. You're killing me here. Do you want my help or not? I need at least a name but a phone number works, too. If you give me their social media accounts, I'll make them look so bad they won't be able to show their face in public without a bag over their head."

Zayne let out a strangled giggle and lifted his head.

Well, that was a start.

She placed her hand on the table as an offering, praying Zayne would take it. "Honey, what happened? Was it a vision?"

"No," he answered, his voice ragged from running and crying.

"Who hurt you? I'm still learning the basics of self-defense but I'm sure I can still kick someone's ass enough that they'll walk funny for a week."

He gave her a hurt smile.

"I'm gonna call that new detective you're working with and tell him to..."

"No!"

Ally jumped in her seat. Zayne had never yelled at her like that before. She was both hurt and stunned.

Then it hit her.

"He's the one who did this to you?"

Zayne's eyes fell to his coffee mug on the table. It was the same one Ally always gave him every time he visited. She had given it to him as a gift when he was offered the teaching job he so badly wanted. Turning it in his hands, he read the white letters printed on the black ceramic.