The Awakener Read online

Sitting around the oblong dining table, the roll of laughter ebbed. Micah’s parents hadn’t aged a day to Eden. Lacey was still slender with short, blonde hair, Jared was tall, muscular, with the thickest black hair she’d ever seen. Caleb, Micah’s brother, now a junior at UVA, was home for the weekend. Micah leaned over, informing her Caleb was into body building and that he swore up and down he wasn’t on steroids.

  Eden wasn’t so sure; he was a giant. After eating, the two families retired to the living room to visit. Without a word to anyone, Micah slipped from the room. Feeling more confident since his apology, she followed. Crossing the front entry, she found him in the formal sitting room. He stood with feet shoulder-width apart, and hands clasped behind his back. She hesitated. Maybe he doesn’t want to be disturbed. I don’t think he knows I’m here yet. Maybe I’ll just slip out…

  His body stiffened, a groan escaping, like he’d been punched in the gut.

  “Micah, are you ok?” she asked, moving closer. She was surprised to see his eyes were shut. She watched as his brows furrowed deeper, creasing his forehead.

  Is that sweat above his lip? It’s like he’s having a nightmare… standing up.

  “Micah.” She touched his shoulder.

  His eyes flew open and searched the room. Finally, his gaze landed on her. She dropped her hand.

  “Eden?” he panted.

  “Are you ok?”

  “Yeah. Was I… were you in here long?”

  “No, just came in.”

  He swiped his forehead. “Oh.”

  Trying to act like nothing had happened, she turned, saying, “I still love it.”

  “What?” His breathing was ragged.

  “That.” She pointed at the painting behind the couch.

  Impressionistic strokes depicted a downtown street in Paris caught in a torrent of rain. Her favorite part was the café, the round tables in the courtyard empty because of the inclement weather. Inside the windows, she could see people gathered in the warm, glowing restaurant. She remembered each little scene at the white tables visible through the windows. The young couple holding hands at one table, the single woman shaking her umbrella out at another, the man holding his newspaper up with one hand while drinking from a coffee mug, the waiter displaying a bottle of wine to another table, and the little girl with her face plastered against one of the windows with the look of yearning to play in rain, while her parents chatted behind her. The painting was on canvas, there was no glass, but she could have sworn in that moment she saw something, like a glimmer of light.

  Eden gasped. It was like the painting became a mirror. The reflection of a woman with long, black hair was staring back at them. Her dark red dress clung to her body, and the skin on her face and chest had a pearly glow. The woman’s gaze shifted from Micah to her. Her inky black eyes widened, her lips spreading into a bewitching smile as she raised an arm, extending one slender finger toward Eden.

  She’s pointing at me! Terrified, Eden opened her mouth to scream, but Micah muffled it with his chest as he pulled her to him.

  A warm hand landed under her jaw, lifting her chin up to him. “Eden, what did you see?”

  Being in his arms, his blue eyes studying her, their faces inches apart, she realized there might be another reason why her heart was thumping now.

  She didn’t have time to answer because Brendon barged into the room. He stopped short. “Ah, Mom wanted me to get you for dessert.”

  By the time Brendon finished relaying his message, Micah had released her, and they had stepped apart.

  “Ok, thanks, be there in a sec,” Micah said.

  How’s Micah so calm? she thought as Brendon left. She peeked back at the picture. The woman was gone.

  “Did you see her?” Micah’s tone was eager.

  She met his probing eyes. “I… I’m not sure what just happened, but there was a lady in a red dress.”

  He ran his hands through his hair. He stepped closer, “Did you see anything else,” he paused, “when you came into the room?”

  “No.” Her knees felt weak, her ears ringing.

  Micah’s face was close again as he gently took her arm. “You look kind of pale, maybe we should sit down.”

  “No, I’m fine,” she said, but her body was shaking. He guided her to a couch, thankfully not the one in front of the painting.

  They were both quiet. She glanced over.

  “So yeah, I see ghosts. That’s what you wanted to ask right?” he asked.

  “No, that’s not what I was going to ask. But that means I see ghosts too then, right?”

  “I suppose so.” He seemed thoughtful.

  “Who is she?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve only seen her a few times.” The way he emphasized her led Eden to believe he’d seen others. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know more—it scared her.

  “I guess I know why you’re reading the Bible now.” She had said it in all seriousness, but Micah started laughing.

  Confused, she stared back at him.

  “Oh, Eden.” He threw his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. “I can’t tell you how glad I am you’re here.”

  Startled, she felt him squeeze her shoulder. She was at a loss for words. Boys never acted like this around her. But this isn’t just any boy, this is Micah. We’re friends, so this is normal, she reminded herself.

  She relaxed a bit and smiled. “I’m not, should’ve stayed in Portsmouth, no ghosts there.”

  He chuckled, his smile lingering. And then she wasn’t so comfortable anymore. He’s so close. Why isn’t he laughing anymore? Why’s he still staring at me like that? Why isn’t he saying something?

  She looked away, breaking the weird moment. “I haven’t seen you at school lately,” she admitted.

  He sighed, bringing his arm back around as he lowered his body, resting his elbows on his knees.

  “Yeah, well, I sort of see things a lot. Like almost all the time. Kind of makes it hard to be anywhere public.”

  “Oh.” Comprehension dawned on her. “Like when I walked in and you were—”

  “Yeah,” he interrupted. “Just like that.”

  “What are you going to do then, homeschool?”

  He sat back. “No, I’m, oh, I guess you don’t know. I’m leaving for Rome in a few days. I’m going to be a foreign exchange student.”

  Eden’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. He’s leaving? Just when I feel like we’re friends again and he’s gone? The pain shooting through her heart was too much, and her eyes began welling.

  I am not going to make a fool of myself crying! She jumped to her feet, forcing out the words, “That’s awesome, Micah. That’ll be fun.”

  He rose, standing behind her. “Thanks?” It came out like a question.

  She accidentally sniffed. Crud! She scurried from the room, but he was right behind her, keeping up.

  “Eden?” His hand first touched her arm, and then secured it in his grasp, making her halt. “Wait, are you crying?”

  “No,” she croaked.

  Now he was in front of her, his eyes sweeping her face. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” She directed her stare to the carpet.

  He raised her face to his, their eyes finally meeting. There was a hitch in his voice as he said, “I’m going to miss you too.”

  She was dumbstruck. Can he possibly feel the same way?

  This time her mom walked in, interrupting what might have been a moment, but he didn’t let go of her arm.

  “Oh sorry, I just wanted to tell you we’re getting ready to go, Eden,” her mom announced.

  Eden tried to place her mom’s tone. Then her mom smiled brightly at Micah. “I’m so glad you two are getting close again.”

  Thanks, Mom, for making this even more awkward!

  But Micah grinned back. “Me too, I’ve missed my best friend.”