Chapter 1

Darren Matthews was dead.Dead, but not goneKatherine saw him all the time. In the reflection on the surface of her coffee, in the bathroom mirror, and the shop windows she walked past. His handsome face peered at her from every reflective surface she saw. His dark eyes, just a hair wide set, black hair gelled back, the lines at the corners of his mouth that he'd tried to hide with Botox. She saw it all. But she didn't want to.Layovers were always killer, and this time was no different. The flight from San José to Denver had been comfortable, and now she was waiting for her flight to Colorado Springs. After that, it was a four-hour drive to Ivory, a little town in the middle of nowhere. Katherine was looking forward to it. She loved listening to her music, smoking a cigarette, and letting the world pass by.She raised the beer bottle to her full lips, her dark eyes flicking to the mirror behind the bar. Darren's face stared back at her, blank and expressionless, and she looked away. The airport bar wasn't exactly full at this time of day - most people didn't drink before noon - but Katherine had nothing to do but wait, so she enjoyed her drink and glanced around for someone to talk to. An older man sat at the other end of the bar, clutching a glass and staring into it as if it held the secrets of the universe. Katherine studied him momentarily, trying to decide what had led him here. His expression was dour, and he had to be in his eighties; maybe he was going to a funeral? He was dressed nicely in a suit and tie, but the checkered cap on his head was too jaunty for such a mournful occasion. She debated sliding over to try and talk to him. Katherine was a social creature by nature and had spent the flight from San José talking to her seat neighbors, but no one was sitting on the stools near her. Her seat was high enough that her feet didn't touch the ground, and she had to resist swinging her legs like a child."Why can't you just sit still?" Darren's voice filtered into her mind, unbidden and unwanted, and she frowned before letting her legs swing.Fuck you, Darren, she thought petulantly, you're dead. Katherine took another drink.Her husband had always had something to complain about. He didn't like it when she wore her hair down. "You look like you're trying too hard." But he told her she looked like a librarian when she wore it up. He'd been picky about what she wore, nothing too revealing but not too prudish either, and tried to get her to wear contacts, even though they bothered her eyes. Through it all, Katherine had kept her mouth shut. They were married, after all, and he loved her. Shouldn't she listen? That's what he’d told her, what he’d insisted on. Katherine had lived all her adult life in a proverbial box, shoved there by her husband and her insecurities. Getting a drink in an airport bar might not seem like a big deal, but this was the first time Katherine had ever done something like this because she’d wanted to, and she still felt a little giddy.The door to the bar swung open, and Katherine glanced over to see who was coming in. It was a man, probably in his forties if the grey at his temples was anything to go by, dressed in tan slacks and a blue sweater. His hair was rather long, nearly brushing his shoulders. He was pulling a rolling suitcase behind him and had a dark coat over his other arm; He looked exhausted. Katherine felt a pang of sympathy for him as he approached the bar and set his jacket on the stool beside her.The bartender glanced up from his phone and reluctantly set it aside before sidling over to take the man's order."Yuengling, please - not out of the fridge, if you have it." He had a hoarse voice as if he had been yelling for a long time. The bartender wrinkled his nose but bent below the counter to grab a non-refrigerated bottle of beer and set it down with a thump as if he resented the man for asking him to do his job.The man took his bottle with a word of thanks and sat heavily on the stool next to his coat. He began to pick at the label on his beer, and Katherine couldn't help but chuckle.The man looked over at her, and she smiled, a little embarrassed to be caught looking."Sorry, I just, I do the same thing." She gestured to her bottle and the neat little pile of paper scraps on the bar in front of her. The man smiled back, and Katherine noticed a thin scar on his upper lip that pulled the expression into something slightly sinister, almost approaching a sneer. He glanced at her bottle and held up his own."It's kind of relaxing, isn't it," he said."It is - like a fidget spinner, only less irritating."That brought a surprised laugh out of the man, a deep sound that rumbled up from his chest and filled the room. The older man in the checkered hat shot them a glare, but Katherine ignored it. She turned slightly on her stool and held out a hand."I'm Katherine," she said with a grin. The man took her hand and gave it a firm and friendly shake. His hand was surprisingly soft and very cold - but not unpleasant."Shelley. Nice to meet you, Katherine," he said, raising his beer bottle toward her.She brought her own up, and they clinked before they each took a sip. Katherine peered over the curve of the bottle as she drank, examining Shelley with interest. He was an unusual-looking man with a long face and a nose that had to have been broken at least twice. His jaw was sharp, stubbled, and ended in a square chin. He had high cheekbones and a strong brow, and as he set his drink down, Katherine took note of his eyes. They were pale blue, so light it was startling, and she found herself lost in them for a split second as he smiled at her again."So, you come here often?" The line was delivered in such a dry tone that Katherine snorted."Oh yeah, I love hanging out in airport bars," she said, a cheeky grin tugging at her lips, "Nothing makes me feel more at home than overpriced beers in a place where time seems to stretch forever, and nothing is real."Shelley laughed again, and the corners of his pale eyes crinkled. Katherine also noticed a subtle scar on his nose, and as he brushed a strand of his hair away, she saw a notch missing from his left ear. He had a rough face, but a light in his eyes drew Katherine in like a moth to a flame. His gaze was bright and inviting, and she felt like he wanted to talk to her. Shelley smiled again and leaned on the bar with one elbow, resting his cheek on his fist as he looked at her."Liminal spaces, huh?" He said, a sparkle in his eye, "I wouldn't think an airport would count since they're full of people most of the time." Shelley had a hint of an accent that Katherine couldn’t quite place.Katherine gave a slight shrug and waited until she finished her next sip before replying. "They certainly do; they're transitional, permanent but always being passed through. Not to mention, they can be a little spooky at night. Like a Walmart.""See, I like spooky; I'm a sucker for horror."Katherine grinned. "Me too! Horror movies are my favorite!"They chatted amiably about movies and TV for a while, ordering another round of beers and thoroughly irritating the older man at the other end of the bar with their enthusiastic conversation. Eventually, he got up and left, and Shelley glanced at his phone."Oh shit - I've gotta go; my flight is about to start boarding." He stood up, chugged the last of his beer, and thumped the empty bottle onto the bar top. Katherine fumbled for her phone in her pocket. She opened the flight tracker app, and her eyes bugged behind her glasses."Shit! Me too." She set her beer down as Shelley gathered his things. Katherine grabbed her carry-on and shuffled her wallet out of her bag, pulling two twenties out and slapping them on the bar. Shelley hesitated, his hand hovering over the back pocket of his slacks."You don't have to -"Katherine waved a hand dismissively as she turned away with a smile. "No problem, consider it a thank you for indulging my need to talk to strangers," she said as she began to hurry towards the door. Shelley followed after, throwing his coat over his arm as he quickly stepped to open the door for her. She smiled in thanks, and they headed out of the bar together.And then turned down the same hallway and came to the same gate. They were in too much of a hurry to talk but kept shooting amused glances at each other as they passed turn after turn. Katherine kept expecting him to peel away at any moment, and she felt a slight swell in her chest. She liked Shelley, and was glad they appeared to be heading in the same direction. By the time they arrived, Katherine was huffing and puffing. She glanced sideways at Shelley, brushing back a strand of her bleached blonde hair as she did so. Her natural hair was dark and tightly curled - courtesy of her father - but Darren had always liked it blonde and straight, and she’d kept it up out of habit."So, are you following me, or is this a wild coincidence?" She asked with a grin as they slowed near the rows of uncomfortable chairs in the boarding area. Shelley reached into his pocket and pulled out his ticket, double-checking the number before showing it to her."Wild coincidence, it seems; small world, apparently." The number on the ticket matched her own, and she raised her eyebrows. She pulled out her ticket and glanced at the seat number before looking back to Shelley's. Chuckling, she held the paper up to him with a bright smile."Definitely a small world! We're seat buddies."Shelley did a double take. "My mom believes in fate and destiny and all that; she'd be having a field day with this," he said, folding his ticket in half and stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Getting out the tarot cards, talking about the red string of fate - all that crap," he mused. Katherine hummed in reply and shifted her bag over her shoulder, pushing her blunt bangs out of her eyes. They were sticking to her forehead, and she wrinkled her nose.The flight attendant spoke over the PA system, announcing that priority passengers could begin boarding. Shelley and Katherine got in line, waiting patiently for their section to be called. Her head was buzzing, spinning with excitement and nerves. Two beers may have been too many on an empty stomach, but it wasn't just the alcohol that made her feel funny. It was a strange but welcome coincidence that the interesting man she'd met in the bar would be on the same flight, seated next to her. Thinking about what Shelley had said about his mother, Katherine glanced out the expansive windows overlooking the runways and caught Darren's face in the glass. His face, usually so unnervingly expressionless, was pulled into a frown, and she blinked in shock.It had been a year and three days since she'd gotten the call about his death, and in all that time, she'd never seen him make any sort of expression. It was always just his blank, staring face, looking at her constantly. Initially, Katherine had thought she’d been losing her mind.She had woken in a cold sweat at 3 AM, her eyes popping open and staring at the popcorn ceiling of her cheap apartment. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she staggered out of bed, fumbling for her glasses and squinting in the dark as she put them on. Her bladder was calling, and she stumbled to the bathroom.As Katherine washed her hands, she glanced up at the mirror and let out a yelp, jumping back and ramming her elbow into the towel rack. Swearing, Katherine rubbed furiously at her aching elbow and looked around wildly. She’d seen a face in the mirror, over her shoulder.No one was in the bathroom. The noise of the sink was loud in her ears as she spun on the spot, her baggy Harry Potter world T-shirt billowing around her as she turned. Nothing. Katherine slowly looked back at the mirror and inhaled sharply.A man’s face was looming out of the dark. Darren’s face. She reached out with a trembling hand and touched the mirror, the thin line of paler skin around her ring finger evident in the harsh fluorescent light. They hadn't spoken in months, and the last conversation had been unpleasant, to say the least.“...Darren?” Her voice was thready and weak and echoed in the small room. The sink continued to run, and there was no reply. She must be dreaming; that was the only explanation. Katherine let out a long breath and flicked off the light, swallowing thickly.“Just a dream,” She muttered, “Just a dream.”Katherine returned to bed, placing her glasses on the bedside table and curling on her side. Darren’s face painted the inside of her eyelids.She’d gotten the call about his death an hour later.Katherine was knocked from her memories as Shelley bumped into her from behind. The line was moving."Sorry," he said, "You okay?"Katherine blinked again and shook her head."Yeah, just, lost in thought for a sec."It took twenty minutes for all the passengers to board, and Katherine felt her stomach begin to churn with excitement instead of nausea.She was heading for a new start, a new beginning. Katherine had felt stuck in her old life, stuck in a miasma of nothingness. She and Darren had married when she was nineteen, and Katherine’s life revolved around him for the next fifteen years. Fifteen years. Wasted. Her hand curled around the handle of her bag as she stepped forward and presented her ticket to the flight attendant. She smiled as she scanned the paper, and then Katherine walked down the echoing boarding ramp, her heart jumping in her chest. It hadn't taken much to get her to move from San José, even though she was leaving her family behind. Her photography had finally caught the eye of one of the many agents she'd queried. Katherine had been offered a job as a nature photographer for a new book on the natural wonders of the Southern Rockies. It was an exciting opportunity, one she'd never thought would come her way, and she'd snapped it up eagerly.Her dad had been elated, her sister even more so, and with their blessing, she had packed up her few belongings and booked a flight to Colorado.Katherine found her seat and was just standing on tip-toe to reach the latch on the overhead storage when someone opened it for her. Shelley grinned.“You need a step ladder,” He said, hefting his bag onto the shelf.Katherine laughed, swung her bag up, and tucked it away.“It didn’t fit in the bag,” She joked, and Shelley closed the hatch with a snort of laughter.“True, plus I feel like the TSA would have had something to say about that.” A stupid joke, but Katherine laughed anyway.A young woman and her child squeezed past them, and Katherine looked at her ticket again. She had the window seat. Glancing at the window, she saw Darren’s frowning face staring at her from the glass. Seeing him like that brought a shiver down her spine, and she slid out into the narrow lane between the seats.“You get the window seat; I’ve got a small bladder and don’t fancy clambering over your lap every time I’ve got to pee.” She said. Not technically a lie; she did have a small bladder, but really she didn’t want to sit next to Darren. Katherine knew he wasn’t really there, but his eyes felt accusatory, and imagining sitting next to him for the whole flight made her shiver.Shelley shrugged and ducked under the low ceiling to sit at the window, stretching his long legs out under the seat in front of him.“Fine with me; I like to watch the takeoff.” He said, adjusting his position in the chair. Katherine settled into her seat and relaxed, nestling back against the worn fabric. Her feet just barely reached the chair in front of her, and she buckled her seatbelt as the rest of the passengers found their seats. Shelley dug around in the net pouch before him, pulling out a magazine. He grinned and held it up.“Can you believe they actually make some of this stuff?” he asked, flipping the magazine open to a page that showed a ridiculous assortment of novelty items. He pointed out an electric cheese grater shaped like a mouse and shook his head.“Some people have too much money.” He flicked through the pages and then hummed in appreciation. “Although this is so tasteful, how could you pass it up?”

Katherine looked over to see what he was indicating and burst out laughing.
It was a liquor dispenser in the shape of a fountain, with a boy peeing as the spigot.“Oh, so classy - and only three hundred dollars? How could you resist?” She replied.Shelley chuckled and put the magazine away as the flight attendant began to speak again, instructing everyone to buckle their seatbelts and prepare for take off. The stewards performed their choreographed exit dance, and after a few pre-flight checks, they were off.After the seatbelt light blinked off, Katherine glanced back to Shelley, who had turned to look out the window. He had broad shoulders, and his fitted sweater showed off a lean frame that she couldn't help but admire for a moment before she shook her head."You fly a lot?" She asked him. He seemed fascinated by the view out of the window. Shelley turned back and smiled, his expression a tad shy."Ha, no," he said, settling back in his seat, "In fact, this is only my second time. The first one was Disney when I was about seven, so it's been a while."Katherine raised her eyebrows. It wasn't like she was a world traveler, but like most people had flown at least half a dozen times. She shifted to face him more fully, knitting her fingers together on her lap."Really? That's interesting; not big on traveling, I take it?"Shelley shook his head. "Nope, I've always been a homebody." He said, rubbing at the back of his neck. “This is the first time I’ve left Chicago in, well, a long time.”Katherine snapped her fingers.”That’s your accent!” She said, “I’ve been trying to figure it out - where in Chicago are you from?” She’d been a few times with Darren for his business trips and had enjoyed the city quite a bit. Granted, she hadn’t been allowed to explore alone, as Darren liked to keep her on a tight leash. Regret blossomed in her chest, but she pushed it down. She could go and explore anywhere she wanted now.“Near Rogers Park, my parents own a funeral home, and we lived above it,” Shelley replied, his pale eyes sliding over her as if searching for a reaction. “I grew up there and then moved a few blocks away when I was eighteen.”“Never been, but that had to be fascinating! What was it like?” Katherine asked, leaning forward slightly in her seat.Shelley smiled, turning toward her a little as he spoke. “Oh, it’s a nice area, but yeah, it was pretty much like any other house, just with dead people in the basement.” He said with a shrug, “My parents are very open about our profession; it’s important not to treat death like some terrifying, unknowable force.” A hint of passion crept into his tone, and he straightened up in his seat. “Everyone passes away, but if we keep death and everything about it under wraps, it only makes it scarier.”Katherine propped her hand on her chin, listening as Shelley spoke. His tone had a real sense of pride, and she had to admit she found it attractive.“I take it you’re a mortician as well?” She asked, “Family business?” He’d said ‘our’ profession, and the way he talked made it sound like he was intimately familiar with it.Shelley nodded.” Yeah, I started working there as the receptionist when I was sixteen, and then went to mortuary school. I’ve worked there ever since, but…” he trailed off for a moment and then shook his head. “It was just time for a change, you know? Something different.” He sounded a little sad but also excited, and Katherine smiled.“I do know; I’m in a similar boat.” She said, “I’ve lived in Cali my whole life, but I got this job opportunity and couldn’t pass it up.” Katherine had screamed in joy when she’d gotten the email and called her dad immediately. It was almost like a dream come true, and she had pinched herself periodically to ensure she was awake. That had been a week ago, and sometimes, Katherine still felt the need to check.“California, huh? Like, totally, dude.” Shelley said with a grin, raising his hand in the ‘hang loose’ sign. It was an incongruous sight, and Katherine laughed.“Not quite - most of the surfing’s in Santa Cruz; I’m from San Jose, plus, I was never very good at it; softball was always my sport.” Katherine had been athletic in college and even on the softball team, but she’d stopped playing when she’d married Darren. Sports weren’t for women, he’d said, and she’d let him convince her that was true.“Ah, a sportsball player,” Shelley said sagely, nodding, “Afraid I can’t relate. I was the punk kid who couldn’t throw a ball to save his life. Still can’t, now that I think about it.”Katherine smiled and raised an eyebrow. “Punk, huh?” An image filled her mind of Shelley decked out in black and safety pins, with a mohawk and a scowl, and she giggled. The mental picture clashed with the sweater and slacks, but as she glanced him over, she noted that his shoes were a pair of steel-toed boots, made evident by the hole in the left toe where metal glinted in the overhead lights.“Oh yeah, full-on anarchist punk rock metal head.” Shelley held up his hand in the ‘rock on’ symbol and grinned, “I got in more fights than I can count. I spent a lot of time in detention despite my grades being good. Would have graduated valedictorian if I hadn’t been suspended during graduation.”Katherine raised her eyebrows and looked him up and down exaggeratedly. “My god, man, you mean I’m talking to a delinquent?” She gasped in mock shock, raising a hand to her throat as if clutching a string of pearls before relaxing her shoulders and laughing. “I was one of those kids that had friends in all the cliques but never really had my own,” She said, “My sister though, oh man, she was the popular girl, always going to parties and cheerleading practice.” Marion was older by three years, and while she and Katherine were close now, they’d been bitter rivals during high school. Shelley was looking at her closely, and Katherine flushed.“Sorry, I don’t mean to blabber,” She said, feeling a wave of humiliation wash over her at monopolizing someone’s time. That was another thing Darren had complained about; how much she talked.Shelley blinked and then shook his head. “No, no, please, go on - it’s really nice to talk to someone so enthusiastic,” He said, and his smile was so genuine that she couldn’t help but smile back, the feeling of shame ebbing slightly.“Well, you asked, so no complaining when I talk your ear off for the rest of the flight.” She said, wondering if by ‘enthusiastic’ he actually meant ‘annoying.’ Her eyes were drawn to the window just visible over Shelley’s shoulder, and she caught Darren’s frown. She looked away and wet her lips. The drink cart was coming towards them, and Katherine was glad for the distraction. She enjoyed talking to Shelley but didn’t want to push it.“So, you have a sister? Any other siblings?” Shelley asked, and Katherine looked over at him in surprise. He was looking at her with interest, and he smiled when she caught his eye. Katherine bit her lip for a moment and then swallowed. He wouldn’t have asked a follow-up question if he didn’t want to keep talking.“Nope, just me and Marion. She’s got four years on me and never let me forget it when we were young,” There was the sound of glass rattling against metal, and the steward stopped next to their row with the drink cart."Can I get you something to drink?" He asked with a pleasant smile. Katherine got orange juice, and Shelley asked for a ginger ale. Once they had settled and the cart had passed on, Shelley sighed."I don't have any siblings, but I already wanted a brother when I was a kid. Somebody to pal around with, get into trouble with, that sort of thing." He said wistfully."It sounds like you didn't need any help getting into trouble," Katherine replied.Shelley grinned mischievously, and Katherine felt her heart do a funny little flip-flop in her chest at the sight. He wasn't handsome, but something about his smile tugged at her."Okay, fair point - but in my defense, I calmed down when I got into mortuary school. Sort of."They continued to chat about their youth, and Katherine found she was disappointed when the seatbelt light came back on, and the pilot announced they would be landing soon. She'd been so engrossed she hadn't even gotten up to use the bathroom during their conversation, and now her bladder was screaming for her attention. The landing was bumpy, which didn't help, and by the time they had touched down, she was practically squirming in her seat. Katherine hopped up as soon as the seatbelt light was off and reached for the latch on the overhead storage, grabbing her bag and heaving it down. Shelley shuffled into the lane and picked up his bag before wincing and stretching his back. The rest of the passengers crowded around them, grabbing bags and chattering about where they were going or who they were seeing. A line formed, and people began to file out, and Shelley cleared his throat."Uh," he began, sounding slightly nervous, "So, I've really enjoyed talking to you…where are you going from here?"Katherine, who had been trying to focus on following the patterns on a kid's backpack to ignore her need to pee, looked up at him in surprise."I've enjoyed talking to you, too - I'm going to Ivory, a little podunk town in the middle of nowhere." She said. Katherine had looked the town up when she'd gotten the job offer. It was situated in a beautiful section of the state, had a population of 3,000 people, and the closest Big Box store was an hour's drive away. Totally different than what she was used to.Shelley's thick brows practically popped off his face."You're shitting me. That's where I'm going."Katherine opened her mouth and then shut it, totally blindsided. "Really?" She asked, completely surprised, "I can't believe it!" The line was beginning to move, and they shuffled forward automatically, Katherine too taken aback by this revelation to pay attention. "For how long?""Forever, or well, as long as I have a job," Shelley replied, "I'm moving there. Accepted a position as lead mortician at the local funeral home." He was grinning again, and Katherine felt her heart do another somersault."That's - wow, okay, your mom might be right. I'm moving there too; I've got a job as a photographer for a new book." She explained, a growing smile on her face at the strange happenstance. It had been daunting to move to a place where she knew no one, but now she had a connection. What were the chances?"That's amazing! What's the book?""A nature book about the Southern Rockies, I've been a photographer for years, but this is the first time I've gotten something like this." She felt giddy, her hands buzzing with excitement. The line shuffled forward again and then stopped as someone grabbed a bag they'd forgotten in their seat."Wow, I'd love to see some of your work sometime," Shelley began before pausing and taking a deep breath. "Maybe, maybe we can exchange numbers?" He sounded tenuous, his hands tight around the handle of his bag and his shoulders tense.Katherine beamed. "I'd love to! We should totally get together once we're all settled in!"Shelley seemed to collapse in on himself, and he smiled back."Okay, yeah, yeah, that - that would be great."They pulled out their phones and exchanged numbers as they reached the front of the plane. Katherine stuffed her phone back into her bag and smiled at the steward as she passed, her heart lighter than it had been in days. She didn't even notice Darren's thunderously frowning face as she passed the last window. She'd made a friend all by herself. Someone who actually wanted to talk to her. It was a strange thought but a happy one, and as they disembarked and split up, Katherine waved to Shelley, feeling like she was honestly getting a new beginning.

Chapter 2

Traveling made Shelley nervous. He did it so little that his stomach would twist and clench, making him nauseous. The first flight had been rough - Shelley had spent most of the time in the bathroom, vomiting, and he'd needed a drink by the time they’d landed. Then, he’d met Katherine. She had been a bright spot on the trip, and he’d been so glad when they’d ended up seated in the same row on the same flight. She was cute and funny and excitable, full of energy and laughter. He’d felt a sucker punch in his gut when she’d bought his drinks, attracted to the little display of dominance like a magnet to steel. He would have regretted it forever if he hadn’t gotten her number, despite the amount of courage he’d had to drum up even to ask. Shelley had never been lucky in relationships; whether it was his looks or his profession, he didn’t know, but the only thing that had ever lasted was with Kieran, and that hardly counted.It had been two days since they’d landed in Colorado Springs and split, and Shelley had thought about Katherine a lot as he’d unpacked and settled into his new apartment. He’d shipped his belongings ahead of him and had opened the door to his place to be greeted by a large pile of boxes and his mattress covered in plastic. His workout equipment had come later that evening, and he’d spent the past day and a half putting everything in place. The apartment was nothing fancy, but it had a great view- the living room window opened up over the little town square, and behind that, the mountains could be seen, looming majestically against the sky. It was a stark contrast to the city skyline he was used to, and the first night he found it difficult to sleep due to the quiet. It had been unsettling, and he’d lain there, staring at the ceiling, just waiting to hear a truck roar past or for someone to start shouting on the street below—the noises of home. Coffee was a lifesaver, and while he’d slept better the second night, he was still on his second cup when someone knocked on the door. He blinked and looked over from where he was seated at the little round table in the kitchenette, unsure who would be visiting this early. Setting down his mug, Shelley stood up and moved to the door, peering through the peephole to see who was outside. He saw the top of a tan hat and a bit of a mustache, a man he didn’t recognize, which wasn’t a surprise. He hesitated for a moment before unlocking the door and opening it.“Good morning,” He said, blinking owlishly at the man, “Can I help you?”
The visitor was an older gentleman, perhaps in his mid-fifties, short and rather round in the stomach.The man smiled from under a thick bushy mustache as black as shoe polish and held out a hand."Jim Manson, I'm the super. I would have popped by sooner, but I just got back from camping last night; you moving in okay?" Jim asked, nodding towards a couple of boxes still behind Shelley. Shelley nodded in return as he shook the man's hand firmly."Shelley. Yeah, I’m just about done." He said with a smile, feeling the scar tug at his lip as he did so. He’d had it for years, but he still hadn’t gotten used to the sensation.Jim smiled and let go, tapping one finger against his lip where the scar was on Shelley's mouth. "Cool scar, and nice to meet you, Shelley," he said.Shelley blinked but gave a half-shrug of thanks. "Yeah, it, uh, it's certainly noticeable." He replied; an awkward thing to say, but that was an awkward thing to point out on first meeting someone. Jim seemed a friendly guy; maybe he didn't mean offense.The super grinned and chuckled. "Well, I'm around; my office is on the first floor, so come see me if you need anything! We just replaced the carpet in your unit." He said with a note of pride.Shelley looked down at the floor and lifted one of his combat boots. "Oh yeah, it looks great." He replied. The carpet was nondescript, but it did look nice.Jim beamed. "Glad you like it, have a good day!" He said with a slight wave and turned on his heel to head downstairs, whistling brightly. Shelley watched him go, slightly perplexed, and then ducked back inside. It was nice of the super to introduce himself. People seemed friendly here, which Shelley supposed he’d have to get used to. He returned to his coffee and sat back down, stretching his legs out under the table. There were a few things left to unpack, but Shelley didn’t much feel like it at the moment. He’d already done his workout for the day and didn’t start his new job until Monday. There was a whole weekend ahead of him, and he had no idea what to do with it. Lifting his mug to his lips, Shelley took a moment to inhale and just enjoy the smell of fresh coffee. He’d been practicing mindfulness for the past two years, ever since he’d gone through a bout of therapy to help manage his depression. It had been pretty successful too, and Shelley found himself relaxing and focusing on the soft sounds filtering in through the open window, the feel of the ceramic in his hand, and the sensation of the wood under his fingers. It was centering, calming, and he found his mind wandering back to Katherine.He had her number; maybe he should give her a call. He glanced towards his phone, sitting on the table to his left, and instantly felt a coil of nervousness in his gut. Maybe not; she was probably busy. Two days wasn’t enough time to get settled in, and he didn’t want to be a bother. He picked up his phone but dialed his mom instead, holding it slightly away from his ear as it rang.“Ori!” His mother’s voice was loud as she answered, and he smiled as he held the phone a little farther away.“Hey, Mom,” He said, “How are you?”“Oh, I’m good, honey! How are you settling in? Do you like the mountains? What’s your apartment like? Send me pictures!” His mother could talk more than anyone he’d ever met, except maybe his father. Together they were a force to be reckoned with, dominating every conversation they joined with talk of their work and their love for each other. As a teen, he’d found it embarrassing, but now he thought it sweet.“Yeah, Mom, I’ll send some - the mountains are pretty; I’ll get a picture of those too. How’s dad?”“Oh, he’s tooling around, Mr. Keeson passed last night, and his family is having a wake this weekend; we have to make sure our guest is presentable!” She chirped. Shelley could hear her clattering around, and in his mind's eye, he could see her standing next to the sink, washing her hands after embalming. The image made him smile, and he glanced down at the table, picking at a scratch in the wood.“I…met somebody,” He said, “On the plane. You’d have liked her, Mom.” Shelley could practically see his mother perk up as he spoke, and he winced slightly. Why had he said that?“Really? What’s she like? Is she pretty? Funny? Was she nice? What does she do? Are you going to see her again? Tell me all about it, Ori!” She gushed, and Shelley ran a hand over his mouth and wet his lips, regretting saying anything.“She’s nice, yeah, funny too. I don’t know, maybe? She’s in Ivory, so we might run into each other again.”His mother tsk’d, and he could imagine her putting her hand on her hip, shaking her head at him like she did whenever she thought he was too down on himself.
“Well, you should try and reach out! It’s always good to have a friend in a new place, don’t let yourself sink back into that little black hole, okay honey? We love you, you’re wonderful, and you should be enjoying your life.” Her tone was gentle, and Shelley looked down at the tabletop.“Thanks, Mom,” He muttered, “I’m gonna finish unpacking, and then I’ll send you a few pictures of the new place. Say hi to Dad for me, okay?”“Of course, honey, thanks for calling! Oops!” There was a slightly wet plopping noise, and his mother sighed, “There goes Mr. Keeson’s liver - well, I’ve got to clean this up. Love you, Ori!” She hung up, and Shelley looked at his phone with a twist to his mouth. She was right. He was a grown man. If he wanted to make friends, then he should. He flicked through his contacts list until he got to Katherine and was just about to press the call button when his phone began to ring. His eyebrows raised as he saw that it was Katherine calling, and his palms were suddenly sweaty as he fumbled to hit the answer button.“Hel-ey,” He had started to say ‘hello,’ but thought ‘hey’ would sound cooler and ended up doing half of both. Wincing, he pinched the bridge of his nose and berated himself internally as Katherine spoke.“Hey! Sorry to call, and I hope this isn’t weird or rude, but I’m - well, I’m stuck,” She sounded half exasperated, half embarrassed as she continued, “Like, literally, I’m stuck, and I don’t know anyone else here and was hoping you could help? Please?”
Shelley blinked, confused as to what she meant by ‘stuck.’“Stuck? Stuck how?”“Well…I was trying to move a desk up the stairs, and it slipped, and now I’m trapped underneath it, wishing for death to release me from this ignoble position.”Shelley let out a snort of laughter and stood up, forgetting entirely about his half-drunk coffee and the boxes in the living room. Unpacking and pictures could wait.“Well, I’d hate to leave a damsel in distress - where are you?”“My hero - I’ll text you the address, and uh, not to be a bother, but could you hurry? I’m losing feeling in my feet.”Shelley was out the door in three seconds flat, in the rental car, and on the road before they even hung up.It was a ten-minute drive from his apartment building to a little residential area outside the center of town. As he drove, Shelley found himself trying to pick what to say when he got there. My name is Shelley, and I’m here to rescue you. She might not like Star Wars, plus it was a subtle enough reference that it wouldn’t be obvious. Was that cool? He didn’t know. He scraped his brain for other movie references but hadn’t come up with a good one by the time he turned down Katherine’s street. The houses here were cute, little bungalows and ranches with short-cropped, yellowish lawns and the occasional yard sculpture or lawn gnome. The address he’d been given belonged to a small white house with blue shutters and a matching door, with a pot of daisies on the porch and a Subaru in the driveway. He pulled in next to the SUV and exited the car, not even taking a half second to ensure he looked presentable. He wore a black band T-Shirt and black jeans with a hole over his left knee. He’d had these pants for years, and even though they were starting to fall apart, he couldn’t let them go. He jogged up to the door and rapped his knuckles against the blue-painted wood. Katherine's voice echoed out;“It’s open!”He took a deep breath and pushed open the door, stepping inside.The house was small and decorated slightly kitschy; lots of inspirational quote signs and the like. The walls were a pleasant shade of light blue, and there was a rug that said ‘Welcome to Our Little Slice of Heaven” in a loopy font behind the door.“Over here!” Katherine called from his left, and he turned and peeked down a short hallway. There, Katherine was lying at the bottom of the stairs with her head on the floor and her body up the stairs. She looked decidedly put out, her dark, freckled face flushed and her full lips pulled into a frown. However, she smiled as she saw him and let out a laugh.“Hey,” She said, “Thanks for coming; um, not to be pushy, but this is really heavy.” She made a face, and Shelley stepped closer to see around the corner. Katherine was squashed beneath the top of a heavy-looking desk, its legs sticking up into the air like a dead spider’s. She was pushing at the wood but was making no progress at all. Shelley blinked, flabbergasted as to how she’d managed to get herself into this position. It looked like she’d been trying to push the desk up the stairs, had slipped, and the desk had somehow flipped over on the way down. There was a bruise on her forehead, and her cheeks were flushed. Shelley hurried over and grabbed the lip of the desk with both hands, trying not to stand with his crotch directly positioned above Katherine’s face and ending up bent at an awkward angle. He huffed and tugged, lifting the desk so that Katherine could slide from underneath it. She scrambled back and got to her feet, wobbling slightly and raising a hand to her forehead. Shelley set the desk back down and let it slide gently back to the bottom of the stairs, stopping it with the toe of his boot.“Are you okay?” He asked, turning towards her. Her eyes were a bit foggy, and she seemed distracted. Katherine nodded and then winced, her hand flying back to her temple.‘’Yeah, just - hit my head on the way down,” She explained, adjusting her glasses with two fingers before smiling broadly and letting out an embarrassed laugh, “Thanks for the rescue - I don’t even know how that happened!” She scowled at the desk and shook her fist, “Stupid desk - I knew the deal I got on it was too good. Probably cursed.”Shelley chuckled and shook his head. “I was gonna ask, but now I think it’s better if we leave it a mystery - more exciting that way,” He said, feeling his heart do a little jump in his chest as she smiled back at him. Something in his head was prodding him, poking him to say something flirtatious, but he ignored it. Shelley had always had what he called a ‘devil on his shoulder,’ a little voice in the back of his mind that encouraged him to do stupid things. He’d managed to temper it through age, therapy, and hard work, but it was still there.Katherine laughed and rolled her neck, wincing as it cracked loudly. She rubbed at her shoulders and then shook her head. “God damn, I thought I was done for,” Katherine muttered and for a moment, seemed to lose focus, her gaze trained at the top of the stairs. Shelley looked up to see what she was staring at and saw a large mirror hanging on the wall. It was a fairly standard mirror, and he wondered what had caught her attention before she cleared her throat.“Well, that was incredibly stupid, but it’s nice to see you.” She said, “Can I get you something to drink?” A tone to her voice suggested she was trying to bring his attention away from the mirror, and he looked at her for a moment before nodding slowly.“Yeah, a glass of water would be great, thank you.”She smiled and turned away, walking further down the hall and then turning left. Shelley was mildly ashamed to find that his eyes had trained on her hips as she walked, and he tore them away to look at the mirror again. From what he could see, it was ordinary. His brow knit for a moment, and then he bent to grab the desk, lifting it easily and shuffling backward to flip it around. It wasn't a simple maneuver in the tight hallway, but he managed it without scraping anything and had just set it back on its feet when he heard a crash from the kitchen. It sounded like breaking glass, and he hurriedly squeezed past the desk."Katherine?" He called. There was no response for a moment, and as he turned the corner, he heard a stifled sob. Katherine was standing in the middle of the kitchen, her back to him and her shoulders hunched. The floor was wet in front of her, and broken glass was strewn around her feet."Hey, woah, you okay?" Shelley asked gently, coming around her right side to see her face. Her hands were cupped over her mouth, her glasses pushed up on her tear-stained cheeks. Alarmed, Shelley looked around and then down at the floor, sure something must have spooked her. He didn't see anything and looked back as she inhaled sharply, pulling her hands away from her face. She let out a wet laugh and sniffed, rubbing the back of her hand under her eyes."S-sorry, just, just -" she didn't seem to be able to explain, and Shelley found a chair next to a square table in the corner and brought it over so she could sit down."Here, take a seat," he said gently, sweeping some glass away from her bare feet with his boot as she fell into the chair. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, her face working to keep a calm expression. She took a deep breath and let it out with a shudder. Concerned, Shelley pulled up a chair and sat beside her, peering at her face. He didn't press; he simply waited for Katherine to steady her breathing.

When she'd collected herself, she bit her lip and looked at him from the corner of her eye. Her cheeks were red, embarrassment clear on her face."Sorry, I'm - Jesus Christ - I'm sorry." She said, looking away quickly as he met her gaze. She was clearly awash in shame, her posture and expression telegraphing it from a mile away, and Shelley felt his heart break. Somebody had instilled a deep fear of vulnerability in her. He reached over to the table and pulled a few napkins free from a little basket, holding them out to her with a soft smile."Hey, nothing to be sorry about. You should see me when I drop a weight on my foot." Katherine snorted, and she took the napkins with a half smile."Thanks, I…yeah," she wet her lips and wiped her eyes, still not quite looking at him. He waited, and eventually, she looked back. Her face had gone pale, and her eyes shadowed. She was chewing on her lip again, looking at him with trepidation."...can I tell you something? Something that's going to make me sound like a crazy person?" She asked quietly, her hands clutching the edge of her chair."Of course, Katherine -" he looked her dead in the eye, his face serious yet gentle. "Nothing you could tell me would make me think you were crazy." Shelley had spent years in the Metal circle, seen friends and acquaintances lose their minds to drugs, struggle with mental illnesses of all kinds, and had done a fair amount of struggling and drugs himself. She could say anything, and he'd listen without judgment. Her dark eyes were wide as she looked at him, studying his expression for a long moment before she slumped slightly in the chair."I dropped the glass because I saw my dead husband in the water." She said, her voice so quiet Shelley had to lean forward to hear her. "He's…I've been seeing him for a year and five days, everywhere there's a reflection - but he's never…" she trailed off, and a shudder ran through her body. Tentatively, Shelley reached out and put a hand on her arm, just a soft touch, before pulling away. Katherine looked up at him, surprise evident on her face, but sadness and fear lurked in the corners of her eyes. He reached for her again, and she grabbed his hand with surprising strength, squeezing for a moment before pulling away and tucking her fingers under her thighs."He was so much closer this time, and his face…" she sniffed deeply and shook her head briskly, letting out a sharp sigh, "He was so…angry. Usually, he has no expression at all - he just stares at me. But he, he was furious." She swallowed and closed her eyes momentarily, reaching up to push her glasses back into place with two fingers. Shelley listened carefully, watching her face. She seemed to believe what she was saying, and he gave a slow nod."You said you've been seeing him for a year and five days exactly; what triggered this?" He asked, and she swallowed before letting out a breathless laugh."His death; I saw him in the mirror right after he died. He's been there ever since, in every single reflection." She swallowed again and smiled, the expression dark and humorless."Every single one. I couldn't sit by the window on the plane because he was frowning at me - just knowing that every time I looked to the right, I'd see him, I-" she squeezed her eyes shut. Shelley gently placed a hand on her shoulder."Hey, hey, it's okay," he said softly, "I believe you." And he did, too. What Katherine saw was real to her, and that was enough for him. She wiped at her eyes again and smiled, sniffing."Thanks, I…it feels really good to get that off my shoulders. I haven't told anyone, not even my dad." She confessed. Shelley pinched his fingers and ran them across his mouth as if he were zipping them shut."My lips are sealed, and listen -" he smiled, gently tapping his fist against her shoulder, "you don't have to be afraid to show how you're feeling; there's nothing wrong with having emotions." It sounded cheesy, but Shelley meant it. She looked at him briefly as if he were mocking her, but she sighed when he didn't laugh or follow up with a dismissive comment."Thanks, Dr. Shelley. I don't have insurance. Do you offer a sliding scale?" she asked dryly, but the smile on her face was genuine.Shelley laughed and stood up, looking down at the glass on the floor."You're welcome, and you'll have to talk to my secretary," he said, looking around the kitchen for a broom. He spotted one tucked next to the fridge and stepped over to grab it. Ignoring her protests, he began to clean up. "Watch your feet," he said, carefully sweeping the glass into a pile and scooping it into the trash, which he found after Katherine pointed it out under the sink. The water was wiped up, and soon they were sitting at the table, a fresh glass in front of Shelley. Katherine had remained quiet while they'd cleaned, and it wasn't until Shelley was taking a drink that she spoke."Probably not how you thought you were gonna spend your day," she said ruefully, "But thanks for the rescue. And for listening." Her tone softened, and a little smile curled her lips. "I appreciate it."Shelley set his glass down and rested one elbow on the table. "You know what's funny? I was literally about to call you when you called me," he said, and Katherine raised her eyebrows in an 'uh huh, sure' expression. "No, no, honestly, I just got off the phone with my mom and was going to call you next."Katherine squinted at him exaggeratedly and then grinned. "Glad I made such an impression, although I hope I didn't interrupt anything important.""Nah, I'm mostly unpacked, and work doesn't start until Monday, so I'm a free agent."Katherine smiled and fluttered her eyelashes beguilingly. "Could I possibly convince you to help me move that cursed desk upstairs then?" She asked and quickly added, "If it's not too much trouble."The eyelash thing was silly, but it made his heart jump, and the little devil in his head poked at him again, urging him to flirt, to make some comment about her eyes. Instead, he bit his tongue and nodded. He didn't want to ruin a potential friendship, and besides, what would she see in him? And what about Kieran? Sure, he and the music producer had never put a label on their 'thing,' but it had been going on for seven years now, and that meant something to Shelley. Katherine smiled and pushed her chair back, getting to her feet."Well, that would be fantastic - I can move the chairs and everything else myself, that damn desk is just harder to get upstairs than I expected."In the end, Shelley helped Katherine move everything upstairs. She had a second bedroom that she was converting into an office, and by the time they had finished setting up her computer and tablet, it was nearly dinner time. Shelley pulled himself out from under the desk where he had been connecting cables and grunted as his back cracked."Alright, that should be it." He said, pleased with their progress. Katherine looked around and beamed, putting her hands on her hips before turning her attention to him. That smile was like the sun coming from behind the clouds, and Shelley felt something twisting in his gut."Thank you, really," Katherine said, "Can I buy you dinner in return?" She asked, a hopeful look in her eye. Shelley felt that jabbing again, the pitchfork of his figurative mental passenger stabbing into his frontal lobe. Do it, it was saying, take her up on it! She's cute and got a great ass - say yes and see where the night takes you. He wet his lips and then shook his head."That's very considerate, but I can't ask that," he said, and Katherine's smile faded slightly. "But thank you," he found himself saying, "Maybe another time?" He was allowed to make friends; he reminded himself."Yeah, sure, that would be great." She said, and Shelley smiled.After finalizing a few more things, Katherine thanked Shelley again for his help, and he left, waving over his shoulder before ducking into his car and shutting the door. He placed both hands on the steering wheel and momentarily stared at the garage door, holding his breath. Shelley let it out in one long exhale and then started the car. So the cute, funny woman he'd met also happened to be seeing things. Strange, but he'd been serious when he said he believed her. Something had clearly spooked her; why not her dead husband's face? He'd seen stranger things. Shelley backed out of the driveway and turned the wheel, starting the drive back to his apartment. He glanced down at his hands as he drove, at the scars on his knuckles and slightly crooked fingers. A cold sensation washed over him, tugging at him from his left, and Shelley looked over to see a dead squirrel on the side of the road. He could feel the thin line of metaphysical energy disintegrating; the creature must have been hit a few minutes ago.Even as a small boy, Shelley had known about Death. He'd felt it everywhere, especially at home. Its cold presence had never upset him, never made him cry. He hadn't even known it was unusual until he mentioned to his parents at eight that he felt it when something died. His mother - Sheryl - had paused in doing their taxes and looked over the dark wooden tabletop at him. "What do you mean, Ori?" Only his mother called him by any variation of his first name; his father just called him 'son.' Her green eyes had been slightly perturbed but gentle. Shelley had stirred his bowl of Spaghetti o's and gave a little shrug."Like, when we found that raccoon - I felt it die. That's how I knew it was in the trash can." He said, his voice as quiet as ever. His mother had set her pen down and crossed her hands on the table. "Well...that's rather unusual." She'd said calmly, "What does it feel like?" Shelley had shrugged again. "Cold. But not scary cold, it's...comfortable, like falling asleep when you forget to pull a blanket over you." He'd explained. That wasn't quite it, but he couldn't think of a better way to describe the sensation he felt wash over him when something died nearby. His mother nodded slowly as if he was telling her about a science project in school."Well...that's something extraordinary, Ori; how long have you been feeling this?" Shelley had thought about it for a while before answering, taking a bite of his dinner. "For as long as I can remember." He finally said. His mother had raised her eyebrows but said nothing more and stood up to kiss him on the head before returning to her taxes. That was how his parents handled everything. Calm discussion, a gesture of affection, then they moved on. He admired that attitude to this day, as he had a bit of a temper, which made itself apparent as some idiot swerved in front of him, knocking Shelley from his thoughts. He slammed his palm against the steering wheel, the horn blaring."Watch where you're going, asshole!" Shelley snapped as the car zoomed away. "Fuckin' idiot," he muttered, reaching for his phone and connecting the Bluetooth to the radio. Flicking his thumb across the screen, Shelley opened his music app and selected his favorite band. Metal began to play, the heavy guitar riffs blasting through the speakers as he cranked up the volume. The noise helped settle his thoughts, which were whirling around and around in his head like a dervish. He could already tell that Katherine was somebody special, someone he wanted to get closer to. But should he? What about Kieran? Sure, he was an adult; he could just be friends with a pretty person and be done with it. Right? He inhaled deeply through his nose, holding his breath for a count of eight before letting it out his mouth for the same amount of time. Square breathing, something his therapist had taught him to help calm him down. It helped, and he'd relaxed significantly by the time he'd returned to his apartment. Shelley parked neatly and got out of the car, taking another deep breath before finding his key and opening the door to the foyer. He still had those boxes to unpack.