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won’t cry out. Poca the Poltergeist is deliberately trying to scare me. I won’t let her win.
    â€œI won’t be ignored, Mala. I’ll suffocate you while you sleep. I’ll haunt your every moment until you beg for mercy if you don’t acknowledge me,” she whispers, squeezing my shoulders.
    A crackle of energy makes the hairs on the back of my neck rise. The spirit of Ms. Anne shoves forward, passing through my body from behind. She plants her hands on the girl’s chest and knocks her off me.
    I squeeze my eyes shut, shivering from the residual chill. Their energy sucks at mine. My thoughts go foggy…
    Focus…ten, nine, eight…
    A warm hand touches my bare arm, and I open my eyes. Dr. Rhys squats down in front of me, and I meet his concerned gaze. “It will be okay, Mala. Hang in there. I promise it’ll get better.”
    I try to swallow, but my mouth is dry. I nod, infusing fake confidence into the movement, but at the same time, my gaze darts around the room. Ms. Ann and Poca are gone.
    Why would the stupid poltergeist deliberately scare the snot out of me, then vanish without telling me what she wants? Unless Ms. Anne’s tougher than she looks and she scared her away. I shrug and swipe the tears from my cheeks. My heart and breathing slow. I wish I believed Dr. Rhys’ words. I keep waiting to get better. To be able to tell the difference between spirits and real live people, but even with medication, the ghosts keep popping into my life. This one is stronger than most of the recent spirits haunting me. Her strength to manipulate physical objects rivals Lainey’s. I sure as hell don’t want to go down that rabbit hole again. The last time I almost didn’t survive.
    My shoulders ache. If I show Dr. Rhys the burns on my skin, will he believe me? No. More likely he’ll think I injured myself. The only people who ever believed me about seeing ghosts are now ghosts themselves.
    I blink, my eyes focusing on the creases around his downturned mouth. Poor guy. “Don’t worry. I’m okay, Doc. Just overcome with how thankful I am to everyone for getting me through this time of mourning. I really appreciate everyone’s love and support.”
    The Bullshit-O-Meter detects rising levels.
    Dr. Rhys pulls on an invisible pair of knee-high boots, obviously not up to wading through my newest crisis so close to going off shift for the night. He releases my hands and rises. “Okay, ladies, you’re dismissed.”
    With a heavy sigh, I refer to the checklist I keep in my head. My last scheduled requirement—group. Done—check.
    *  *  *
    I’m curled up on the plastic sofa in the dayroom watching the five o’clock news when Kevin, followed by George, walks through the door. A rush of déjà vu hits. George looks the same as the last time he visited. Right down to the LSU T-shirt and jeans. I shoot a glare in Kevin’s direction, and he shrugs. The traitor! Why did he let George in? I spilled my guts to the orderly last night. He knows I don’t want anything to do with George “Cheating Asshole” Dubois.
    I clench my lips together, damning them for the residual tingle stirred by the memory of George’s kiss. He’d totally blown away my defenses. A couple of days ago, I thought I’d give the relationship a chance. That my life would be better with someone who wouldn’t betray me like Landry did.
    Boy, am I the worst judge of character.
    The hurt and confusion makes my heart ache. Worse, I want to do him bodily harm. Which would get me locked up in here for another month since I was committed for beating him up in the first place.
    After the first glance, I don’t look back in George’s direction. Maybe he’ll get the hint and get out of my face. He hovers over me for a long moment then flops down next to me on the sofa. I scoot to the far end, jabbing the volume button on the