Page 202 - The Houseguest
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was not in her right mind after all she’d been through. She held the gun straight out in front of her, still shaking. “She will shoot you!” I continued to yell. They addressed her condescendingly, “Put the gun down, ma’am. Put the gun down.” She turned quickly to face them and seven officers drew their weapons. Though I was in pain, I was delighted at my brilliance. “Kill her!” I shouted. “Kill her!”
But she realized my deception quickly, and surrendered quietly, “Don’t shoot. I’m dropping the gun.” The officers rushed quickly to seize and handcuff her. They called an “ambo” for the multiple “GSW” victim, me. I had no intention of letting this play out, but I knew I need not take action, for I believed I was fatally wounded. I could taste the blood in my mouth, I could feel the life leaving my body. So, I waited. I waited for her. I called out through my pain, “Karina! Please! I need you now. Take me to the other side.”
Just then the familiar cloud appeared and formed in front of me. I threw a glance at Rachel to somehow verify my saneness. “You see her? You see her?” I asked her and others in the room. They all returned my inquiry with a sympathetic nod, as if to say he’s dying, humor him. “But she’s here! She is here to take me with her, to see my child again!” The ghostly figure knelt by my side while the flowing gown surrounded the floor around me. I felt an unfamiliar sensation this time, an uncomfortable awareness that something wasn’t good. She turned and I saw her beautiful face once more. She smiled down at me, placing her hand on my face, though I couldn’t feel her touch. She spoke with a combination of certainty and gentleness, “My love, you didn’t heed my
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The Houseguest by Linda Ellis www.LindaEllis.life