“Any ideas what you’ll do once you’re released, McKenna?”

She was sitting in the chair across from Dr. Olsen’s desk. The session this time proved uneventful. Her memories went no farther than the blue eyes and flaxen hair. And the angry voices.

“Ideas?” she echoed. “Oh God, no. I don’t have any ideas. I won’t be eighteen for another six months. If I’m released before then, I’ll have to go home. I don’t want to go home. I don’t want to see my parents. They’ll just tell me more of their lies.” She shrugged. “What I really want to do is go back to the cabin and find Dane.”

 “That wouldn’t be a wise decision.”

“I guess not,” she said. Over the past four months, she grew to accept the situation. She wasn’t happy with it, and she cried for Dane every night for the longest time. But lately, her tears had stopped, but not because she didn’t love him anymore. “What else could I do?”

Dr. Olsen sat up straighter in his chair. “We still have some work to do on your memory, so you’ll be here a bit longer. I’ve been doing some thinking, and I checked into a few things that might help you. I have an idea if you're open to it.”

“I’m open to just about anything these days."

“How about getting a job?”

She scoffed. “Sure. How can I get a job when I’m stuck here?”

“I’ve been doing some thinking about your situation. I agree with you that going back to your parents is not a good idea, especially considering the things that might have happened to you there. I still have hopes that you’ll eventually remember everything about the boating accident.”

McKenna said nothing and waited for him to go on.

“I want to make you an offer.”

She narrowed her eyes. “What kind of offer?”

“I think you would be good at working with people like yourself.”

“But how can I do that? I’m not a doctor,” she said. “What kind of help would I be?”

“No, you’re not a doctor. But you’ve learned so much about your own condition, I wanted to offer you a position here at the institute working with others like yourself. Obviously, you won’t be able to give medical advice, but you can listen and share your own experiences. You know for a fact that sometimes, just a friendly ear helps.”

She nodded.

“You come a long way these past four months, McKenna. Other than the one memory we can’t seem to get past, you’ve accepted your ability and now you’re willing to understand it. You know how tragic it is to find out you have paranormal abilities.”

“I do.”

“Let me explain this a bit better. The institute is always looking for counselors to help. Unfortunately, in this area, there isn’t much call for them. However, there have been times when a parent will bring their child in from another county or city. Sometimes, from another state. We seem to have more room here than in the larger cities.’

“This means we have more patients than counselors. That’s when we’re stretched too thin. I think a counselor with your experience would be a great asset.

“But what about training?”

“You can start any schooling you need while you are a patient. It will be good for you, and it will occupy your time while you’re learning. What do you think?”

McKenna hesitated, then she said, “I have one condition.”

Dr. Olsen smiled knowingly. “And what would that condition be?”

“I want to go back to Mosquito Lake.”

***

The campgrounds were empty, the lake quiet. An eerie foreboding surrounded the place. McKenna was used to lots of people and noise, campfires, and the smell of food cooking. Since it was mid-week, there was no one around. Since it was almost September, the lake would soon be deserted for winter.

She followed the path from the grounds into the woods. She didn't know where she would find Dane, and her heart throbbed almost painfully in her chest. Even with a flashlight, the woods were more menacing, and she tripped several times over small rocks and tree roots.

Several times she called out his name. Her voice echoed in the darkness. The panic set in, and her tears were flowing freely by the time she found the cabin. It was surrounded by darkness.

"Dane!" she cried out. "Where are you, Dane!"

She didn't receive an answer and sat down on the stoop at the front door. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed harder.

"Dane," she whispered. "I thought you would be here. I need you so bad. Please, please come back to me."

Strong hands gripped her shoulders, and his voice whispered in her ear. "I'm here."

"Oh Dane!" she cried and turned in his arms, her eyes searching his. She ran a hand through the flaxen hair and touched his face. "You are here! I thought I’d never see you again! It’s been so long. I was trapped and couldn’t get here to you. I didn’t know if you would still be here, waiting for me. Oh Dane, I’ve missed you so much. I didn’t know if I would find you!" McKenna buried her face against his shirt and sobbed openly.

“I’ll always be here for you,” he said. He drew his arms tighter around her.

“But it’s been so long!” she wailed. “My parents sent the men and they stuck me with a needle. It put me to sleep and they took me to an institution where I couldn’t see anyone, not even my friends.”

"McKenna, be still. You're so upset I'm having a hard time understanding what happened. Who locked you up?”

"My parents did it. They found me here. I didn't know where you were. They found me in the cabin. Dane, I couldn't find you! I was so scared. I’m so sorry I let them take me away."

"Don't be. Don't ever be sorry. Just help me to understand what happened."

He listened without hindering her. Once she finished, he rubbed his chin with his hand. “Is that why your friend was here?  She was looking for me?”

The color drained from her face. “You saw her? Why didn’t you talk to her? She was supposed to tell you what happened to me, Dane!”

Evading her question, Dane asked, "Why did you try to drown again?”

She felt suddenly ashamed. It was a stupid and selfish thing to do, and she told him so now. "It will never happen again," she promised. "Pinky swear," she held up her little finger.

He studied it without recognition.

Laughing, she took his pinky finger and wrapped it around hers.

"What does that do?" he asked.

"Now you say pinky swear. It means you absolutely cannot break that promise."

"And what happens if you do?"

"You'll go to hell."

"What?" His eyes widened and his jaw dropped.

McKenna laughed; her spirits buoyed. "I'm teasing. But it’s like taking an oath."

"Ah, I get it." He closed his finger tighter around hers, and she felt the tingle run through her hand and up her arm. "Pinky swear," he grinned.

"Dane," she whispered. "I love you."

He buried his face in her hair and inhaled deeply. "You're my life, McKenna."

He rose with his arms around her and led her inside the cabin. Like before, he lit the oil lamps and started a fire with the burned logs already there. In the light of the fire, he ran his hands through her hair and brought his lips to hers. She eagerly returned his kisses.

Like before, they came together on the rug that lay before the fireplace. Afterward, McKenna cried from release on his shoulder.

"I love you," she said over and over again. "I love you. I love you. I love you."

***

McKenna glanced at her watch. It was growing late. She’d promised Dr. Olsen to keep an eye on the time and be back at the front entrance by eleven o’clock.

“Dane.” She kissed his earlobe. “I have to go soon.”

“Oh, no, McKenna,” he whispered. “You can’t leave.”

“I promised the doctor. And he promised to let me come back.”

Dane sat up and faced her in the shadows of the fire. “You can come back?”

“Yes, I can,” she said excitedly. “I promised him that I would keep doing the sessions and start my studies so that I can work there. That’s how I got to come here tonight.”

“You did a pinky swear?”

She laughed. “Something like that.”

“That’s wonderful, McKenna! When will I be able to see you next?”

“Well, I don’t know,” she watched his face fall. “but I’m sure it will be a lot sooner than four months.”

Dane pulled her to him and squeezed her against him. “I love you, McKenna,” he whispered fiercely. “We can’t let anything come between us again.”

“I can promise you that.”

He held up his little finger. She laughed and wrapped hers around it. “Pinky swear,” they whispered at the same time. Then they fell back to the floor laughing.

“I haven’t been this happy in so long, Dane. I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you, too, McKenna. I hope you can come back soon.”

“Do you live close by? Is that why you’re always here?” she asked suddenly.

Dane nodded. “Yes, not far from here. Promise me something, McKenna?”

“Anything,” she said.

“Promise me that you’ll never try to drown yourself again? I can’t ---I just can’t---”

She put a hand on his chest. “I promise Dane. Never again.”

“Thank you,” he sighed, running a finger down the bridge of her nose and gently touching her lips. “I can’t lose you. I just found you.”

“Then you have to promise that you’ll never leave me.”

Dane smiled. “That’s an easy one. I promise to never, ever, ever leave you. How’s that?”

“That’s fine,” she said. “As long as you mean it.”

“I mean it.”

“I believe you do.” She let herself relax in his arms.

For the first time since meeting Dane, McKenna wasn’t afraid. Her parents couldn’t stop her anymore. They couldn’t hurt her anymore. The institute that she wanted so badly to leave was now her protector. And the doctor that she used to fear was now her savior.

She kissed him. “I love you, Dane,” she whispered.

“I love you, too, McKenna,” he said as he kissed her back, and lay her down on the carpet one more time.

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