Page 55 of The Last Session

It had to have been my imagination, primed by theStargirl-like nightmare. I remembered now that I’d had nightmares after the movie too. Catherine’s death scene in the desert had been a whole montage, ending with a long shot of her corpse. I couldn’t remember if the dreams had included another person—presumably Catherine?—beside me.

In any case, I needed to focus. My throat felt like sandpaper from the dry desert air, and my water bottle was empty. My phone’s battery was also almost out; there had to be outlets in the castle. I dressed quickly and stepped outside.

It was still chilly, but the ascending sun warmed my shoulders, shining out of another unbroken cerulean sky. The bathroom was empty, though showers rushed in the room beyond. I brushed my teeth, hoping I wouldn’t come face-to-face with any cheerful, naked attendees first thing in the morning. I myself would wait until an off-peak time to shower.

On the way to the dining room I waved at Dawne and Karen, sipping from stoneware mugs on the veranda. Inside, a simple but hearty buffet awaited: cinnamon-flecked oatmeal, hard-boiled eggs, warm stacks of toast, salted butter, homemade jams, local honey. I filled up a plate and poured a huge mug of coffee, then headed back outside.

“You ladies ready to get started?” Karen smiled as I took a seat.

“Absolutely.” Dawne tipped her face to the sun. She wore pleather leggings and another pair of towering heeled boots.

“Totally.” I swallowed a bite of toast. “How do you think the ‘sessions’ will go?”

“No clue.” Karen shrugged. “This is my first time at this type of thing.”

“I’m sure we’ll start slow,” Dawne said. “That’s how it usually works. Maybe some morning vinyasa to wake us up and get us in our bodies?”

Steven, in the same worn baseball cap, zoomed past us with a cardboard box.

“Hi, Steven!” Dawne cried.

He barely dipped his chin as he passed.

“Not the friendliest, huh?” Karen mused.

“I think he’s cute.” Dawne smirked. “And based on dinner, an amazing chef.”

“He made dinner?” I asked.

“That’s what Grace told me. Apparently, he lived in India for a few years and knows how to make everything from scratch.” She twirled a lock of hair. “I’d love to meet a man who can cook.”

I approached the yoga tent with dread curdling in my gut. A memory flashed: sitting in the car as Dad drove us to church feeling this same apprehension. Knowing I’d have to watch Pastor John give the sermon and then shake his hand on the way out of the sanctuary. Knowing he’d stare past my shoulder, smile through me like I was a ghost.

Inside, it smelled like sage. Grace was setting out a half circle of cushions while Moon bent over a plate, blowing on the smoke coming from the dried leaves. Sol sat with his eyes closed in meditation.

“Hi!” Grace whispered. She wore a vintage sandwich shop T-shirt and her tangerine hair was gathered into two braids. She gestured to the cushions, and I sat and waited as the others filed in. Dawne’s laugh rang out, causing Moon to flinch.

“Quiet, everyone!” Grace called softly.

Jonah nodded hello as he sat on my right side. What was that woodsy scent he wore? Or was it just him? I breathed it in hungrily. Mikki plopped on my other side, looking grim.

Moon walked around the circle, flapping the smoke towards us with a feather. I knew from my yoga days that sage was supposed to cleanse. My chest constricted. What was going to happen? My only hope was to fly under the radar as long as humanly possible.

Sol opened his eyes and smiled. “Good morning, everyone.”

“Good morning,” we echoed.

Moon settled next to him. “How’d everyone sleep?”

“Great,” Dawne called out.

“Good. Any dreams?” Sol scanned the room. His eyes stopped on me. I looked down.

“Not yet, huh? That’s okay. We’ve got one more night.” He got to his feet. “We have a lot of work to do today, friends. The plan is tohave four sessions with a lunch break in the middle. Sound good?” Sol clapped his hands together. “So with that said, who’d like to go first?”

No sound, no movement; we all sat there frozen.

He chuckled. “Go first and do what?I can hear you asking. You’ll see. This is your opportunity to be courageous.”

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