Last Sunset

“Stacey,” Phil said, actually calling her by name, “it is weird, but it’s true.  You need to confront the facts, or you won’t be able to move forward.”

She turned from the window.  “Who’s the therapist here?”  She suddenly grew upset and angry but maintained her calm.  “And why are we talking about my problems anyway?”

Phil seemed taken aback slightly but handled himself well.  “Don’t you realize, counselor,” he said, emphasizing his usual term of endearment, “that your problems are my problems?  That our problems are now tied together?  We wouldn’t even be talking about this if not for my enhanced sight.”

Stacey felt very overwhelmed and mad at the world.  “Our problems are tied together...are you going to have to kill me now?  Phil, do you hear how crazy all this sounds?”

Phil smiled humorlessly.  “It does sound crazy.  Why do you think I’m here in the first place?”

In spite of her emotions, Stacey realized that she was not—in the least—performing her job right now.  She was becoming hysterical and taking it out on her patient.  She needed to ground herself this instant.  She took a deep breath and lowered her voice.  “Phil, I’m sorry.”  Feeling exhausted, she slumped in the chair at her desk.  “I’m just having a very hard time accepting all this.”

He nodded, slowly walking over to the coffee pot.  “Yes.  What are the stages of dealing with death?  You go through things like denial, feelings of betrayal, anger, until you ultimately accept it.  Isn’t that right?”  Stacey nodded but said nothing.  “Of course, this situation is a little different.”  He poured the last of the coffee into his cup, turning the button to “off” after placing the carafe back

*****************

Stacey looked quizzically at Phil, waiting for an answer.  She glanced back to Billy who had no forthcoming answer either.  The two men continued to stare at each other, gridlocked.  “Would somebody mind explaining this to me?  What did you mean, Phil?”

“I said that I suspect he already knows what has happened to you.”

She looked at Billy.  Billy still had a wounded look on his face, but he also seemed very threatened by Phil.  He glimpsed back and forth between the two, his eyes seeming to plead with Stacey.  “But how could he know?  He...” her voice faded as the sudden realization of what Phil was saying hit her.  Phil was a very perceptive human being, she knew that much.  But there was only one thing he could mean by that.  She stared at Phil again, then back to Billy—sweet Billy, who kept imploring with his eyes, urging her to have faith in him.  Her eyes pulled away back to Phil again.  When Phil finally glanced at her, she started, “You mean he...”

Phil nodded.  “That’s what I mean.”

Her eyes met Billy’s again.  “Is it true?”

“Is what true?  What the hell is going on here?”