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#ABPOS The Thinner Soul, Chp. 22
Jeff- It hit me while I was mulling over some art, and considering another reading. It wasn't that we didn't share everything. It was the irreverence of the moment. Asking the questions I was asking, felt like plotting to rob a bank. It also reminded me of being an orphan, and I preferred the poise of my current persona. It was a thought that had been walking with me quietly for a number of years however. Though, none of the other times I'd considered looking at my connection to the Dunbar name and possible estate had brought me this far.
I sat on the edge of the bed prolonging my routine. It was definitely an end of the day type of conversation. I knew it was bigger than lunch. It had the feeling of a Sunday morning kind of dialogue, but I squeezed it into the middle of the week. I knew where she was in her process, and I was hoping that my tone wouldn't suggest that I'd been meditating on coming clean all day.
She looked divine and brought a sense of peace into the room with her. It wasn't her glow but her smile that told me I wasn't in trouble, and that everything was just the way we'd planned on it. Likewise, it was the shade of pink she wore on her nails that said sweetheart more than wife. It was a subtle, dreamy backdrop to our friendship and our love that I always paid attention to.
Her approach came in a strait line, and I was happy. I held her close and kissed her lips slowly and tenderly the way I'd made her accustomed to. She pressed her nose against my nose for a few moments, and then left me with a quick peck on the lips.
"So, what is?" She climbed into bed.
"It's the Dunbar name. I'm thinking... I wanna know more. I want to understand where I fit into this."
"You mean the size of it?" She targeted and landed spot on.
"I saw a palm reader. Well I assumed she was, but she never actually read my palm. Hippie type at an art gallery I stumbled upon."
"I see. So what did she say? Anything worth following?"
"Nothing. Just a lot of symbolism and metaphors."
"And you pay her?"
"I did."
"I guess she got you." I turned my lamp out, and we slid closer to each other and further onto the same page. I had only poked around, and followed a few leads I had in mind, but none of them had led to a solid opening. I didn't know what if anything Ketly would bring to the thought, but it was all on the table, and we were a definite team again.
We laid quietly for a long while until I didn't know if she was still awake, until I heard the words..
"If you're seriously looking for answers, we should head back home."
#ABPOS The Thinner Soul, Chp. 23
Reece- I wasn't officially crashing her cover shoot. It was two parts blood, and one part water that had brought me. She was Radiant, and she'd invited some lucky fans to a behind-the-scenes pass. Naturally, it had trended, and I had much cause to be there. We'd spoken, and she knew I needed to speak to her about Eaton. I hadn't said much else. I was ever-present for the comeback shenanigans, but I was no patient fan. I needed to know what she knew if anything about Eaton's whereabouts, and it made me slightly sharper than usual.
I was only there about ten minutes before she claimed her spot next to me to give an ear on the day's biggest obstacles. There weren't many, but I knew how to fan the flame. After all, she was seasoned as an artist. Still, I was fairly impressed.
By the time it was all over, I was the one making my way thru the wreckage.
"I'll be back in five." She yelled over her shoulder as she walked on ahead of me.
"So when's the last time you seen him?"
"It's been quite a while. Years."
"It's this dream I had. I know he's in trouble."
"Why not hire someone or go to the police?" I heard her words and wondered if what I felt warranted a stronger gesture.
"So, no calls.. No pop up visits... Nothing?"
"Nothing. Except.."
"Except what Radiance?"
"He's been speaking to me. I can hear his voice. I swear. He even asked me to wait for him-- you know.. call off the wedding."
"What did you say?" I felt myself tune in, and her walls began to fade away. I saw the relief in her eyes, and I knew that I had been the first person to know.
"I said yes. When I thought it meant he would return, but nothing. No ring. No surprise visit. All he's said is, 'It's complicated.'"
"So, now what?" I asked aloud, but was really asking the question of myself. If I was in a movie, I would get a sketch artist to sketch a picture of the man I recalled vividly from my dream. Then surely I would take it to a precinct or an investigator. But this was no movie. I needed to decide if a dream was a valid prompt. What Radiance had described did feel like a movie however, and I suddenly felt empowered to take her advice.
A Better Pair of Shoes “The Thinner Soul”, a novel
Copyright 2025 by Natisha Renee Williams and Grace Call Communications
Also Known As… #ABPOS The Thinner Soul
All Rights Reserved
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Written permission must be secured from the author Natisha R. Williams and/or Grace Call Communications to use or reproduce any part of this book, except for brief quotation in critical reviews or articles.
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