Silent Echo

“Good, brother. Good. You’re going to be all right.”

When I have calmed down enough, I press my lips into Numi’s ear, and whisper, “I’m sorry I was a jerk.”

“It’s okay, cowboy.”

I take in another lungful of air. “I love you, brother.”

Numi pauses before answering. “I know you do, Jimmy. I know you do.”

And the swirling lights stop swirling, and I hear a strange, strangling sound coming from my lungs, and the small figure made of light steps out of the corner of my bedroom, holding out his little hands, and smiling that familiar smile.…