Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions (Wicked Lovely 5.50)

but she lingers by the front door,

checks that it’s unlocked.

“He won’t hurt you,” I tell her.

“I know,” she whispers.

“But after that Cindy girl died

at spring break,

my parents gave me the Talk.

They said,

‘Just because you graduated a year early

doesn’t mean you can’t be stupid.’”

We go to join Mickey,

passing the open door

of Siobhan’s room

and the closed door

where my younger brother Dylan and I

used to stay.

I’ve been there a hundred times

since I died.

Mickey stands before his bed,

his suitcase open.

“My sister’ll kill me if I steal one of her shirts,

so take this.

Keep it.”

She unfolds the army-green T-shirt,

and the light spilling from the hall

reveals the skull-and-shamrock logo

of the Keeley Brothers.

I blink hard,

memories bathing my brain

like acid.