Hallie had gone to bed hours ago. He had been beside her, watching her sleep for some time. On some level, he supposed, he had delayed taking action on this front. His purpose in being here had been clear to him for some time, although fully acknowledging it was another matter. He was to free Hallie from whatever this thing was that had insinuated itself into her life. But in doing so, he also knew that his reason for being here would no longer exist. Even contemplating not being with or just near Hallie left him with a sense of hopelessness that seemed intolerable. This ongoing struggle had only been exacerbated by a recent awareness. An anxiousness had set in, as though time were running out and an inevitability was becoming clear. A clock was ticking somewhere; there wasn’t any more room for his selfishness. It was far past time to put himself behind her needs. Aunt Marie stood in the shadows across the room, her expression grave. “I see you’ve gotten down to business.” “I need a few questions answered.”
