• “A secret is just what the name suggests. When a human has a secret that’s too big for their minute brain to handle, that secret becomes tangible. A living Secret has to stay with the holder until one of two things happen; either the holder dies, or the Secret is revealed. After the holder dies, or the secret is revealed in a way that does not negatively affect the holder, the Secret changes form and moves on to be someone else’s Secret. However, if the secret is revealed in a way that harms the holder that Secret dies, and the corpse is stowed in a closet. Hence the term: ‘skeletons in your closet’.”

    I nodded. In some convoluted way that actually made sense.

    “If other people can see you, then why aren’t Secrets automatically revealed?”

    Forever the skeptic, and yet, somehow, I completely believed every word.

    “Normally, Secrets aren’t allowed to be seen without their holder’s permission,” James admitted, “but I needed some way to get into your house without causing trouble with the law.”

    Talk about being too honest. Was this supposed to make me feel better?

    “Secrets are a very open breed,” James defended.

    Oh great, mind reading. Just another reason to hate the guy I had to spend the rest of my dull life with.

    “Butt out of my thoughts,” I grumbled crossly.

    “Can’t, you have an ear leech.”

    “A what?!” I demanded.

    James stood up and made his way towards me. His worn black sneakers squeaked on the loose floorboards.

    “An ear leech.”

    Gently, he placed a warm hand over both of my ears.

    “Close your eyes.”

    “Why?” I asked nervously, half tempted to swat him away.

    “Just trust me,” James said softly.

    “No!”

    “Reinette, please. You’re going to have to trust me sooner or later, and I’d much rather the first
    choice.”

    I hate to admit it, but he was right.

    “Fine.”

    Cautiously, I shut my eyes.

    “Thank you.”

    Instantly, I felt something tugging at my eardrum. At first it didn’t hurt, but it was past uncomfortable, then the pulling increased, almost into tearing. A harsh screaming rung in my head.

    Then it stopped, as suddenly as it had started.

    I opened my eyes; a fuzzy outline of James wavered before me.

    “You all right?” he asked, concern edging his young voice.

    At least, I think it was him. I couldn’t make out whether his lips were moving or not.

    “I hate you,” I mumbled as everything faded to black.
    ---

    When you wish for something hard enough you can make it come true. Or at least you can make yourself believe it’s true. The mind is funny like that; the easiest person to fool is none other than you yourself.

    When I woke up an hour later I was laying comfortably in my bed. My beige curtains hung neatly on my chocolate brown wall, and my picture window was still locked and secure. Oh this was too easy.

    Rubbing my watery grey-blue eyes I threw off my cream flannel sheets and hopped down to the cold wooden floor. I really should put down a rug.

    A piece of office paper sat folded on my mahogany side table. Not that strange, right?

    Hesitantly, I unfolded the notary and lifted it up to eye level.

    Need cursive lined the page.

    “My little queen-
    Trouble with leeches. Returned to HQ. Back tomorrow.
    xo,
    James.”

    I slipped the note into my denim pocket.

    I’ve never had trouble deciding emotions, mainly because I wasn’t a very emotional person. But right now I really didn’t know whether I was upset or relieved.

    Still contemplating my feelings on the matter, I made my way out of my room and down the thirteen stairs to the kitchen.

    Mom still sat at our round dinner table. A pizza delivery box sat in the center; apparently re-heated Hot Pockets didn’t taste very good.

    “Hey,” I nodded the greeting and pulled up a walnut chair.

    Mom looked down and her hands.

    “I’m sorry Reinette.”

    I gave her a light smile and got up to give her a hug.


    I’ve never really liked hugs; human contact just seemed like a good way to spread germs. Still, I loved my mother and didn’t like seeing her upset. And hey, if disease made her feel better, who was I to argue.

    “Why don’t you invite James down for dinner?” Mom asked after I’d finished my awkward embrace.

    “Oh… um, James had to go; his parents wanted him home for dinner.”

    Did Secrets even have parents?

    Dinner was fast, and fairly quiet. I escaped the “how was your day?” speech, but Mom did want to know more about James. I made up a bunch of boring junk about how he was in most of my classes, and how he was my best friend’s boyfriend. Mom soon lost interest and left me alone .

    As I reached over to shut of my off-white lamp before going to bed that night I couldn’t help but reviewing the day’s events. I still couldn’t come to terms on how I felt about James. I didn’t hate him like most of the people I’d met, but I didn’t love him either. It was like… I just didn’t care.