As I sat in dead Aunt Rosie’s parlor and waited for the coroner to show up, I glanced around the well-lived-in room. My eyes fell upon a sign I’d never seen. ‘In our family, we don’t hide crazy… we give it a cocktail and sit it on the porch.’ I chuckled despite the circumstances. This ...

If my life was hectic before Aunt Rosie’s demise, the last couple of weeks of planning a large, dysfunctional family funeral tipped the scales. The word ‘fun’ in ‘funeral’ was anything but fun. Though Ralph and I had split up the duties of arrangements, I ended up doing everything. He claimed he was too distraught ...

“Apparitions don’t talk. They only give you hints and expect you to figure it out. My mother was famous for deciphering them, remember?” Ralph stated. “Do you have Aunt Rosie’s photo albums? I want to make a slideshow for the funeral service.” Maybe I could find her in one of these books? “She kept all ...

I forgave Ken for his insensitive remarks about my mental state. The way I felt was like I was losing my mind and it was real to me. I paused the search for the brunette woman. Funeral plans needed to be made. Rosie’s favorite minister was on hand, and he selected the verses he would ...

Ralph stood at the top of the staircase, with a sense of enthusiasm, holding his golf shoes and glove. “Weren’t you in the parlor a minute ago?” I glanced up at him. “What? No. I have a tee time at nine. After last night’s shenanigans, I’m running late. What did you want to talk about? ...

Liz’s words echoed as I drove home from Sea Island. What message could a spirit possibly have for me? All of this seemed so superficial. It’s not like I had any powers or connection to Dahlia or Clementine. Could I transfer this apparition to Liz? She’s the person with all the knowledge and power. Understanding ...

All twelve of us were seated by 9:00 p.m., and Roxanne explained what happens once a soul was summoned. Except for a few candles spread throughout the dining area, the room was dark. The tapestry window coverings were drawn closed against any reflection from the glass. At the center of the round table, Roxanne used ...

Upon hearing the blood-curdling scream, we all jumped out of our seats and ran for the staircase. I reached it first and took the stairs two at a time. My brief knock on the closed door where Liz was staying wouldn’t have been sufficient in any other circumstance, but this unique situation called for immediate ...

Gravity tugged at every fiber of my being. The black hole stretched me thin as I hurtled through the abyss. Colors swirled around me in a mesmerizing dance that blended and morphed into shapes beyond comprehension. I shielded my sight and tried to steady myself against the onslaught of sensations that threatened to overwhelm my ...

Exhausted after my harrowing experience, Ralph, though reluctant at first, cooperated with me. As I drove home to get some much-needed rest, my thoughts turned to Liz. My next step had to involve her. I wondered if she had ever been in the abyss. If she had, she said nothing. Her ordeal with the plate-eye ...