Chapter 15 - WHAT ETHAN REALLY HEARD
Ethan was waiting in my office when I got back.
He was sitting in his usual corner. Drawing. The same door.
"Hello, Dr. Chen."
"Hello, Ethan."
I sat down across from him. My body was tired. My mind was clear.
"You knew," I said. "All along. You knew what I'd forgotten."
He nodded.
"How?"
He set down his crayon. Looked at me.
"I didn't hear the man in the wall. I heard the people he put there."
"The people?"
"All of them. The ones Dr. Vale made everyone forget. They were calling out. But no one could hear them."
"And you could?"
He nodded.
"It was loud. So loud. I tried to tell my mom. I tried to tell my teacher. But they didn't understand."
"And me?"
He smiled. A sad smile.
"You were the loudest one of all. Because you were trying to remember yourself."
I sat there for a long time. The boy. The door. The walls.
"Ethan. What do you hear now?"
He closed his eyes. Listened.
"Nothing," he said. "They're quiet now."
"Why?"
May you like
He opened his eyes.
"Because someone finally heard them."
