Brian gave himself a mental shake and exhaled sharply.

-Whew! Gotta get yourself together, Brian. OK. OK. Everything is fine, it was just a dream, that woman doesn’t really know you. This is all a joke, just a prank. Everything has an explanation.

That was his father’s favorite phrase. Everything has an explanation, in the world beneath our feet, and in the one up above. His father was long-gone, having died five years ago, but now Brian could hear his words re-echoing in his head and it gave him some measure of comfort.

The only thing Brian couldn’t explain was how he’d been able to hear Madeline’s voice inside his mind. But he decided it was better not to think about it.

Having regained control over his nerves, Brian was able to focus on the work-day ahead of him. He had lunch with a client, and his mind only strayed back to Madeline once. It was when a small girl aged about four walked into the restaurant holding her mother’s hand, and her eyes were the same crystalline blue as Madeline’s eyes.