I’m still feeling agitated when I tramp into the lab on Monday morning. I’d woken up to find the picture of Nick and Taryn on my pillow. Nick’s face was circled and crossed with heavy red ink —  X marks the spot.

Why would Nick’s image be marked this way? Did he have something that belonged to Taryn? Did she want me to give him a message? The questions flooded my mind. No amount of shaking my head or closing my eyes could erase the vision of that X over Nick’s face.

“You’re looking lovely,” Graham says, spinning around on his swivel chair. “Laundry day?”

I must look a hot mess. He never comments on my appearance.

“Hey, Graham. Sup?” I greet, my mind a whirlpool of thoughts and emotions.

“Graham, call the Ghostbusters. Someone’s abducted the real Claire.”

His laid-back voice when he tries to be funny would usually have me in stitches. But today I can barely crack a smile, and he notices.

“Did you sleep at all last night, Claire?” he asks, sounding almost concerned.

“I slept enough.”

“Why are you being economical with the truth?” he asks, as though he’s seeing right through me.

“It’s been a bit of a strange weekend.”

“Want to share?” he asks.

His question surprises the tiredness out of me. He’s a good guy, but he doesn’t understand emotions.

“You wouldn’t believe me, G — you’re the ultimate sceptic,” I say, hoping to put him off.

But, before he can respond, I’m blurting out everything that’s been happening. Everything just comes tumbling out of me.

He listens until I stop talking.

I’m looking at him wide-eyed, waiting, hoping, praying he doesn’t think I’ve lost my marbles.

“Have you considered the possibility that it’s your distraught mind making you see things that aren’t there?” he asks, in an infuriatingly calm voice.

“I knew it!” I jump up and start pacing wildly up and down. “I knew you wouldn’t believe me. Why did I even bother telling you?”

“Because you needed someone to talk to,” he answers.

“That was a rhetorical question!”

“I know. But you still needed someone to talk to.”

“G.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Come and have supper at my place tonight. I need you to believe that I’m not stark raving mad.”

“Uh-huh.”

***

Tell us what you think: Do you believe Graham is being too hard on Claire, making her think she is mad?