Free Through His Eyes: An Institute Series Novella (The Institute Series Book 4) by Kayla Howarth

knows. Maybe not on a conscious level, but she’s still connected to you. Same with your little boy. I’m guessing she’s having trouble moving on?”
    “That’s a bit of an understatement.”
    “It’s because you’re not letting her. You’re the one holding her back.”
    “So I’m just meant to leave her? I was ready to do that the day I died, but I still got put here – wherever this is – anyway.”
    “You may have thought you were ready, but you didn’t know about the kid then. You have to choose to leave them both. It’s that easy.”
    “And that hard,” I mumbled.
    The door behind us flew open, and a guy with ash blond hair came charging in, carrying a girl in his arms.
    I recognised him immediately. He was the no-goal-manwhore who I witnessed having a fight with his sister.
    Allira stared at them wide-eyed, taken aback by the girl in his arms. She’d been beaten pretty badly.
    “See that guy,” Hayden said, pointing.
    “Uh-huh,” I dragged out the word.
    “You see how Allira’s staring at him?”
    “Like she stares at everyone else?”
    Hayden shook his head. “I hate to be the one to tell you this, bro, but he’s the one she was always going to end up with. Whether you lived or died.”
    My brow furrowed. “She wouldn’t have left me. We have a kid together.”
    “Like that stops anyone?” He raised an eyebrow, but sighed when he saw the hurt in my eyes. “Okay, I was trying to sugar coat it for you. But here’s the thing, you were never going to live. Whether it was getting shot during the takeover or in a car accident a few months later, you were never meant to live.”
    My mouth flew open to object to his words, but I couldn’t. I was already dead, I couldn’t argue that point.
    “Hard to hear, I know. But if you don’t release your hold on her, and soon, she might miss her chance with the one guy who can bring her back from the lost place she’s living in right now.”
    “And that’s how it all ends? I’m just meant to … let her go like she meant nothing to me? How does anyone do that?”
    “When you realise that being here isn’t worth their pain and suffering. My brother’s future is unsure now, because I was like you. I refused to let him go. I didn’t want to miss out on him growing up, and now …”
    “I’m sure Bray will be fine. Just like Allira. I’m not going to leave her or my son.”
    “Grief is like cancer, a big mass of ugly that can kill you when you least expect it. If she never moves on, she’ll never lead a normal life. What has she done in the last year and a half that doesn’t seem like her?”
    I scoffed and mumbled, “Everything.”
    “She’s going to lose herself if you don’t let her go.”
    “I’ll take the risk.”
    “You always were a stubborn arse.” With that, Hayden disappeared, blinking to wherever the hell it was he came from.
    He had to be wrong. She was doing better. I’d been with Allira and William for this long. There had to be a bigger reason for me being stuck here.

STU CK
    “Why am I here again?” I yelled at whoever was listening as I blinked back into Jayce and Jenna’s apartment. “I should be with Allira!” I was hoping Hayden – or whoever had sent Hayden to me – could hear me. Usually the mere thought of Allira or William would cause me to blink where they were, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t leave the tiny apartment. And I had no doubt some stupid higher power was at play. Even in death, I had no control over my life. That’s a bit of an oxymoron.
    Jayce entered the apartment looking tired and weary after spending the night at the clinic waiting for his neighbour … and hitting on Allira. That was not fun to watch. It was fun to watch her say no, though. I couldn’t help grinning.
    “Where the hell have you been?” Jenna asked, storming out of her room like she was a parent catching a child sneaking back in from being out too late. “Thought you said you weren’t a