Free Of Delicate Pieces by A. Lynden Rolland

secret to equal mine.”
    “I’d be offended by your lack of trust, but I know this will be worth your secret, so fine, I’ll go first.” Alex felt a knot forming in her mind, thoughts weaving under and over, through themselves, tightening in apprehension. “Chase and I can speak to each other in our minds.”
    “Like how?”
    Alex threw her hands in the air. “I don’t know how. We just can.”
    “When you’re in the same room?”
    “No. He could be across campus, and I can hear him. I can even see what he’s seeing if I want to.”
    “I’ve never heard of that.”
    “No kidding. Why do you think we kept it a secret?”
    Skye still didn’t face Alex but reached out to peel some of the bark from the tree beside her. “You know, that explains some things, like why you guys sit and stare at each other, looking like you’re in mid conversation.”
    Alex followed Skye’s lead and picked at the tree. She hadn’t realized she and Chase were so obvious. “Don’t tell anyone, okay?”
    “Agreed.”
    “Oh, this is silly, Skye. Turn around and look at me.”
    Skye twisted with a pout on her face. “My secret has to do with pictures. They haunt me.”
    “Pictures?”
    “In my mind.”
    Alex leaned against the tree and crossed her arms. She didn’t think this was worth spilling her guts. “Aren’t we all haunted by snapshots when our minds remember things?”
    “I don’t see only the things my own thoughts have filed away. I see the things that objects have saved in their memories. See, you can rest against a tree and be at peace. When I touch something, usually whatever it is, the thing decides to speak to me.”
    Alex watched as Skye crouched down and stroked the petals of a bright red flower. “A gray fox passed by here not too long ago. No more than a few minutes because it’s the first thing the flower decided to show me.”
    “The flower?”
    Skye nodded. “Some things are too proud, but most are more than willing. In class, I’ll sit in a chair and see the person who sat there before me, or I’ll see the teacher or the lesson. I get a lot of answers right that way. If I try hard enough, I can shuffle through several memories, but it’s tiring. Trees are the most willing to share. I think they get annoyed about not having an opinion. I couldn’t do this during life though,” she added. She lifted her palms up in defense. “I wasn’t gifted.”
    “Have you talked to Duvall about this?”
    “No. Considering the questions she asks me and the tasks she gives me, she knows though.”
    Duvall always preached that everything had an energy and life of its own. Skye’s talent went hand in hand with such an idea.
    “Does anyone else know?”
    “Only you.”
    Something settled between them, clicking like a key in a lock. “Secret’s safe with me.”
    “Likewise.”
    They stood regarding each other for several slow moments, and Alex enjoyed the feeling of solidarity.
    “So trees speak the most, huh?”
    Skye nodded. “Gossipers, yes.”
    Alex touched the grandmother tree. “What about this one? Looks like she could have some stories to tell.”
    Skye picked a piece of bark with her nails. “To tell you the truth, most of the time I’m scared to ask, but let’s see.”
    She pressed her entire hand against the gray trunk. After a moment, she dropped her bag to the ground with a crunch.
    “What?”
    Skye spun around. “Don’t move,” she hissed.
    “Very funny. Are you trying to scare me?”
    Skye sucked in a large breath. “Shhhh. Do you smell that?”
    Alex inhaled a lungful of ashes. It reeked of fire. Why? She saw nothing, felt no heat, sensed no danger.
    Skye slapped her other hand to the trunk of the tree, muttering to herself. “How long ago was she here?”
    “What do you see?” Alex insisted.
    “A girl. Wiry hair. Ignited eyes. Energy around her. She’s looking for something. Her intentions are desperate.” Skye let out a loud curse. “She’s still out here! Get back