"Look, I know it sounds crazy, I thought it was too," she launches into an explanation immediately, her hands up as a pacifying gesture, one she knows is useless. She screwed it up. "But people who are dead-- they come here, and they're not dead." She almost pleads.

"I wouldn't lie to you about this, Joel. I wouldn't!" Her hands lower, and she feels frozen to the spot. "Fuck, do you think I'd tell you something like this if it wasn't true? She's my friend. She-- fuck, do you think I'm just pulling this shit out of fucking thin air?!"

She felt like all the stress that had been building up for over six months was finally, finally threatening to erupt.

"Fuck... Tess is here, too."