He didn’t open the letter from his family. Over the next few days he read his book, once out with everyone else, and avoided speaking with the doctor about it in the evenings. Graden didn’t know whether Louk was saddened by it or relieved he didn’t have to keep up with reading two chapters a day, but he never asked Graden about it, and Graden never apologized for not showing up in the library for discussions.
He did, however, manage letters to a few old acquaintances, Evander among them. Graden didn’t anticipate anyone would respond, but he wrote them because Louk wanted him to and they were easier than dealing with what was sitting untouched on his desk. The ghost didn’t return for several nights, and then she did.
The smell made Graden sick this time, and when he got up to dash to the
