Collide Read Online Free Page B

black coat, red nail polish…
    The man’s voice wouldn’t completely fade, but she was able to hear the woman’s thoughts a bit clearer now.
    It’s been over a month now since they’ve talked. I thought coming here with Olivia and George would give us a distraction, but… Oh, I miss my James. Rick needs to reach out to him and fix everything. As the father, he needs to be the bigger man and apologize.
    Melina’s forehead creased as she continued to frown.
    “What is it?” Walter whispered. “Have you figured it out?”
    She slowly turned toward him, still looking a bit sad and confused. “It’s both of them.”
    “Very good.”
    “Is that why I had a hard time shutting out her husband’s thoughts when I was trying to hear hers?”
    Walter nodded.
    “How do you determine which one needs more help?”
    “You don’t,” said Walter. “They both need equal amounts of help.”
    “You have to help more than one person at a time?” Melina asked.
    “We usually just have one person that needs us, but it happens from time to time. Especially in family situations.”
    Melina looked back to the couple, pondering what Walter had said, when the other man standing closest to her started backing toward her. A short gasp escaped her as she tried to step back as well, but she wasn’t quick enough. She closed her eyes as the man bumped into her, waiting for it to happen… but it didn’t.
    “Oh, pardon me,” said the man as he turned to look at Melina.
    “Excuse me,” she replied. She smiled briefly and then turned to walk away.
    “What was that about?” asked Walter as he followed her.
    Melina didn’t answer immediately. She was glad she hadn't had another vision, but yet she was confused as to why she hadn't. “I was a little scared that when the man touched me, I would have another vision.”
    “They don’t happen every time you come into contact with someone,” Walter said as he caught up with her. “But why are you scared of having a vision?”
    She stopped in a deserted corner and then turned to look at Walter. “The one I had earlier today was so real and emotional and… painful.”
    “Ah yes,” Walter said. “When we experience visions, we feel everything that the person in the vision is feeling. I’m sorry your first vision was such a painful one, but I can teach you how to lessen that pain. I can tell the vision really bothered you, that it still bothers you. Why don’t you explain it to me.”
    Melina lowered her gaze to the ground as she began to speak. “I bumped into a man when I was leaving the coffee shop this morning, and the vision just sprung into my head. He was standing in front of a sink, crying, and then suddenly he grabbed a knife and plunged it into his left wrist. It was a very deep cut. I could tell not just by looking at it, but I could actually feel the pain in my own wrist.” She reached down and clutched at her wrist again.
    “It was excruciating at first, but it eventually faded away. I was so scared that I didn’t even say anything to the man before I ran out.” She looked up at Walter with panicked eyes. “I should’ve tried to help him. What if…”
    “Melina, I’m sure he already has one of us helping him, especially if he’s that bad. You were scared and confused. Your reaction was perfectly normal.” He walked up to her and placed his hand on her wrist.
    Shaking her head, she lowered her face into her hand as she pulled her other arm into her body. She didn't think she could do this. Walter said that the man at the coffee shop probably already had an angel helping him, but she still should’ve done something. Even if she was scared and confused. She kept her hand over her face as she softly started to cry.
    After a minute or so, she stopped crying and wiped the tears from her cheeks. She turned around to look at Walter and noticed he was now standing a few feet away with his back turned to her. He was trying to give her some space, which she