“Sam…for one thing I don’t think that’s true, that you’re ‘just like this.’ I think it’s something that’s happening to you, and that you can get some help with. There are experts out there who know way, way more about this than we do.” I look at him. “And as for your parents…even though they’re not experts, they’ll want to help too in whatever way they can.”

Sam juts out his jaw.

“I can’t make it go away. I’ve tried.”

Oliver clears his throat.

“Sam,” he says, “I think…I think the hard part is, the voices never really do go away, not all the way away. But over time, we can try to show them who’s boss, you know?”

“I mean, I’ve tried being the boss.” Sam shrugs. “But the voice is…it’s really strong.”

Oliver considers him.

“So…I’m not an expert, Sam, but I think we can do exercises for the mind, like we can for our bodies. You can train to make it stronger. You start with really small weights. Then when the small weights aren’t so hard, you level up.” He looks at Sam. “Nobody gets strong overnight.”

Sam narrows his eyes.

“What kind of exercises?”

I glance at Oliver. “We’re not the experts on that, Sam,” I say. “But I bet your parents would like to find a really great expert to answer that question for you.”

Sam scowls, and kicks his toe against the table leg.

“I don’t want to talk to them about it,” he says. “I don’t want them to know.”

“Sam…they have to know. Keeping a secret like this is too hard, it’s too much work. You’ve already been keeping it for too long a time.”

Sam keeps his gaze on the floor, not looking at either of us. Somewhere outside, distantly, I hear a bell ring, and cheering. The New Year is here.

“You really don’t think I’m crazy?” Sam says, not looking up.

I move to the seat next to him and put an arm around his shoulders. He pulls away a little, then doesn’t.

“I think you’re something very different,” I say. “What I think you are, Sam, is a brave person going through a hard time.”

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

It’s late, long past the time for me to be asleep, but I don’t feel tired, or even frustrated to still be awake. I roll over and stare out the window, the glinting snow that still clings to the branches outside.