Page 58 of Not Part of the Plan

The presence — because that’s what it was, a presence — seemed to get stronger at the sound of my voice. I’d felt this before, in the months after she died, but never this intense, never this urgent. It was like she was trying to push something important into my consciousness, something I was too dense or too distracted to pick up on.

If Amina was here, I’d have run into her room screaming. But she was at Noelle’s place. Instead, I fumbled for my phone and dialled Sage’s number before I could talk myself out ofit. She was the only person I knew who wouldn’t immediately suggest therapy when I told her I could feel my dead mother hovering around my bedroom like an anxious ghost. In fact, she’d positively encourage such thoughts.

“Poppy.” Her voice immediately soothed me. Maybe Sage was half-medium, half-therapist. Perhaps that’s what all mediums were.

“Sage, I’m really sorry to bother you—”

“It’s no bother.” When she said that, I believed her.

“It’s just... I think my mum’s here. In my flat. I can feel her, and it’s freaking me out.”

“Okay, take a deep breath.”

I did as I was told and was immediately calmer.

“Are you feeling pressure? Like she’s trying to get your attention?”

“Yes, exactly that. Like she’s pressing on me. Like she wants to tell me something.”

“Do you want me to come over?”

She didn’t live far from me. It wasn’t so much of an imposition. Plus, I did owe her a coffee.

“If it’s not too much trouble?”

“Message me your address.”

An hour later, Sage stood in my living room, inspecting my space with open curiosity. Most people walked into your house and sat, glancing at things. Not Sage. She picked up my photos, stroked my entrepreneurial books, inspected my money plant. Her bangles chimed as she put down a photo of Amina and me at university.

“That was the year before we met on our MBA course,” I told her, filling the silence. I already knew Sage was super-comfortable with nothing being said.

“I recognise the top you’re wearing. I always thought it looked good on you. You should wear more autumnal colours.”

I nodded like I was definitely going to remember that.

But Sage wasn’t here to give me fashion advice.

“Thanks for coming over at such short notice. Can you sense anything?”

“Oh, they’re definitely here.” She glanced to one corner of our lounge, then the other.

I followed her gaze, but I couldn’t see anything. It was unnerving and maddening.

“You were right to call me. Have you felt this before?”

I nodded, and all the hairs on my arms stood up. “A few times, but I thought it was just me and how I was feeling that day. Like I got out the wrong side of the bed. But after meeting you, it’s opened my eyes to other possibilities.”

I perched on the edge of my red velvet sofa, feeling like a guest in my own home. “Why is she here? What does she want?”

Sage closed her eyes, tilting her head like she was listening to something I couldn’t hear. The silence stretched out until I was ready to scream, and then she opened her eyes and looked directly at me.

“She’s always here, always looking over you. She wants you to know that.”

Goosebumps unfurled across my body.

I hugged my arms to my chest, and held my breath.

“But she’s specifically here to issue a warning about something or someone. She’s telling you to be careful.”