Under_The_Whispering_Door_by_TJ_Klune

“Then why didn’t you put a stop to it?” He was careful not to put any
censure in his voice. He wasn’t angry, exactly—not at Hugo—but he didn’t
understand. He honestly expected more. He didn’t know when that had
started, but it was there all the same. “Mei’s your friend too. Didn’t you see
how much it upset her?”
“Not as much as I should have,” Hugo said. He stared off into the
darkness of the woods around them.
“You know her history,” Wallace said, unsure of why he was pushing this.
All he knew was that it felt important. “What happened to her. Before.”
“She told you.”
“She did. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. I can’t even imagine what it’d
be like to have no one listen to you when you’re…” He stopped himself,
remembering how he’d screamed for someone to hear him after he collapsed
in his office. How he’d tried to get someone, anyone to see him. He’d felt
invisible. “It’s not right.”
“No,” Hugo said. “I don’t suppose it is.” His jaw tightened. “And for
what it’s worth, I’ve apologized to Mei. I shouldn’t have let it get as far as it
did.” He shook his head. “I think part of me wanted to see what you would
do, even after I’d told you no.”
“Why?”
“To see what you were capable of,” Hugo said quietly. “You’re not alive,
Wallace. But you still exist. I don’t think you realized that until today.”
He could almost believe that, coming from Hugo. “Still shouldn’t have
done that to her. Or let Desdemona interfere with Nancy like she did.”
“Yeah. I can see that now. I’m not perfect. I never claimed to be. I still
make mistakes like everyone else, even though I try my best. Being a
ferryman doesn’t absolve me of being human. If anything, it only makes things
harder. If I make a mistake, people can get hurt. All I can do is promise to do
better and not let something like that happen again.” He smiled ruefully. “Not
that I think Desdemona will come back. At least not for a long time to come.
You saw to that.”
“Damn right,” Wallace said, puffing out his chest. “Gave ’em the ol’ what
for.”
“You really need to stop hanging out with Grandad.”
“Eh. He’s all right. Don’t tell him I said that, though. He’d never let me
hear the end of it.” Wallace reached out to touch Hugo’s hand until he