Under_The_Whispering_Door_by_TJ_Klune

He stared at her. “We’re seeing the same thing, right? I’m not going to be
trapped inside when it collapses. It’s a lawsuit waiting to happen. And I
know about lawsuits.”
“Huh,” Mei said, looking back up at the house. She tilted her head back as
far as she could. “But…”
“But?”
“You’re dead,” she said. “Even if it did fall down, it wouldn’t matter.”
“That’s…” He didn’t know what that was.
“And besides, it’s been like this for as long as I’ve lived here. It hasn’t
fallen down yet. I don’t think today will be that day either.”
He gaped at her. “You live here?”
“I do,” she said. “It’s our home, so maybe show some respect? And don’t
worry about the house. If we worry about the little things all the time, we run
the risk of missing the bigger things.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you sound like a fortune cookie?” Wallace
muttered.
“No,” Mei said. “Because that’s kind of racist, seeing as how I’m Asian
and all.”
Wallace blanched. “I … that’s not—I didn’t mean—”
She stared at him a long moment, letting him sputter before saying, “Okay.
So you didn’t mean it that way. Glad to hear it. I know this is all new for you,
but maybe think before you talk, yeah? Especially since I’m one of the few
people who can even see you.”
She took the steps on the porch two at a time, stopping in front of the door.
Potted plants hung from the ceiling, long vines draping down. A sign sat in
the window that read CLOSED FOR PRIVATE EVENT. The door itself had an old
metal knocker in the shape of a leaf. Mei lifted the knocker, tapping it against
the green door three times.
“Why are you knocking on the door?” he asked. “Don’t you live here?”
Mei looked back at him. “Oh, I do, but tonight’s different. This is how
things go. Ready?”
“Maybe we should come back later.”
She smiled like she was amused, and for the life of him, Wallace couldn’t
see what was so funny. “Now’s as good as time as any. It’s all about the first
step, Wallace. You can do it. I know faith is hard, especially in the face of the
unknown. But I have faith in you. Maybe have a little in me?”