SEVEN YEARS. Exactly seven years, was how many years had gone by since Saint Louie Rodriguez, son of Alberto Lance Rodriguez had passed on.

  I never knew him, not personally, not even acquaintanced by, Not even on one of our formal parties, or holiday dinners when Dad would ask Albert and his family to join us, and Albert would nicely refuse, making excuses. Dad had always been close with Albert probably way before he started working for him. Tales, lessons, strategy techniques, brilliance that was all I heard about his son, true I didn't know him personally, face to face but, I sure would have liked to.

  It reminds me of all Albert's riddled moments had the visible coherence written all over it. I felt a storm inside me rail up as I entered our guest bedroom, it had nothing to do with my impulsive act priorly. It was night time and I was exhausted it was back to my room I wanted it to be, to probably shower and get changed, then get into my sheets and if I stared hard enough I'd obtain some peace with myself and sleep. Albert had told me it would be safer if I slept in the guest room, before they could have my room checked and cleaned again, I didn't argue with him, and so I was stuck in here. With this creature.

  Just thoughts of that creature awaken the dark blizzard sprawling inside.

  ''It finks its helpin' me.''

  My fists balled, gnashing my teeth, recalling it's calloused words.

  And I felt like- like, well, honestly I didn't know what I felt, directing my emotions to it just to see what precisely I felt toward it, was it dislike? Fear? Anguish? Anger? Disgust? But it was. . .

  Nothing.

  I had a quiet long shower, with No interruptions, just me and my polished thoughts. Earlier today I had spent almost fifty percent of my time in the garden, Not with Albert after our little chat, I writhed to be in his presence that after apologizing I excused myself and left, to the swing set near the pond, the swing set was mine, as a kid. I remembered running in through out; Summer, spring and fall into the garden, always heading, right there to rest with Mom. Just.

  Talking. . . Talking about what, precisely?Talking about words I can't place memory on. If I could and I know I would, relived every passed memory again during the fall, Summer and Mom's favorite spring just to go through it all over again. I remember staring into the pond with her, staring at sunsets, especially the ones in winter, having ice cream or some other high tea coarse meal with her right there.

  And Apirl, that was the name of her favorite tree, the mini enforced higan cherry tree Dad got to add more details to mom's fantasized huge rose garden, it was more than a Rose garden by now, but she always called it that for some reason. Was it the roses that you could spot at all corners, carpeted or portrait? or maybe was it that it had a nice ring to it? or some other third thing, I didn't know, maybe if I'm lucky, I'll get to ask her about it, one day. She had a treasured heart for flowers, and I remember Dad promising her, he would get her the biggest flower house she had ever seen.

  My head laid on the pillow, chewing at my lower lip as I stared at my phone, scrolling through notifs, updates, messages, platforms, it was a harmless wait as I lingered to submit to sleep when it'd take it's turn on me.

  Before I started attending Hevellyn Hills High school, I'd pretty much stay wide awake for hours and hours, sleep was so hard to come by, on days I wished I'd just be graced with a quick night to fall asleep that day never did come only when I began my rough fencing, late night studying, Tino's late night gaming. He slept up until one a.m in the morning then he'd appear fresh like he had the world's best beauty sleep, was Tino always so hyped up and attentive, even now he still is.

  My fingers stopped moving, just laid stiff on the screen, a minute later I tossed my phone at my side as I stared at this hued fog ceiling, wondering why ceiling wasn't this color, it rendered the blue cold igniting flames, with promises of red lights of tales, everlasting gazes and sweet sweet imaginations. Gray fog, my neutral feeling.

  My body had been fidgeting, it had been a hazy warm night however my body inside felt cold and anxious, as much as I hated what had become of my room I missed it. It had that dim glow, tanging pine of cedar scent my book shelve smelt like. As cosy as sinking into vanilla, sleeping on a cloud of carefree, thrill and quietness, as sweet as summer, any of the crispy summery afternoons, brimming in with the cold touch of winter, only a matter of coarse. Of course it reeked with question marks to why it was so uncanny and frightening at times but if I'm being honest it made me feel that it was all mine. Sweet mine. Regardless of what my Dad told me 'W

  I turned to my left, and watched the curtains blow, the window was slightly open, and I felt the warm winds of spring blow in as I looked at the moon light usher in from it's high stance to the floor, the light of the moon, shadowy and mysterious and dark. Quietly, when the day sleeps and the darkness takes over, awakening the night.

  I watched as the curtains fell back and forth, in that mild repetition.

  The dim light, the moon provided, like a idly shade of light, casting beneath. Under it bathed, a demure faint form, unclear and moving steadily in motion, in a piggy pink dress, material thin and light, caressing over her flesh, as her dress strolled like the consistent tendency of my curtains, only backwards.

  Lord, she looked even more mysteriously beautiful in the moon light, her skin a soft misty rose, her shadowy eyes, faded blue, as though etching the blue suppose to be there. She felt like the winter and almost sweet like a new flame in summer, her battling deep maroon red locks, all so rough and lovely giving me a palate to step ahead into autumn.

  She had that look again in her eyes, the look of hope and affection, an innocent fondly look of passion and arduous, and I stared at that for the longest of seconds of how pure and comical it was.

  Was she here because I thought of her? or was it because I wanted to see her?

  I hadn't been thinking of her, ever since I last saw her disappear at a turn in the garden earlier on. She always left few minutes after her arrival, I had never said anything to her, but I had heard her speak, her low croon voice.

  ''Why are you here?'' I asked in the pin drop quietness of this dark room, and I felt the resonance of my voice ten times louder, as the blurry inaudible background quviered with muffling sounds; I could hear the dogs barking, Angus and Reiley, the owls, the crickets, even the frogs croaking, the wind blowing softly, distant dogs howling. Taken aback I felt a cut deep straight to my chest and I slid up clenching my shirt like a heart attack commenced.

  My breath was now heavy, as I paled down with fear and shock, fretting.

  ''What the hell are you doing to me?'' I asked my voice roughened and louder as my wide eyes glared at her, now, she seemed, to be in one of her lost episodes; like I wasn't even there, no question answered still just lost in the moment of bliss.

  ''You come, go whenever you want, you're in my dreams- ! Nightmares, you're now becoming a part of my reality too! why won't you leave?!'' I felt like a mad man trying to get answers from a person who didn't even speak their language. ''I feel like you want to tell me something? Correct? Is there something I should know?'' I shook my head violently promoting her to speak. ''Just tell me! Cause Done with all of I want out!'' I demanded.

  Breathing roughly, my fingers sinking into my sheets, grisping as tight as I could, what was this feeling she was jarring out of me, it felt like something sharp hammering a way it could to break through my chest, right at my heart, I broke down into a cold sweat, as beads of sweat flooded my temples, slopping down to my neck.

  This happened so fast for me to comprehend just what it was, I felt the massive heat in my eyes, like something like sand paper was dusted in them and they started to burn, and my nose felt clogged, like the feeling of being trapped underwater, running out of oxygen, my mouth burst open to capture the air my nose failed to bring, and it so happened that I couldn't breath and talk at the same time. I made loud noises hazily taking in large volumes of breath, and breathing roughly.

  I felt something rush to my side right on my thighs, as I looked into flickering dark eyes, it's little body fitted in the gap on my sheets, and I saw it's paws out, gesturing signs of up and down, like a calming strategy, taking in small breaths in~ out urging me to repeat.

  ''Relax.'' It's voice was brimmed with something I didn't think it have understanding and commiseration.

  But my gaze winced back at her's. Still the same.

  ''Eh. Eh.'' It called and I turned back. ''Look at me, slowly deep breaths in and out, slowly.'' It lulled.

  It's toned voice. It's words, were all so familiar. These words, were notes Mom would tell me after my race back to her, I could hardly breath after those stupid rounds I still did, despite of the battling for air, I did it because of the thrill; running into the crispy afternoons of summer, breathing in radiant spring air, what was even better was the bashing through autumn leaves before they were all raked out, the older I got the more briskly I became, I liked running, I always have and I would have taken more interest in if they had registered me in track instead of basketball.

  After all that racing, it would be almost impossible to breath, my heart pounding hard at my chest, as if trying to burst out, barely catching my own breath, I didn't know how to calm myself, I presume, one of the reasons why I never did run so much when she wasn't around. Her langour words, so calm and chill, like taking a cool beverage on a breezey dusky evening, straightened me up every time. I felt jaded and dampered After she was gone. I deliberately decided to forget all that running. I never did run or make those rounds in through the garden, even around the last months we were still there. I remember staring outside my interior balcony, grimly reclining at the banisters as I looked down at the garden.

  I felt my breathing soften, my chest loosened, my nose open up, the pressure around my body normalize, the heat in my eyes disappear, like nothing.

  And I fell backwards, my hands adjusted on my face as they roughly strolled up wiping the dapples of sweat on my temples then back into my head as my fists grabbed hard at my locks. I blinked back the liquid that was being forged resulting by the suspense of fear I just faced.

  ''Better?'' It's raspy voice asked, chasing away the still silence of this confined space we were found sharing. Just someone being there seemed to make it better. I could hear myself breath out, air warm and moist, cuff out, as the after feeling felt like a week with the flu.

  I nodded my head violently agreeing, rotating my left hand now pinching my bridge. I swallowed hard, at the massive straining lump in my throat and bit hard at my lower lip, flashing back at the hazardous experience.

  ''You're okay now.'' Familiar words it uttered. ''Whar was thar? Whar scared you?'' It asked, even with out peeking open to glance at the truth in it's violet hazy eyes, I could trace the sincerity in it's voice.

  And my rigid head remained pressed beneath my pillow while my eyes swung a score to where she was, at the mild wind blow of reiterates, behind the curtain, right at her vacant spot. The usual gone.

  ''Worry not.'' It's voice was locked with concern and wages built to cease any wrong. ''It's just the curtains, you know there's a little wind thar's all bubble head.'' Assurance with mirth it shot, it rubbed it's little paw under its twitching nose.

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  ''B- but she'll be back. . . She always comes back.'' My teeth clicked together, my nose took in sums of breath as my eyes were getting teary eyed, I didn't intend to sound this pathetic and helpless. But failed to hide any of it.

  ''Who will?'' It's voice darkened with a tang of violence. It's words were so short but they hinted out volumes.

  My eyes reached to it's furrowed resided infuriating face, it's sudden stance made me feel like even if it didn't know what she was or what she could do, it was prepared for violent enforcement, my mind could only imagine it at it's full size, to stop her torture, it'd squeeze the life out of her in multiple scalding ways it's killer instincts could, rip her to shreds all for. . . Me.

  ''I don't know.'' Simple words, tasteless and irked whispered at of my mouth, into the silent room, it was warmer than most nights but the tone of the room was like a casting down of coldness, fear and overrated violence. It heaved and I saw the igniting deep purple flames of promised violence and rindiction subdue out steadily in it's huge eyes, as it lunged it's head forward in defeat. It's vast ears took small measures skyward before following suit.

  I wasn't lying or hiding a thing. I didn't know who she was, and it set a grenade to explode right in my chest that I might never be able to be rid of her.

  ''Okay. Boy tell me, whar was it- sshe?'' It hissed out, it's huge doll eyes narrowed.

  My fingers were still trembling from the musty occurrence, my free hand, strewed to point to were she stood.

  ''There.'' I uttered quietly, barely a whisper. ''She stood there, and watched me.'' I remembered the poisonous feeling of questioning her existence, her appearance to me. I shook my head sideways in my pillow, shutting my eyes and grimacing.

  ''I see her even when my eyes aren't closed, she's watching. I feel like she always is.''

  ''I just want her to go away. But don't know how to send her away.'' For long seconds I released a misgiving sigh.

  ''Is it fear? Or does she hurt you?'' It asked, shifting it's gaze all over me.

  ''Both.'' I heaved out like I was near to death, sharpening my voice then letting it settle low. Mirrioring my chest and breath.

  ''I can't see her.'' It scanned were she was standing.

  ''Of course you can't.'' I bluntly spattered, It was only a matter of fact. Remissing my hand in the air. ''She's like some phantom, some ghost, sent from who knows where.'' My voice ached, as my nose made a sound as air thrashed out.

  ''No.'' It narrowed it's gaze right at the empty spot, furrowing in realization.

  ''What? What do you mean No?'' I squinted at it, brushing the corner of my left nostril.

  ''I can see only I can't.'' It's eyes slowly blinking, shifting it's gaze below, it's stance was merged with knowing and surprise. ''Not because she's a Fantom but because she's ''

  I watched its tiny mouth utter the last word with motion, vastly slow and quiet it almost felt like I had simply imagined it utter that victimizing word.

  ''The hell?'' The gap between my dark brows, narrowed, my mouth cut into a frown, sitting myself straight to pay more attention to this subject, it hopped to the other side, next to my cellphone. ''? What do you mean she's ?''

  My hands kept my posture straight as I tried to look at it in it's eyes, that had almost devoured it's iris because of the darkness around us, the moon light dappling out it's faint soft glow allowing us to see very measured amounts of each other. It's gaze caught up with mine, and it stayed put, as if studying me.

  ''Have you ever heard of the term by a ?'' It's brows rose and fell back as its nose twitched, in it's eyes I took full concentration, it's gaze seemed to swallow me in, so deep and calculated but yet stuck with a permanent touch of ire.

  I blinked back, merely shaking my head. I followed the shifting of it's features; Its lips stretched into a thin line and it's massive eyes poked to the bed as it made circles with it's paw on my sheet. Neat little cuts of perfection.

  ''Honestly. There indigenous antiquity is unknown to this day. We believe they were here before us and if the promise of the thar tells us of The slumbering devoid of all color, creature, that hides, leavin' No being or monster, to know where it lies, taken by oaf if our Creators are no longer pleased weve our inhabitance, they can awaken the slumbering creature, and. Just. Like. That.'' It's paw proceeded as high as beyond it's vast ears then fell on the neatly perfect numerous ascending rings of circulations it made, then rubbed each one, one by one until my sheet was stretched in a messy manner.

  It commenced low humming notes, sounding like a sailor's song. ''Everyfing gone like it was never there.'' A quick smile was shown, as it's eyes danced with mirth, eyes now locked with mine. ''They will, as well, be here after .'' It whispered as if afraid that anyone but me would hear it, and I cocked my head to the left squinting at it lostly.

  ''They are wraifs- ths!'' It shook it's little head violently, squeezing it's eyes shut. Then set forward to reopen them to proceed with it's calculating gaze.''They birved from the ''

  ''Where on Earth is that?'' I grimaced, making a mistake.

  It scoffed. Making a gruff noise at the back of its throat. ''And you still don't follow.''

  I frowned, furrowing at it, as it stared at me knowingly with a little smile tickling at it lips. Then it's smile dropped, it's gaze skated forward, as although at me but not at me, some sorts of crossed eyed gaze.

  ''Heith.'' Darkness had whipped at it's features, as it loomed with all sorts of evil.

  I had my eyes wide to saucers, I know I had just heard a very limited outline about that world but from what I took in memory it did not sound like a vacation place or like smiles and shine registered there.

  ''Meet the Shadowers called they take the image of any Won, beings or monsters, anyfing your nightmare can offer but somefing more worst, maybe even somefings thar your dreams treasures. Those mate, would be able about to do the same fing A shadower thar has carefully managed to obtain the mind of any creature; vast or complex, small or simple, in whar is known to be , takes the images of your mind and shapes them to whar ever it wants.

  ''Nestin' life from the source, like yarn stripping out, length by length, they'll leave you dry like a twig-"

  ''She's not in one of my memories, I don't know her, I've never seen her before Not on a or face, I don't even know where she came from, only how she came.'' I soaked in breath to gather my thoughts, and continued firmly. ''It was weeks ago, I was just ascended as the New vice captain of our basketball team replacing Regean Thomas, whom I later got into a little feud with, he nearly broken my knee. Then after I got home, got it treated and fell asleep, I dreamt of an odd forest, I remember it being quiet, nothing but my breathing and foot steps to be heard as I incisively run through it.'' My shoulders swung back and I shrugged, pursing my lips into a straight line.

  ''Nothing or one was there but a forest filled with thick vines to the ground connected to everywhere and everything, I presumed. Ahead of me was a river bank, since I couldn't stop, running at my will I fell into the river and almost drown, I'm still not really clear of how I survived. All I know is in a couple of minutes I'm drowning and when I open my eyes in the next, I'm saved back at the bank and that's when I see her right beside me, we had-"

  I shook my head remembering how trusting and welcomingly open she was to a stranger she just met.

  ''You lay weve her right there? It is as it was weve your stupid winsome. No wonder she won't leave you alone.'' It uttered serious but almost revealing it's teasing edge. I grimaced rolling my eyes as my cheeks reddened.

  ''Of course not. I wouldn't. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn't. I don't know her.'' I folded my arms to my chest feeling an undeniable smile emerging up as my cheeks felt inflamed and full red. My eyes to the corner of my ceiling.

  ''Lad, if you know her, it would be a perfect place to start refillin'.'' It joked, and for a moment I would have laughed hard at that little joke if it wasn't directly to make fun out of me, another reason why I chose Not to is because I didn't think it had a bone for jokes.

  ''What? Hell No, your out of your mind.'' I don't know but it felt impossible to kill that smile on me that wouldn't stop tickling it's way up to my tomato red cheeks, I squirmed, rolling my eyes again, grabbing full length of my falling left side hair back into my head. Thank the Lord, I was able to muster up some ire emotions on my face.

  Although not very well, I guess, because I saw it plung a toothy smile to it's furry dark gray cheeks, in amusement, it was getting to me, it's eyes slits, smothering with bliss and hubris, I noticed whenever it smiled with it's spongebob front teeth it seemed to take away that drilled in infuriation.

  ''Wharever.'' It scoffed, I was glad it sensed how awkward I felt discussing this with it.

  ''Shadowers singularly have the power and will to speak to you weveout ever movin' their mouvs, hear you weveout as a form of any utterin' out a whit of a word, invade your thoughts and riddled you weve all sort of illusions and terrors, raidin' all the wins and treasures your mind keeps, fings your worst nightmares can only admire to fondle on you, you can feel their touch weve out them or you ever makin' contact.''

  ''How is this possible?'' I rose an eye brow.

  ''A creature's mind is like an open book just sittin' on a dusty shelf beggin' to be read. To them us beings have loud thoughts, thar are palatable to them. Don't beat yourself, searchin' for answers on how they are able to do such wonders. II the first shadower of creation of the hiddin' of shadows in knots, had multiple gifts, the gift to turn at it's will of any image of an upright or four legged beast it'd fancy just by transmigratin', eatin' the dead and facsimilin' ofer mild critters, the gift of walkin' frow elements, walls, and it's enemy the see frow doors, disappearin' and reappearin' in new heights, rejuvenatin' themselves frow the beings it possessed.

  ''It was then Creator , the life builder of bones and stones, had enough of II's inhabitance only to use it's wondrous gifts to enslave ofers, thar it sent messager Inois the lighter dealer to smite it out of existence, but II begged for forgiveness durin' it's deaf time, to grant it favor and it'd live differently. Creator Brikkraken, took mercy on it, as he accepted his humble request and spared him, Creator Brikkraken is ruthless and valiant and demandin' and prefers t to share his dazzlin' light weve mortals or dark shadowy immortals it created but he is also understandin' and some whar relentless. Gave II, two chances after to which II only did far more worser fings and became more hubristic, priggin' thar no beast; visible or invisible, two legged or multiple legged, skin, fur, feathered alike was like it.

  ''Finally, Creator Brikkraken, ended it, well in a more comical response, him being relentless, he shattered II of somefing somefingit treasured most, And knowin' thar it was havin' the only gift of singularity, he shattered II into numerous figures of more Shadowers, he sought division and disciplined II, giftin' shadowers at least won or two gifts instead of all it had. It was won of II's many punishments also an example to all of it's come afters.''

  I sighed, making a humming sound at the back of my throat. ''II?'' I questioned.

  ''It was it and a being thar were forged as won durin' the beginnin' of their entire existence, they were each ofers.'' It curled a smirk. ''Creator Brikkraken, made it elusive for a shadower to possess just anywon it fancied. Clever ain't it lad?''

  ''If you say so.'' I shrugged. ''Tell me what did you mean she's

  ''Shadowers can be seen by anywon in their deafly faint forms BUT! '' It waved the finger it had in it's paws at my face. ''Wonce it manages to possess you, you alone are privileged to be the only won able to see it's uglyness.'' It flickered it's gaze to the window.

  Tricely. I thought of the girl, she was not at all ugly, she was really the opposite. Graced with lovely features, lean diamond face, crowned with beautiful wild curls of battling deep plummy hair, straight nose, and her desaturated blue eyes reflecting purity, a spun of brightness just like the stars, her tall slender body on her fair misty rose skin.

  ''She's all that ugly. To be honestly she isn't at all-" I quietly protested.

  ''Thar's because she's taken the face of won of your memories-" It argued.

  ''I already told you, I've never seen this girl, aren't you listening?'' I sighed loudly, annoyed leaning against the vast pillow in front of the headboard, behind me.

  ''I hear you kid.'' It's breath settled as it looked up at me again.

  ''Look everytime she appears in my dreams or in reality, I can't help but feel she's trying to tell me something, like a message, I dunno know.''

  ''Tell ey somefing. Like a pattern of some kind? A map?'' It rubbed it's chin, then proceeded to trace down it's oddly lengthy fur that protruded out like a long beard.

  I looked at it with a dull empty expression on my face and it got the answer I was just as clueless as it. It suddenly, furrowed pondering as it continued to rub at it's furry chin. ''Thar forest, sounds familiar, very familiar.''

  I spread my arms wide at both the large pillows against the headboard, reclining my head on the headboard, it once again took interest on me.

  ''Tell me mate whar else has she shown you?'' It asked giving me a calculating gaze.

  I gave out a dragging sigh, my eyes darting to the ceiling.''On the night of your arrival, I slept in my closet. I had a dream of her again, she was in this field. . . garden? It felt like the beckoning of spring at it's prime, flowers blossomed with these rare flowers- flowers I could barely recognize not a single one, and the sun stroke high, like the days of now and I saw her right in the flowers, looking lov- lively and great, I guess. But that was only for a minute before everything changed the ground beneath her, felt like it had swallowed in poison that made the flowers fall apart, dried them out until they was nothing left, the soil turned black as coal and so did the flowers, and it strewed with ashes.

  ''And when I looked back at her, she wasn't her self anymore, she felt wrong and sure as hell looked like it- like some ghost, I couldn't stand her sight. She- her stance seemed like she was in some kind of pain trapped into that spectral shadow, I wanted to help her by the only way I knew I could, I guess shutting my eyes and hoping my dream would modify things the least bit. But instead that seemed to make her mad, cause when I opened my eyes she charged at me with this deafening shriek. I can still hear it. Then I woke up.'' I looked back down at it.

  It was quiet for seconds, that felt longer each passing length of time, I wondered what it was thinking, I bit my lower lip cocked my head to the right, It pondered, shook it's head as though disagreeing with itself, having a mini feud of doubt and acceptance, with in it. It finally turned to me, curiosity cutting through all it's features as it's eyes bore into mine.

  ''Whar you speak of. Are passed events thar occured centuries ago in. . . '' It stopped as if still skeptical about it's whole notion, ''Ilandia. . . The forest you ran in is the heart of the thrice spirits' forest, the forestof house Ostristone, abandoned long ago because of the infestation it plagued proliferatin' through the heart of the forest weve, revoltin' little critters called the Ilandian Noracus, it has a spell bound to it, it was more of an assurance, to warn the pass by folk to stay away, the spell was composed by a strong an enchanter, Claudius of House Ells, meant to cause repetition and continity of an activity won is found fixed weve in the heart.

  ''And the ofer you spoke of was back at House Jaydenfyl, were all the magnificent high class gardens reside, three centuries ago, a curse was put on it by the outlaws thar called themselves the they practice Red dark magic, the practice of Red dark magic is forbidden, in all of Ilandia, in every house. Their leader was decapitated as an example, thar followed to all whom were caught practicin' the Red dark magic, the law enforced by the High courts in the Capital, Aubridge. The band of outlaws did more havoc to Jaydenfyl for decapitatin' their leader. The court of Jaydenfyl didn't even allow them to have a proper burial, when his family asked for his body, they made it thar to leave him to be eaten by the crows and ravens, right beneath the sheen of the sun.'' It narrowed it's curious gaze till it's eyes were slits.

  ''I tell you whar they did. They cast a spell, thar every where his blood spilled from the brutal beatings displayed so everywon could witness, and the steps of all whom spectated, '.'' It sketched out quietly, clicking it's paws together boring it's eyes into mine.

  ''I fink she tryna tell you somefing. Somefing about Ilandia. Mate you just got a whole lot interestin', this girl you see she shows you our past, details of Ilandia, mate you just might be right she's she's somefing rather of significant virtue. . . . She's your- your. . . Sharemate.''