Under_The_Whispering_Door_by_TJ_Klune

“You swear?” Wallace insisted.
“Yes,” the Manager said, rolling his eyes. “I swear. I’ve heard the closing
argument, counselor. The jury has come back with a verdict in your favor.
We’ve reached a deal. It’s time, Wallace. It’s time to let go.”
Wallace said, “I…”
He looked at Mei. A tear trickled down her cheek.
He looked at Nelson. His eyes were closed as he frowned deeply.
He looked at Apollo. The dog whined and bowed his head.
He looked at Hugo. Wallace remembered the first day he’d come to the tea
shop, and how scared he’d been of Hugo. If only he’d known then what he
knew now.
What will you do with the time you have left?
He knew. Here, at the end, he knew. “I love you. All of you. You’ve made
my death worth it. Thank you for helping me live.”
And then Wallace Price let go of the table.
Unmoored, untethered, he rose.
The tops of his knees hit the table, causing it to jump. The teapot and cups
rattled on the table. How freeing it was, letting go. Finally, at last. He wasn’t
scared. Not anymore.
He closed his eyes as he floated toward the ceiling.
The pull of the door was as strong as it’d ever been. It was singing to him,
whispering his name.
He opened his eyes when he stopped rising.
He looked down.
Nelson had a hold of his ankle, fingers digging in, a look of determination
on his face which changed into surprise when he too started to lift from the
floor.
But then Apollo leapt forward, jaws closing around the end of Nelson’s
cane, holding him in place. He whined when his front paws rose from the
floor, the top of Wallace’s head near the ceiling.
Mei grabbed onto Apollo’s hindquarters, his tail hitting her in the face.
“No,” she snapped. “It’s not time. You can’t do this. You can’t do this.”
Then she started to rise, feet kicking as they left the floor.
Hugo tried to grab her, but his hands went through her again and again.
Wallace smiled down at them. “It’s okay. I promise. Let me go.”