February 18, 2026 #JustGo!TheySay

I couldn’t sleep.
Not sad. Not anxious. Just… awake.

So I picked up Coco — who was shaped exactly like a loaf of bread — and relocated him six inches to the left. He did not assist in this process. He simply remained loaf-like and mildly offended.

I’ll be right back, I told him.

He blinked once. Which in cat language means, This is a mistake.

I padded into the kitchen, put the kettle on, and actually giggled to myself.
See? I whispered. No visitors. No early-morning symposium. Just tea like a normal person.
I poured the water, carried my mug back toward bed, climbed in, and took a confident sip.

And Catalina popped in.

I startled so hard I bubbled hot tea right back out of my mouth, onto the blanket, the sheet, and — somehow — under the bed.

Ow! Ow! Why are you here?!

Catalina blinked.
…Did you just spit tea at me?

Coco, now fully awake, stared at the scene like a tiny supervisor.

Joe appeared next, looking concerned.
Did we do that?

YES, I said, fanning my tongue. You did that.

Sally floated in last.

Well, she said, surveying the situation. This is why one does not multitask with boiling water.

Lionel stepped through the wall, glanced at the tea stain, and nodded.
Very abstract. Very expressive. You’ve created a piece.

I grabbed a towel.

Okay, why are you all here?  I never call you...

They exchanged looks.

Donna smiled.
Because people ask about this all the time.

Joe nodded.
They keep saying, “Tell them to cross over. Tell them it’s okay to go.”

Catalina sat cross-legged on the air.
And we’re like… yeah, we would love to.

Sally lifted a finger.
It is not a hallway with an exit sign, darling.

Lionel chuckled.
It’s more like trying to pull into traffic while someone in the backseat is yelling, “GO! GO! JUST GO!”

Joe added,
And you’re sitting there like, “I WOULD, BUT I’D LIKE TO LIVE.”

Catalina laughed.
Exactly. There’s timing. There’s connection. There’s… alignment.

Donna nodded.
No one is stuck the way people imagine. But it isn’t rushed either.

I sat back down, finally breathing normally again.

So you’re not just… waiting around?

Sally looked offended.
Waiting? For what? We’re busy.

Lionel nodded.
There's more movement here than you'd expect.  Learning.  Healing.  Understanding things we couldn't before.

Donna added,
And yes, sometimes that includes checking in.

Catalina shrugged.
Not because we're stuck. 
Because we can.

Joe smiled.
And because when people still think about us, it's like hearing your name across a room.  You turn.  That's all.

Coco stepped directly into the damp spot on the blanket and sat down anyway.

I sighed.

Of course you did.

Sally gave me a look.

Next time, drink the tea first. Then summon the dead.

They faded, one by one, still chuckling.

I looked at the mess. Looked at Coco.

You saw that, right?

He loafed again.

Which I took as a yes.