Two seconds. 

I stand in front of the door to Mortimer's room with my fists raised. 

Two seconds.

That would be all it takes to knock on the door. My palms are sweating. My face feels flush. 

For all my bravery earlier, when I finally reached the door I just couldn't do it. I couldn't enter the room. I can hear her muffled singing from behind the door. I was curious that was true enough. Was my curiosity enough to go against my nature? I just could not bring myself to knock. To confront her. If I was not picked on when I was hungry I probably would not have lashed out. Hunger could do that. 

Should I just head back to the room? But I was already here. I should just knock and enter and ask her if she knows anything about the night. Right? 

Luckily I did not have to decide. She decides for me. 

The door swings open and I stand face to face with her. 

"I can hear your breathing outside the door boy. You are interrupting my singing. What on earth do you want? Oh... Mortimer's student. Did you need something from this room?" 

"Did you push Mortimer down the stairs?" I blurt out. What, what did i just...The instant the words leave me, I freeze up. The look on her face is one I cannot decipher. Was it anger? Amusement? A warning? 

I wish I could take it back. Why did I say it? She opened the door without warning, it was so sudden! I... I... 

"Calm down boy. I'm not going to suddenly push  you down any stairs," she huffed. "I did not even attend your little party. I was not a part of the production, was I now? I don't live in the castle either, so of course I would not be invited. I did not even attend the concert." 

"You... didn't?" 

"No. I didn't." 

"What are you doing here?" 

"Singing. Of course, my little song, what do you think I am doing?"

"I... honestly don't know. I thought you were a ghost at first," I mumble. 

Tricia looks at me stunned and then gives out a very hearty laugh. 

"A ghost! Of all the things," she wipes tears away from her eyes. "Oh, that is funny. What I sing boy, is not a song that ghosts would sing. It is a song to drive any out. It is a song to drive out bad luck, and this place is full of it," she says motioning with her white gloved  fingers to the room behind her. 

"What...what?" I stammer.

She lets out another huff. "Where I come from, when bad things happen, you sing your problems away. Mortimer. He may not be the best of men. I do want him to stop with his excuses and just give me a song to sing, but by no means do I wish bad luck to befall on him. On anyone." she explains.

"So you decide to just... sing?" 

"Yes. I decide to just sing. It is what we do. Singing calms the soul. Music calms the soul. We sing to cleanse, we sing to please. I would sing this song on his bedside, but I suspect your good doctor would not want me there." 

"Why are you doing this at night?" I question.

"Why would I do this during the day with everybody around? With more people asking more questions."

"I did not push him. I have no reason to. Now go on to bed, it is past your bedtime I am sure." 

She then goes into the room, slowly shutting the door on my face. 

But... I want to carry on this conversation but I don't know what else to say. The only thing that floats into my head though is a single thought. 

But you could be lying.