Ghost

Chapter 4: The wake

Turning my back on the bar I looked across the room to find Kristen standing alone outside the door her back to the gathering the sound of crying was echoing around the pub along side the occasional laughter as she just stood statue like staring out over the sun baked grass it sounded like she was talking to herself but I couldn't be sure leaving my friends side I floated through the room and passed first through the priest who was standing beside a table helping himself to my favourite barbecued beef ribs and then throw the back door where Kristen was fiddling with her ring it was nothing fancy but it had been the most expensive one within my price range when I had bought it her a rose gold pair of conjoined hearts stuck to three rungs threaded around a rose gold band I smiled remembering her reaction when she had first tried it on under her breath I heard her humming "when I am down and oh my soul so weary when troubles come and my heart burdened be then I am still and wait here in the silence until you come and sit a while with me" her voice was soft and quiet and I doubted anyone besides myself could hear her

I had always loved her singing voice she had often joked she had been born in the wrong generation when music was at its lowest quality she preferred the golden songs queen the beetles Barry manilow even the bee gees had released some good songs but I knew her favourite was lightning bolt by a singer who went by the name of Jake bugg tears began to burn the rims of my eyes as I came to her side and studied her angelic face until I was finally unable to bare it and joined her chorus "you raise me up so I can stand on mountains you raise me up to walk on stormy seas I am strong when I am on your shoulders you raise me up to more than I can be" her composure was cracking as we sang and I realised that like at the hospital my words were leaving my lips in an icy breeze that ruffled the wispy bits of hair on Kirsten's head that didn't quite aline with her royal style folded bun she had worn tears were streaking her face as forgetting I couldn't touch anything solid I wrapped my arms about her waist and although they disappeared through her it felt to me as though I had wrapped my arms around thin air

The reaction from Kristen however was surprising to say the least she tensed as though ice cold water had been poured down the back of her clothes and a shocked gasp cut off her singing her head jerked back and forgetting again she couldn't really see me I stepped back and raised my hands in calming surrender "your ok babe its me it's Tony I'm right here" I murmured watching my chilly words flutter around her face she opened her mouth as though to say my name but didn't because the door behind me clicked open and Alex lumbered out he had disposed of his roller skates and opted for a smart pair of Oxford pumps which made him look even more ridiculous in his pink dress "how are you holding up" he asked her tearfully turning back I saw my beloved wife wasn't doing well at all I looked back and was struck by an idea without thinking about it I circled around him and jumped into him hoping to stick and maybe gain control if only for a brief moment just like with everything else however I passed straight through him prompting a shiver to echo through his body "it's cold out here why don't we go inside and have some food" he suggested stroking the knuckles on her right hand    She shied away from him and sniffed

"I miss him" Kristen said not looking at either of us I gasped and looked at the both of them hopelessly "I do too but I bet he wouldn't want us standing around out here moping like we've spent a week sucking on a Lemmon I mean I'm standing here in a dress for crying out loud so what do you say we go inside and see who can eat the most of Tony's food before the funerals over" Alex suggested he managed to get a shy smile from her then and I felt a smile coming on myself I'd have given anything just to speak to them in that moment "I think Tony would like that" Kristen said as she slipped her hand in his and allowed him to escort her back inside surprised to find myself feeling jealous of my best friends 'catch' I turned my back on the pub once again and studied the sun baked grass seeing a golf course beyond I decided i needed a break from the sorrow and dismay that was floating off my friends and family in waves

Editors note; hey guys thanks for being patient sorry for the long delay I got locked out of my Wattpad account and only just managed to post this update if you enjoyed this lmk and stick with me for another update to come a lot sooner than this one 😄 also if you have any feedback on how I could improve this writing lmk in the comments see u soon 🫠❤️