I Carry a Torch for You

Chapter 3

I wake up the next day to the sound of my furniture scraping the floor. I open my eyes to see my dresser being carried out the door, most of my furniture already gone. "H- Hey! The fuck do you think you're doing?" I shout at the man, but he ignores me. "What the fuck?"

In my fight to save all my stuff, I knock a vase off the table in the hallway. "God dammit Josh, Boss said not to break anything!"

"What do you mean? That wasn't me, that was you John!"

"Have you been drinking?"

"Have you?"

They continue to fight, and I realize something. They can't see or hear me. Maybe the kid was right, this wasn't just a coma. Maybe I really am a ghost. . .

I grab a small photo of me and my parents, running out the door and as far as possible. Does that mean. . . They're gone forever? Was Mom and Dad killed? Are they ok? Where are they? What should I do? I have nowhere to run, no one to help me. I'd ask if I should just kill myself, but I'm already dead. Just trapped in this world, not knowing what to do. Why did they target me? Where is Mom and Dad? What should I do?

Eventually I bump into someone, falling and landing on their chest. Which shouldn't be possible, I'm a ghost so it isn't human. Perhaps it's an angel, or a demon, possibly even a soul. Then again I've been able to touch certain objects.

I open my eyes, looking at what I ran into. White button up, bow tie, suspenders. I look into his face, Leo. The darker skinned boy with curly hair.

"A- Are you crying?" He asks, sounding worried.

I wipe my tears away, not even knowing they were there. "N- No."

"Mphm. . . Listen I know this is hard, you just found out you're a ghost, but it's ok! Maybe you can stay in your house and be surrounded by memories. I wish I did that," He smiles gently, but looks sad himself.

"It's gone, people are going through my stuff," I sigh. "I don't even know where my Mom and Dad are." Another tear slips, making me mad. He shouldn't see me like this. No one should. But I miss them. I want to punch something, but I don't even know if it would break or if my hand would just go through.

"I- I am so sorry Liam!" He puts emphasis on his so, and he actually sounds sorry.

"You, um, you can stay at my place, if you want," Leo says with a gentle smile, placing a hand on my own as we lie on the floor. That's right, I landed on top of him. He's gonna get dirty.

"S- Sorry," I get up, helping him up as well. "I- Thank you," I nod, unable to add more.

"I'll lead the way!" He hooks an arm through my own, walking me to his place. It's an apartment complex, one still in business. He walks up the stairs to the third floor, unlocking his door and letting me in.

"It's haunted according to them so no one wants this room. So I get it all for myself!"

I look around, it's vintage. A radio on the table, not the newest but not from the twenties either. There's a sixties style phone, though who he calls I wouldn't know.

He has black and white styled tiles in the kitchen, with an older looking fridge and countertop. His living room is right next door which is where I stand, with carpet flooring and a couch. No walling differentiates the two, just the difference in flooring. There's a table by the window with a vase of roses in the center. Two chairs, one collecting dust and the other with marks on the floor from using it so much.

The center by the door is hardwood, with a thin wooden table to my left. Pictures in black and white, torn and clearly old sit atop it framed. It looks like him, much younger. With a white mother and a black father. His father is a bigger guy who wears a suit, in some of the photos he holds a saxophone. His hair is dark, with a bit of a beard beginning to grow. His mother is short and a little chubby, she looks happy. With blonde hair pulled back and a gorgeous dress she dances in the center of one of the photos while the male plays some music with a group.