Two Weeks and Two Days

Isolation.

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Being dead isn't as cool as I thought it would be. Not that I thought it'd be sunshine and rainbows but like, come on? I at least thought I'd be able to haunt people, but no. Jack shit.

Everything's just grey, wishy-washy and boring. It's a second world where no one exists and it is just me in a shell of what used to be my home. I've been here for nearly three weeks – if I've counted correctly – and it's really, really putting me over the edge. I can see my room, my house, my garden; It's empty and grey. Foggy and misty.

It feels so lonely.

Usually, I love all sorts of horror stuff and edgy media, but I really don't think this afterlife gig is for me. At first, it was terrifying, being in a somewhat familiar place that's like a nightmarish version of reality. Totally something out of an old-school horror movie. I didn't even process where I was for a while and you can't blame me, at first I thought I was kidnapped or something along those lines. I felt so stupid, even though no one was there to watch me. It honestly felt like I was being tortured by some weird, higher being that sent me here just to humiliate – and scare – the shit out of me. Eventually, it got better – I realised I could fly and float and I had this cool hole in my stomach. But that begged the age-old question,

What happened to me?

I suddenly got a random wave of realisation as I floated to hover above the sofa; I was at band practice with Tyler and we were doing amazingly. I'd known the guy since about year nine when we got to choose our subjects and we both took music, fittingly. We both shared a passion for music that no one else understood (except maybe Alana, she understood everything). We thought that for our projects, we would work as a 'band' even though we're just a duo and it was one of the best choices I ever made. We just got to jam for hours on end and feel the music. Even so, we missed half of our assignments. Oops. Anyway, I remember we got the recording down for this one track we were planning immediately and then just messed around for the rest of the night. Trying out each other's guitars and playing random songs for us to sing along to and recreate, like some Fall Out Boy or Blink-182. I think it was around 1 am when I decided to walk home? Alana messaged me a lot that night.

Oh god.

Alana. While I love Tyler to death – ironically – Alana is my best friend. The first on my list, my top priority, the person that when she messages I pick up immediately and drop everything for, you know? I shouldn't have favourites but I'd known Alana for so many years that she was basically my other half at this point. And now, if I really am dead or something, I've left her alone. Who's going to fall asleep on call with her? Skate to her house when she needs cheering up? Send her every single photo of a cat I see? She's going to be alone while I am here sitting (or hovering?) on this stupid spectral sofa doing nothing. I vaguely remember her not telling me to walk back alone that night, to at least go with Tyler but I just completely ignored it. I was too up my own ass to listen to her even though she's the most responsible person I know. Lucy is the tough one, she doesn't need anyone to hold her hand on the way home! Or... more likely, I didn't want to drag my sleeping parents because I knew it would be Mum to pick me up and she would most definitely lecture me for being out so late. Or, god forbid Alana herself to come and walk me home since it would be quite a walk for her. I knew my neighbourhood was in the more dodgy and creepy areas of town but it wasn't like I was going to get kidnapped or anything. Just a few people dealing in the back alleys and a bit of graffiti, which I may have contributed to... occasionally.

I was near my road, I think? Maybe on the street next to it? There was a guy or girl – just somebody following me. It was almost like I sensed them so I crossed the road to try and get a glimpse of them but they were wearing all black. As always, I had my earphones in and they were really loud as I blasted music into my head. Something told me it would calm me down if I could just focus on the music but the feeling of fear crawling up my spine made me begin to freak out more and more as I kept walking. I doubt they even did anything though, surely it was just me making up scenarios in my head or maybe I was just paranoid because of Alana's excessive worrying.