Haunted love

 Brook is a 15-year-old girl who has lived in Mississippi near a river ever since they were little. The willow from this story is at the edge of the river, In the tree, they always found willow branch crowns and would go home with Brook. They loved sitting on a branch that hung over the water, and never knew it would be where they would meet their forever lover. One morning while Brook was reading a book on their branch, a girl they had never seen anywhere around here climbed up the tree and sat in front of them, and said hello. I said hi and put down my book when she asked: " Do you live around here?" I replied, "Yes, I live not far from here." I said pointing to my house. The girl smiled and said she lived on the other side of the river and asked if we could be friends, she seemed nice so we became friends.

We met every day after school at the tree and I told her everything, her name was Nia and she said she was homeschooled. I told Nia all about what happened at school to my bullies, my teacher, and my classmates. When I told her everything she sat quietly and listened to all I had to say then she would talk about her day and how she climbed to the top of the pine tree on the other side of the river and how she loved singing. Nia and I loved talking about our lives and I started liking Nia.

Then one day on a Saturday afternoon Nia told me something I never thought she would ever say. Nia was a ghost. I was shocked when she told me that she had drowned in this river 16 years ago and how her body was never found but a tomb had been placed on the other side of the river to honor her. Then she said: "Brook I know I'm dead but we have been friends for 3 years and I think I like you not just as a best friend but more." Brook smiled knowing that Nia felt the same way. "Nia I like you too, a lot." 

Then Brook took Nia's hand and said: "Nia will you be my girlfriend?" Nia's eyes widened and she began crying then she struggled to the word," Yes!" Brook and Nia kissed and hugged full of happiness that even though Nia was a ghost they could be together. As summer rolled around Nia and Brook would hang out more often. They would take morning and evening walks to see the sunrise and sunset from the top of the willow tree. On the hot weekends, they would go swimming in the river, get ice cream in the park and read books on the park benches.

One morning, while Brook was walking home from school with Nia Brook, asked: " Nia I want you to meet my parents, they don't have to know you are a ghost but they should know about us." Nia nodded and they walked to Brook's house. When Brooks' mom opened the door she smiled at Nia and they were invited inside. At the table, Nia ate chicken and rice with Brook's family then Brook said:" Mom, Dad I would like you to meet my girlfriend, Nia." Brook's mom looked at her Dad and said: "Brook we love you and all but we can't accept that you have a girlfriend, it's fine if you have friends that are girls but you can't have a girlfriend."

Brooks' face fell and then they stood up, took Nia's hand, and walked up the stairs to their room. In Brook's room, Brook sat on their bed and looked at the wall. Nia walked over and hugged them "I'm sorry your parents don't like me." "It's okay." replied Brook "I'll walk you back to the river." "Thanks" whispered Nia. At the willow tree, Brook and Nia stood underneath the tree when Brook held out their hand and said:" May I have this dance?" Nia took Brooks' hand and the two begin dancing under the moon's light.

As the wind blew softly through the trees making the willow sway they danced. After dancing they climbed up into the willow tree and watched the stars pointing out different shapes they saw in the stars before they fell asleep embraced in one another's arms. Brook was up before the sun had risen and woke up Nia so they could watch the stars together then Brook told Nia some great news, "Nia, I've enrolled you in my school so you can go to school with me after summer." Nia, still waking up, smiled and buried her face in Brooks' chest, Brook held Nia close and began humming.

After Nia swam back across the river Brook went home, when they walked into the kitchen their mom screamed: "Brook where have you been after you left to take your friend home I expected you to come right home!" "Sorry," replied Brook as they walked up the stairs. That night before the sunset Brook took some deep-fried rice and told their parents that they were going to watch the sunset with Nia. "Ok, Brook but after that, you come home, understand?" "Kay mom!" yelled Brook as they walked out the door. At the river, Brook saw Nia ringing out her hair with her hands then tying it into a ponytail with a black hair tie.

"Hey Nia!" said Brook waving, Nia looked up and smiled " Hi Brook!" Nia ran up to hug them, then Brook took out a blanket, some candles, and the food. Nia smiled and sat down, Brook sat down next to her and they watched the sunset while eating. A few weeks later it was the first day of school, Brook was now in the ninth grade. Brook got dressed and walked over to the river to get Nia. When they got there Nia was standing on the bank of the river wearing a pink and white plaid skirt with a short pink top, some fishnet stockings, and some platform boots with a bunny hat.

Brook walked over and said: "You look cute today" "Thank you! Said Nia smiling. At the school Brook showed Nia around, Nia was allowed to wear her outfit but had to put her hat in the locker until after school. At the end of the day, Nia had made friends with many different people and was very happy that she went to school. Nia had gone to school when she was alive but never made many friends. Tomorrow was Brooks's 17th birthday and Nia decided to surprise them. Nia bought some fairy lights, Brooks's favorite food, and some candles.

She went to Brooks's house at sunset and took them to the river. There Nia took off Brook's blindfold and screamed "Surprise!" Brook looked at the beautiful place in shock. "Happy birthday babe," said Nia kissing Brooks' cheek. Brook looked like they were about to cry since Brook hated crying they hid her face in Nia's shoulder and mumbled: "Thank you babe" "You're welcome." Nia hugged Brook close. A few months later when Brook went down to the river they saw Nia talking to some floating shadow. "Can't I have more time? I'm so happy living here, I want to stay!" exclaimed Nia with tears flowing down her face "Nia I said you had two years to stay on the earth before you had to come back to the spirit realm, so get ready you leave on Friday." said the shadow as it fated away.

Nia fell to her knees and was sobbing her eyes dry, Brook ran over and pulled Nia into their arms ''It's ok I heard everything the thing said, we'll make your last days the best days of your life. Brook and Nia spent more time together as Friday came closer and closer; they got ice cream in the park, went to the amusement park, and rode the newest roller coaster "Screaming Thunder!" that made Brook have to run to the trash can to be sick. On Thursday the couple had their last kiss and said goodbye. Brook called their mother and said that they were staying at Nia's house to help her pack, they lied so they could see Nia off in the morning. 

 As soon as the sun rose the shadow appeared and held out a golden hand Nia took the hand and changed. Nia now wore a white dress purer than the sunlight, a golden halo on her head, and gold slippers. Nia let go of the shadow's hand and kissed Brook before going into the folds of the angel's cloak. As Brook turned to leave she heard Nia scream: "Brook!! Brook turned and saw Nia in the clothes she was wearing before the angel came and threw herself into Brook's arms."What happened?" asked Brook puzzled

 "They gave me back my life!" cried Nia as she hugged Brook "I'm alive, I'm like you and I can stay." "The angel said that they sent me to find love." And you found it," said Brook struggling to hold back tears '' You can cry Brook don't hold back your feelings," whispered Nia. Brook began crying as they held each other. Years later Brook and Nia finished school and moved in together along with getting married. Full of happiness they adopted twin girls and their little brother. The older twin was named Willow and the younger was called River to remember the place where Brook and Nia meet and the Boy they called Aaron after Nia's passed father.