The ghost servant

Chapter 4: Building and Burning Bridges

I woke up in the middle of the night. I didn't even think about closing my bedroom door yesterday because I went to sleep when there was still light. I saw a silhouette and thought to myself how ridiculous it is that your own mind manifests things like that to scare you. I moved my head to look at the silhouette from a slightly different angle. It moved. The person who was looking at me while I was sleeping tried to quietly leave. I froze for a second but then thinking it could be only someone I already knew, I got up and rushed after them. I caught them in the hallway. I grabbed their arm. It was the ghost servant. He sounded very scared.

Lyra: "Hey! What the fuck?"

The ghost servant: "I'm sorry I woke you up."

Lyra: "You were watching me sleep?"

The ghost servant: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare."

Lyra: "You can't ever do that! I'm gonna complain about this."

The ghost servant: "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

Lyra: "Really? Oh please. You didn't mean to?"

The ghost servant: "I was. I was just thinking about what you said yesterday. I'm sorry. I.."

Lyra: "Thinking about what? What did I say?"

The ghost servant: "That people misunderstand me."

My heart wanted to puke. Of course, he is gonna say that when I'm putting him in a horribly stressful situation exactly because I've misunderstood him.

Lyra: "Oh.. Is that really the case?"

The ghost servant: "Yes. I'm sorry, it will never happen again. Never! I promise I.."

Lyra: "Shh shh It's ok. That's a good reason. I forgive you."

The ghost servant: "But I've.. Done something bad. It is rude to stare."

Lyra: "Yes but your explanation is good."

The ghost servant: "But I still shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry."

Lyra: "Stop. Tell me. If you thought about it. I asked you if people misunderstanding you could be the case. What is your answer?"

He stayed silent.

Lyra: "Yes or no. It is a simple question."

The ghost servant: "I don't know."

Lyra: "If you thought about it you must have come to some conclusion."

The ghost servant: "I don't know. I'm sorry."

Lyra: "You're lying. What feels more probable? Yes or no? I need proof that you were in fact thinking about it."

He looked straight at me with a bit of disbelief when I said that.

The ghost servant: "I.. uhm yes."

Lyra: "Yes what?"

The ghost servant: "Yes, I think people misunderstand me often."

Lyra: "I think so too."

He was looking at me, most likely expecting me to follow up with something but I couldn't think of anything in my half-awake state.

Lyra: "Look, you can go now. I am gonna go to bed again, ok?"

The ghost servant: "I'm sorry."

Lyra: "Sorry? C'mon, I'm past that. It doesn't bother me anymore."

He went into my room. I followed him.

The ghost servant: "I will just take this plate."

It was the plate from yesterday's dinner.