A Spirit's Touch

Forty-Two. The Stakes Laid Bare

Sam did not see Julie during the confrontational exchange. He did however, hear the loud thud she made as she landed in the bedroom.

He watched Judith leave with apologetic eyes before turning on his wife, "So, this is your decision is it? You've chosen Julie over them. Over me!" Sam emphasised on the me.

Mel faced her husband with distaste towards his words and even her own. "It's not like that, Sam. I can't bare to be away from you but you leave for days on end all the same. I fell into a whirlpool of emotions with Julie. She gave me the company I did not know I needed."

"Instead of opening up to your husband you decided that cheating with a dead woman was the best course of action?"

"You're being a little unfair. I would never physically cheat on you with a living person. This was never meant to happen." Mel reached for Sam but he backed away out of reach.

"I can't right now," he said hesitantly.

"I love you," Mel spoke behind a faint sob.

Sam sighed before replying. "I love you too, Mel. It's been a long day and I'm agitated, I'm going to sleep in the spare room tonight. I trust your spirit won't be trying anything tonight for either of us?"

Mel nodded understandingly. "I hope we can resolve this in the morning and get back to the way we were."

"I would like that," Sam replied.

"Good, and I don't think Julie will bother you tonight. Sleep well, Sam."

"Goodnight, Melissa," Sam said finally before ascending the stairs. He did not notice nor care to notice Julie stood by the window as he walked into the main bedroom. He grabbed some pyjamas from the drawer and fresh clothes for the morning before turning around and leaving for the spare room.

Julie followed him out of the room without getting close but stopped at the landing. She wanted to get revenge on Mel for hurting her and for her hurting Judith, but she was scared and she could not figure out why. She was capable of terrorizing Mel, forcing sex out of her if desired, although she knew Mel would probably enjoy that. The living woman was scaring her as if she was in some way possessed by something more terrifying than a spirit.

Melissa was still stood at the foot of the stairs when Julie reached the top step. Mel suddenly looked up as if she spotted Julie but turned and entered the front room indicating that she had not.

Julie felt an urge to follow Mel, to pin her down and have sex with her but Judith remained at the forefront of her mind and she could not think of anybody else. Instead she went back into the main bedroom and there she waited for night to fall and the new day to start, the day where Judith would finally break her away from the current norm.

***

That evening was one of the most gloomiest ever for Judith. The loneliness she felt for the absent spirit far surpassed the week of the previous year where she thought Jersey had gone for good.

She wanted Julie back, but the possibility of that happening was dwindling fast. There was the problem in the shape of Melissa and getting her to step down peacefully; the prospect of helping Julie crossover to find the place where she truly belonged and where she could rest peacefully.

The stakes were high for her and for Julie, neither may get what they truly wanted and Judith was struggling between wanting to do right or playing the selfish card like Mel and try to keep the spirit for herself.

Determination was key to the first battle and Judith's mission was simple; break the connection between Mel and Julie and separate them. It was the only way for Judith to make her own connection with Julie and help her discover what was truly best for the spirit.