Ghostly Affairs

Chapter 11

Lin drove steadily toward the hospital, her gaze occasionally flicking over to May, who sat in quiet contemplation beside her. The unease between them was palpable, and May, usually so talkative, seemed lost in her thoughts.

"I still can't wrap my head around this," May murmured, breaking the silence. "Seeing my body... It's going to be strange."

Lin tightened her grip on the steering wheel but kept her tone light. "Strange, sure. But you're not alone in this. We'll figure it out."

May smiled faintly, appreciating Lin's steady presence, though the nerves didn't leave her. The hospital loomed ahead, a stark reminder of the reality they were about to face. When they arrived, Lin's connections got them through the formalities quickly, and soon they stood outside the room where May's comatose body rested.

The soft beeping of machines filled the air as they entered. May's body lay still, connected to monitors and surrounded by the sterile scent of hospital care. May's eyes widened as she gazed at the form on the bed.

"That's... me," she whispered, almost disbelieving. "But it doesn't feel like me. It's like I'm watching a stranger."

Lin remained quiet for a moment, absorbing the weight of the scene. Finally, she spoke softly, "It's still you. Just not the whole picture."

May stepped closer, staring at her lifeless form with a mix of fear and wonder. "I feel like I'm missing so much... It's hard to believe that's who I was."

Lin reached into her pocket, retrieving the bracelet they had found in May's room. She held it up, letting the light catch on the small, familiar charm.

"You asked me to bring this," Lin said, her voice gentle. "Ready for it to go back where it belongs?"

May nodded. "Yeah, I think so."

With quiet care, Lin fastened the bracelet around the wrist of May's comatose body. As soon as the clasp clicked into place, the heart monitor flickered—just for a second. Both Lin and May noticed, their heads snapping toward the screen in unison.

"Did you see that?" May asked, eyes wide.

"Yeah..." Lin's brow furrowed as she stared at the monitor, the brief irregularity gone just as quickly as it came. "It was so quick. Do you think—"

"I felt it," May interrupted, her voice filled with a strange mix of awe and fear. "I actually felt something... It's hard to explain, but I did."

Lin frowned, her eyes lingering on May's still body. "Maybe the bracelet did something. I don't know."

May's gaze remained fixed on her body, as if trying to will the memories back. "I don't know either, but I know it wasn't nothing. That was real."

Lin, sensing the tension, cracked a smile, trying to lift the mood. "If anyone could cause a stir even while in a coma, it'd be you."

May let out a small laugh, though the gravity of the moment didn't fully leave her. "Impossibly charming, huh? Even in this state."

"Always," Lin said with a grin, but her eyes reflected the seriousness of what they had just witnessed.

They shared a brief, silent look, both wondering what the flicker on the monitor meant. Something had shifted, though neither of them knew exactly what. But this was far from the end of May's story.

As they left the room, the quiet tension hung between them, both more determined than ever to figure out the next step in this journey.

---

Back in Lin's office, the air was still heavy with the weight of the hospital visit. May hovered near the window, gazing at the city skyline, deep in thought. The strange flicker on the heart monitor when Lin placed the bracelet on her comatose body replayed in her mind. It felt like a puzzle piece sliding into place, but the full picture remained unclear.