Under the Grit

The Ghost of You

The sun hung low in a wide, cloudless sky, bathing the field in a golden glow. The grass stretched out endlessly, soft and cool beneath her bare feet. Evangeline laughed, the sound pure and carefree, as she ran through the wildflowers, her little hands grasping at petals that danced in the breeze. A boy's voice called out behind her, teasing and familiar.

"No fair, Evie! You're cheating!"

She turned, her hair whipping in the wind, and saw Noah-her brother, so young and vibrant, his face flushed from running. His dark curls framed his bright green eyes, the same as hers, sparkling with a mischief she hadn't seen in years. He was holding a wooden stick like a sword, his other hand resting on his hip in mock indignation.

"I am not!" she called back, sticking her tongue out at him. "You're just slow!"

Noah lunged toward her, and she squealed, dodging him with a quick twist of her small body. He laughed, the sound rich and warm, and chased her around a cluster of tall sunflowers until she finally collapsed into the grass, breathless and giggling. He flopped down beside her, his stick-sword discarded as he rested his hands behind his head.

"You always gotta be so fast?" he teased, his grin softening into something fond as he glanced at her. "Can't you let me win just once?"

"Not my fault you can't keep up," she replied, smirking as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "You're supposed to be the big brother. Aren't you supposed to be better at everything?"

Noah chuckled, rolling onto his side to face her. "That's the rule, huh? Big brothers gotta be better at everything?"

She nodded, her expression serious. "Uh-huh. Otherwise, what's the point?"

He smirked, his eyes narrowing playfully. "Alright, smartass. I'll remember that next time you need me to save you from a spider or somethin'."

"I can handle spiders!" she shot back, crossing her arms.

Noah shook his head, his laughter fading into a quieter warmth. "You've always been stubborn, Evie," he said softly. "Guess that's why I always knew you'd be alright."

The shift in his tone caught her off guard, and she glanced at him, her teasing smile faltering. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice quieter now.

Noah's gaze drifted to the sky, his expression thoughtful. "Just that... you've got a way of figuring things out. Even when it's hard. You're tougher than you think, you know?"

Evangeline frowned, her small hands picking at the blades of grass beneath her. "Sometimes... I don't feel tough," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Sometimes I feel scared."

Noah looked back at her then, his green eyes serious but kind. "It's okay to be scared," he said. "Being scared means you care. But you can't let it stop you, Evie. You gotta keep going, no matter what."

She opened her mouth to reply, but the words caught in her throat. Something about the way he looked at her-so steady, so certain-made her chest ache. "Noah..." she began, but the sound of his name felt strange, like it didn't belong here.

He reached out, taking her hand in his. "You're stronger than you think, Evie," he said again, his voice firmer this time. "But you gotta wake up now. There's somethin' you need to do."

The golden light around them began to dim, the warm breeze growing still. "Wake up," he said again, his voice echoing as his grip on her hand faded. "Wake up, Evangeline."

The sound of his voice lingered, pulling her from the dream and into the cold, stark reality of her room. Her body ached, her face damp with tears she didn't remember shedding. But Noah's words stayed with her, steady and unwavering, a faint ember of hope in the darkness.