Afterimage

Saturn

I slipped from my chair, feeling the muscles in my legs stretch. My eyes flickered over the room, darting from place to place as I attempted to slow my breathing.

CRASH

The kitchen, then. I walked carefully across the room, making sure my steps were as close to silent as I could get them.

Deep breath.

I took a deep breath.

Turn the corner.

I gathered my courage and turned the corner.

What?

I blinked.

"It's you," I breathed, shocked beyond belief.

There was a second of delay, then she whipped around, brown hair flicking over her shoulders, eyes wide and scared.

"...! So this is your house?" She said, relief evident in her face.

"...you're dead," I whispered, stepping away. "I went to your funeral. This morning."

She shrugged, eyes downcast. "I know. I remember dying." I shuddered. How horrible must that be, having memories of your own death? Even if this made no sense, those eyes are too pitiful to ignore.

I walked back to the living room, flopping back onto my couch. "You're a ghost, then?" I murmured, rubbing my eyes. The adrenaline rush faded quickly, leaving me even more tired than I was before.

A slow nod. "I suppose I am. But I wonder..." She slowly extended her arm, brushing my hand with her fingertips. A chill crawled up my spine as an icy feeling washed through my skin. I sucked in a quick breath, frozen to the spot as the unearthly cold crept over me. "S-stop!"

She yanks her hand back, looking worried. "I'm sorry. I didn't know that would happen. I shook my head, shaking it off. "Don't worry about it."

//

"I suppose you'll be staying here then?"

She looked up, nervous happiness on her face. "Could I really?"

I raised an eyebrow. "We'll I'm rather sure you don't have anywhere else to go."

She smiled, lopsidedly as always.

//

I'd set up a mattress for her, gotten everything sorted out, and now we sat down in the kitchen, with our cups if tea, and just talked. Well, she talked. I listened.

//

"I wonder why I'm here."

I looked up from my near-empty cup, raising an eyebrow.

She went on. "Well, most people just go on to heaven or hell right? I wonder where I'm going, and why it's taking quite so long to get there."

I shrugged my shoulders, thinking. "You're a Capricorn, right? That means your star is Saturn. Maybe you're heading there."

She looked delighted. "I can't believe you remembered when my birthday was. And Saturn probably isn't so bad. I hope it's not. I'll send you postcards."

I cracked a grin, and she smiled her tilted one back at me.

//

We talked for a while longer, about everything and nothing at all. The rain kept falling.

//

We were silent for a spell, and she fell asleep in her chair. I shook my head, smiling faintly, and pulled the blanket off her bed and over her. Even when she's dead the girl does what she wants. My hand brushed her cheek as I tugged the blanket around her, and to my surprise her faint skin seemed a shred warmer than in was.

I went to bed. "What a day," I mumbled.

//

I forgot to study for that science quiz...shoot.

I got out of bed, sighing. I pulled out my binder and organized myself, pulling on headphones and starting up music while finding the topic we were working on.

I checked the clock a while later and saw that it was around 2 am. Just a bit...longer...

//

I woke up still on the floor. I immediately scrambled to my feet and checked the time...and it was already halfway through fourth period. Screw it, I can take a day off for school. It's probably the first time I ever have anyway. I stretched, walking into the kitchen to find her leaning over the stove, fiddling with a pan and a couple of eggs.

I took a moment to lean against the door and observe this ghost who was living in my house.

She turned around, frowning as she looked for something before noticing me. "Ah, morning! I didn't see you."

I said a yawned 'morning back and opened the top cabinet for her, pointing to the pepper. After she struggled valiantly to reach it, I eventually chuckled and leaned up behind her, reaching over her head to pluck it from the shelf. She smiled at me, sheepish. "Thanks." I raised an eyebrow. "Anytime. So what's for breakfast, chef?"

She waved her hand in the general direction of the stove, rolling her eyes. "Omelettes, I think."

I sat down at the small two-person table, picking up my book. "Well, if you need help, ask. Ill be waiting to taste your culinary masterpiece. She stuck her tongue out childishly, and I hid my grin under the cover of my book. This would definitely be a spectacle.

\\

{sorry this took a bit to publish, couldn't think of a good way to end it xD but anyway, please vote, comment, and follow! It means the world to me. ^^}