Past Lives

Part One

Trigger warning for homophobia.

"I don't want you back in this house until you fix yourself. As far as I'm concerned, I only have one child." My Mom yelled from behind the slammed front door. I carried myself to the edge of our property and plopped onto the cold curb. I didn't know what to do next- but who would? My mom had just kicked me out of my own home of twenty-two years because I confessed my true sexuality to her. I, Lauren Jauregui, am- to my mom's dismay- 100% lesbian. I like girls, and my mom can't fathom the thought of it. So, what's a person to do when they don't understand someone who's different from them? Get rid of them. And here I am now, on the curb, kicked out of my house for good, because I'm not 'changing' for anyone.

I didn't know where I was going, but surely, it was not back inside the walls of 293 Meadow Lane. So, I just walked. And walked. And walked. After about a half an hour of mindless strolling down the gray sidewalks of Far Hills, New York (state, not city), I figured having some idea of what I was doing was a necessity, so I sat on a curb to think. I decided that maybe if I made my way to a bus stop, things would be like the movies. I'd sit on the bench, wait for an attractive girl- who was lesbian and single, as well- to sit down, and strike up a life-changing conversation. She'd tell me she shares an apartment with her eccentric friend, and, sure, she's looking split the rent with a third person. She'd invite me to her apartment, and if we didn't end up dating, at least I'd have a roof over my head. Despite my stupid fantasies probably having no chance of coming true, I decided that was the only idea I had going for me, and proceeded to the closest bus stop.

Taking a seat, I started my waiting. I looked around, twiddled my thumbs, checked my phone, mumbled some profanities towards my mother, and prayed for my future girlfriend/roommate to show up. The clock (my phone) struck (but not actually) midnight, and just as I thought there was no princess charming on her way to save me from my pointless waiting, someone... some- thing- stumbled up to me. It was a ghost. Have I really wandered this far that I've come across a ghost town? When I was younger my mother had warned me constantly about these parts- 'don't go there, Lauren, they're more dangerous than you'll ever know.' She'd warn.

My mom was right, we had lost my dad and brother due to an epidemic on the border of a ghost town and a human town. Ghosts don't like humans in their towns. They allow people to pass through, but that's it. No standing, no loitering, no stopping, no shopping. Nothing. Clearly, I wasn't in a ghost town if I was still alive by sitting for as long as I did, but then why was she here?

The ghost that had just clumsily flopped down on the space next to me was tall with long, curly, blonde hair with dark brown roots. She was probably about 5'8 and she was very muscularly built. She had deep brown eyes and tanned skin. The only thing that made her a ghost was her slightly faint- transparent if you will- complexion.

I decided to go for it- my life is going nowhere anyway. "Hey, I'm Lauren."

The girl blinked at me.

"A-are ya' lost? This isn't exactly a ghost town, this is Far Hills- a human town." I continued, hoping she'd answer.

"I'm- I'm sleepy." The girl passed out on my shoulder. She was clearly drunk.

Ghosts aren't exactly the way media used to describe them when they weren't around. From my general knowledge, ghosts are just plain human beings, the only differences are that: 1, they can't die; 2, they can walk through walls; and 3, they're a bit grayer than humans. To the touch, the ghost was cold and almost damp, like a mist, but she was completely solid. I slipped my hand into her coat pocket to try to find any form of ID, and to my luck, I found a wallet. I took out her driver's license and read her address to see where I could return her to.