Watching

Chapter 2 - Fate

As I lie in my bed, the memories of this morning continuously run through my head. Lilly, her beauty, her voice, her smell, her kiss.

I groan as reality hits me again, I may never see her again.

“What’s the matter kid?” a voice says from the doorway.

I sit up and see it’s only Walter, a ghost I would class as my best friend.

“I met the most beautiful girl today in the café, and I can’t get her out of my mind” I explain.

“I see,” whispers Walter, “so are you going to see her again?”

My hands reach up to my face and squeeze my cheeks together. I didn’t know how to answer that, would I ever see her again? Before I can think of a response he interrupts me.

“By the way, I managed to contact that witch I was telling you about.”

“What witch?” I ask.

Walter rolls his eyes and adjusts his glasses. “The descendant of Salem, remember? She has a relative that’s still alive that practices magic. She says she can cut your eye.”

I know this sounds disgusting, and maybe gruesome, but it’s not my physical eye, it’s my paranormal eye. My sixth sense, so to speak.

For years I have tried to find out ways to block out the ghosts, but everyone I went to was either a hoax or a scam. Now I actually have the opportunity to remove my “gift”. Now I had to decide if I really wanted to.

“Thanks man” I say to Walter, trying to avoid the conversation of whether I would do it.

Walter’s weight began to shift as he moved his feet. “So, do you think you will do it?” he asked quietly.

I lift my face to look him in the eye, I can see the hurt in his face.

I do cut my eye, I will never be able to see him again. Walter has stood by me since I began living in this studio 4 years ago. He has helped me find the courage to go out into the world, maybe not enough for me to make human friends, but he has helped me realise my gift isn’t a complete curse. I can help ghosts move on too. Leaving him now would be like disowning a, well, like disowning a friend.

“I’m not sure” I whisper.

“That’s cool” he says, “but I have contacted the granddaughter and she’s coming over on Friday. So you have to make your mind up”.

“I will” I reply as I drag myself out of bed.

He stands in front of me blocking my way to the door. “Where are you going?”

“I have to think about this Walter. It’s a big decision. If I do this, I will never see you again. I have to go for a walk and think about it” I exclaim as I exit the room.

My feet start to run to the one place that helps me put things into perspective. It’s a twenty minute drive, but running really lets the fresh air clear the thoughts in your head. As I approach Brooklyn Bridge Park the city lights begin to sparkle against the midnight blue sky, it’s a spectacular sight.

I make my way towards the park benches, I sit down as I watch the New Yorkers ride past in their bicycles. As much as I hate my ability to talk to ghosts, and regardless of how much it creeps me out when I talk to someone and realise they are dead, a part of me is still unsure whether I should see the witch.

Even if I do see the witch, there is no proof that she is the real deal she could be another scam. I shake my head, I just wish it was an easier decision. Sure, losing my ability to talk to ghosts would make me less weird, but if I do go through with this I will lose the only true friend I have ever had.

Suddenly, I hear a few leaves crunch as a person walks towards me.

“You mind if I sit here” a soft voice says as she interrupts my thoughts.

I look up, and it’s as if the stars in the sky turn into fireworks, exploding one by one.

“Lilly” I say, trying not to show my excitement at meeting her again, “I thought I would never see you again”

A shy smile appears on her face as she lowers herself to sit next to me. Her hair is now gathered in a bobble behind her head, making her blue eyes seem bigger than they did this morning.

“It must be fate” she states as she moves her body closer to mine.

As my head starts to progress what is actually happening, I can’t help but wonder if this is all a dream. Meeting twice in a day is pretty unusual, especially in New York where there are so many people roaming the streets. What is the chances of me meeting this beautiful girl twice? It’s either my lucky day or… could she be a ghost?

A shiver passes through my spine as I try and digest this information. I turn my head to study her very carefully, it is actually quite difficult to identify ghosts from people. Some ghosts are unaware that they are dead, which makes it quite impossible at times.

Before I can divert my attention back to Lilly, words spew out of my mouth before I can stop them.

“Are you a ghost?”

Instantly I regret even breathing at this point of time, I close my eyes wishing for this moment not to be real. What an idiot! I have scared her off for sure.

She begins to giggle, which is not what I expected at all. I open my eyes and see her staring at me, not laughing at me or running away from the strange boy, just innocently giggling. She opens her red jacket and reaches for my hand, gently placing it on her heart. I can feel the strong beat pulsing through her skin. Her head slowly moves towards my face, and I close my eyes ready to go in for a kiss. 

“I’m most definitely real” she whispers in my ear, that angelic voice leaving me breathless.