People shuffled back and forth past our quartet, stationed in an alcove of a major hallway. Most stopped for a few moments, maybe for an entire song, happily sipping their apple cider and taking in the new building. But they always moved on. As we started up our next song, I noticed that there was a girl who had been standing and watching us for a while. But then, there were a number of brunettes shuffling back and forth past us. I marked the color of her jacket and then immediately chided myself for it. What was the point of remembering something as trivial this? But I watched her out of the corner of my eye and when I felt that I hadn't looked to her side of the viewing area in awhile, I glanced over. My voice nearly cracked as I realized with shock that she was the same girl from the recital. What was more, she was staring at me - not just watching the whole group but actually looking directly at me. I held her gaze for a moment or two and when she didn't back off, I looked elsewhere, feeling my face grow warm.
I continued to watch her out of my peripheral vision, but she stayed put until the end of the song. When people shuffled along at the conclusion of the song, she remained at the back of the wall. Feeling a bit flirty, I smiled at her and she shyly returned it. I picked up my music for the next piece and realized my hands were shaking just ever so slightly. I took a deep breath and sip of water then returned to my place. I kept my gaze on the part of the hallway that she didn't occupy until partway through the piece when I just couldn't help a glance over in her direction. To my relief and dismay, she was talking to another guy who was looking at her very intently. Unable to help feeling a little snubbed I looked away, frustrated at how warm my face was continuing to grow. But when there were over 500 people walking through a small area, that was cause enough for me to be overheated, right?
Almost against my will, I glanced back at her one last time to see that she was again watching me. Just as I was trying to decide whether to be self-satisfied or annoyed, I realized she wasn't there anymore. I had again lost track of my ghost.
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Reverse Encounters
General FictionEver wonder how people remember and experience things the same events differently? I do. Here is a collection of events that I experienced, written from the perspective of a person on the other side of the encounter. These stories are entirely fic...
