I don't know what happened, I don't even know where I am....well, I do, but it doesn't feel the same. I know I'm not living anymore, but I don't feel dead.
I'm still on Earth. Stuck in the same little town I've been trying so hard to get away from.
A few hours earlier;
This is it, I've finally got enough money to get out of this sorry excuse for a town.
I start shoving my stuff in boxes and bags and whatever I can find to fit my stuff in. I fit what I can in the back of my 70' VW van. We did it Baby. We did it.
I crank up Baby and leave a note on the table for my mom:
Hey ma, I'm on my way to California by now, I'll call you every chance I get so you know I'm okay. I'll be back in a few months, maybe even weeks, to get the rest on my stuff. I love you. I'll talk to you in a few hours when I get to a rest-stop.
Maybe this is it. Maybe this is my chance.
I start down the road, my vibe playlist blaring through the speakers. Bad At Love starts up and I turn it up louder. In the middle of the song I hear a car horn, interrupting my daze. I swerve, missing the car that was headed straight towards me. Apparently I over-corrected and ran off the road; hydroplaning into a ditch.
I don't remember much after that. All I remember is sitting in the back of an ambulance looking down at my lifeless body. Watching helplessly as the workers tried desperately to get me back. I knew it was useless. I was gone, done for.
"It's tough, isn't it?" I look up to see a young man, about 20, whom looked to be from the 60's or 70's. "What is?"
"Watching people try so hard to get you back, and knowing there is nothing they can do that will bring you back. Knowing that it's gonna break so many people to loose you."
Who is this guy? How is he talking to me?
"The name's Watson; Chris Watson." He looks up at me, holding out his hand and grinning. "The name's Hayes; Lily Hayes. It's a pleasure to meet you." I shake his hand and smile slightly. "The pleasure's all mine, sweetheart."
Great, he's a flirt. But his eyes don't look as safe and happy as his smile or even his attitude. They look dead, lost, like he's given up on moving on.
"So uhm, how are you talking to me? How was I able to shake your hand? How can you even see me?"
"I'm a spirit too, sweetie. We spirits are in this together; you're gonna be my friend, right?"
I hesitate, that seemed more like a statement than a question. "Uhm, sure?"
"Then let's go." He grabs my wrist and next thing I know we're in the middle of the gazebo in the heart of town.
"What are we doing?" I look around, there's spirits everywhere, staring at me.
Dead eyes...all of them....
"You said you'd be my friend. That means you can't leave." He holds my shoulders so I can't move and leans in to kiss me.
I attempt to squirm away but fail miserably. In a split second his lips are on mine and I can feel all the light leaving my body. I scream into the kiss, trying to break free of his hold before I end up like all the others, but it's no use.
As the last little bit of light leaves my eyes, he pulls back and holds up a mirror.
Dead eyes.
