Always Be Here

Chap 9

I grabbed my laptop and sat at the desk in my room. I needed to find out more about Normani. I typed her name into the search engine and went to images. I scrolled until I saw a picture that caught my eye. It was Normani. But she was wearing an old dress, it looked to be at least from the 50s, based on the style. And the way her hair was styled. She was standing next to an old model car, maybe a Thunderbird. I tapped on the picture and it sent me to an article. The headline read:

56 Years After The Murder of Normani Hamilton

I gasped. What the fuck? I read on.

Normani Hamilton, aged 20, was brutally raped and murdered on the eve of September 20th, 1962. The killer was never caught and the case hadn't been closed in over 5 decades. After all these years of searching, Normani's youngest sister, Naomi Hamilton, age 74, has finally called an end to the search, saying:

"Its time to let go. I want my sister to finally be able to rest in peace. I know she's not vengeful. She's up there with my mom and dad and big brother. She was my best friend. I know she's waiting for me."

I felt tears well up in my eyes.

"I'm so sorry Normani.." I whispered to myself. It was clear as day to me. Normani was... A ghost. There was no other explanation. I checked to see if they said anything about where she lived. It was... It happened right here, in town! Today was the 19th. Tomorrow would be the 56th anniversary of her death. I kept reading and it said where she was buried, where she had worked, what school she graduated from and what college she was going to. She graduated from the same school I went to, Demont High. She was buried in the Demont Cemetery downtown. I closed my laptop shut and raced downstairs without my phone or a jacket. Kath and Lisa had gone out this morning, doing some shopping at the mall. I ran to the garage and grabbed Lisa's blue bike. I pedaled hard downtown, passed the library and the high school. When I hit the cemetery, I hopped off the bike and saw someone in white bent down by a stone. When I got closer I realized it was Normani. She was bent down in front of her own tombstone. It read:

Normani Kordei Hamilton

May 31st 1942 - September 20th 1962

We love and miss you always

"M-Mani..?" I said. She turned to me and stood up.

"You're a g-ghost?" I asked her. She walked closer to me and grabbed both of my hands in hers.

"No baby girl, I'm not." She said. I felt so serene with her, so... Happy.

"What... Why me?" I asked. She smiled gently.

"I'm your guardian angel, Lauren. I was sent to protect you." She said. My... My guardian angel? My own angel...?

"Is that why you helped me? Why you pop up at odd times?" She nodded.

"I was here to stop you from hurting yourself Lauren. Every time you thought of cutting or suicide, I was there. When Dinah and her friends hurt you, I'm so sorry I wasn't there the other day. I had to talk to my baby sister, Naomi. She died in her sleep that same day. I had to tell her it was okay, that it was time to let go and come home with her family because we've all missed her so much over the years. I'm so sorry I couldn't be there to protect you." She said, her voice laced with sincerity.

"Its okay Mani. I'm okay. And I know she missed you all as well. I'm okay. I really am. Ever since you came, I haven't cut. I got the courage to talk to my crush." I said with a smile.

"You know, I know what's to come for you. And she is in it. She's in your future. Go back to her Lauren. She meant what she said about protecting you." Normani said.

"Why? I have you. You'll protect me right?" I said. She gave me a sad look.

"Lauren, listen. You're a strong girl. Your sisters love you. Lauren's had feelings for you for years. She's going to take care of you and you'll finally have friends as well and be accepted, just like you've always wanted. You're going to be okay." She said, squeezing my hands.

"Why does it sound like you're saying goodbye to me Mani?" I asked her, tears welling up in my eyes.

"Its time for me to go now Lauren. You're going to be okay now. Had I not helped you that morning, you would've gone home and killed yourself. I had to stop you from doing that so you can live and find true love and friendship. Its coming your way. So now, I have to go." She said softly. I grabbed her into a hug and cried on her shoulder.

"No...please don't go Normani! I need you here with me! I've gotten this far because of you! I can't do it without you! Please stay!" I cried.

"I'll always be here for you Lauren. I'll always be here. When you get sad or you feel like you can't go on, look up at the sky. I'll be there, watching you, listening to your silent prayers. I promise." She said, rubbing my hair softly.

"Don't... Don't go... I didn't mean it when I said I wanted you to leave me alone. I didn't mean it when I said stay away. I... I love you." I said. She sniffed and held me tighter.

"I love you too Lauren." She whispered. I closed my eyes and when I opened them again, she was gone.

"Mani..? NORMANI!" I yelled. I fell to the ground and started to cry, the cold wind hitting my exposed arms.

"I'll always be here Lauren..."

I heard her soft voice say as if the wind was carrying it. I looked up at the sky and whispered,

"Come back..."

******************************