Ghosts Can Dream

Chatper 1

Ever since he could remember, Virgil Bremen had a man following him. Not in a creepy way. It was more of a paternal figure to the boy. The man no longer lived a life such as Virgil's but instead was trapped in this realm. Unable to communicate with anyone, the man chose to follow one child through his life. He didn't realize that Virgil could see and hear everything he did. Virgil didn't know his name but he knew that the blue-tinted spirit man was pure emotion. He would hear whispers of encouragement when having to talk to anyone and sometimes the feeling of a hand would appear on his back during moments of extreme alarm. His hands would fiddle with the cardigan tied around the shoulders of his polo. There were always protective eyes and ears near him wherever he went. The only time the man would let him be alone would be when he was in the bathroom or his room. Even then, the spirit would wait outside the room with his arms crossed and eyes alert.

Virgil's parents both worked, but each managed shifts at a jewellery store at different times to always have one of them home for Virge. The Bremen adults were a caring couple and both very sweet. Margot Bremen worked as the cashier of Rough Diamond from 6:00 am to 5:30 pm. Her husband, Daryl, worked as the security guard from 6:00 pm to 5:30 am. Despite the hours and very few vacation days, they both had a healthy schedule and mind.

They didn't know about the spiritual figure following and guarding their son and Virgil didn't plan on telling them. They were already concerned for him with his heightened anxiety. If they knew he saw a semi-translucent man following him, they'd put him in a hospital for sure. For now, he settled with just letting the apparition observe him.

The man first appeared in Virgil's earliest memory, his third birthday. He remembers trying to give the man one of his gifts. His family brushed it off as an imaginary friend and the ghost just smiled at him. Ever since then, he followed Virge and made sure he was kept out of trouble. If people went to bully him for his edgy style, they'd suddenly be directed away from Virge by the man's ghostly hands.

Now at 15, Virgil decided to finally ask him why he kept an eye on him. He got home from school very nervous about what he was about to do. The figure could tell something was wrong when Virge walked straight to his room with his door left open and put on a worried face.

"Oh no. Virgil... should I get his parents?" he thought out loud to himself while resting his hand on his chin. Virgil took a deep breath, picking the black nail polish on his hands, and faced the man.

"Why do you follow me?" he asked after a moment of silence. The man looked shocked. He sputtered for a few moments before backing up against the wall and sliding to the ground.

"I- you-you can...you can see me? This whole time... you could see me?" the man questioned, eyes wide. He ran his hands through his wild curly hair but it stayed wildly floating. Virgil nodded and looked down, but said nothing. He had thought the man knew. He heard a sniffle and jerked his head up. The man had tears trailing down his face that disappeared an inch from the ground. His eyes had now closed and still had his hands on his head.

"I'm sorry I didn't let you know earlier. What is your name?" Virgil inquired. He reached a hand out to the man but hesitated. After a moment, he laid his hand on the spirit's back.

"My na-I'm- Pat-Patton."

"It's okay, Patton. You don't have to cry," Virgil soothingly whispered while moving his hand up and down the man's back. Despite his best, though awkward, attempts the man-Patton's tears didn't slow. Virgil felt like he had disappointed him and couldn't help the guilt start to form a pit in his stomach. It seemed Pat could tell cause he shifted his eyes to look over at Virge and smiled.

"I thought I was all alone this whole time. I am so happy I decided to protect you." Patton looked up at the teen in front of him. He suddenly reached forward and wrapped his arms around Virge. Virgil could just barely feel the weight of Pat's arms holding him close. His ghostly tears didn't show any sign of slowing, however. Virgil didn't know what to do with his hands, so he slowly attempted to return the hug. Surprisingly, he didn't pass through Patton and felt the warmth radiating from the apparition. It was as if he was hugging a literal ray of sunshine.