~History Repeats Itself~

Chapter 8

Casper was truly enjoying his uncle's comforting embrace. He quickly realized that he hadn't felt so loved since he was alive, and was also mostly joyful of the fact that he no longer felt that his father was the only individual who had only ever truly cared about him. Stretch was also beginning to feel better while he embraced his nephew, relieved that the boy's ghostly body was finally starting to relax in his arms, that he was possibly beginning to trust him again too. “Uncle Stretch?”
“Yea, what do ya want?”
“Why have you been so nice to me?” He asked innocently.
“Guess I realized that I haven't treated ya right all these years..and, I'm sorry for that, shortsheet..” Stretch sighed, clearly struggling to express any of the whirlpool of emotions he had lately been experiencing. However Casper still gazed up at him gratefully. “I love you, Uncle Stretch!” His voice cracked due to clearly becoming emotional too, while he reached up and suddenly pulled his uncle into a hug once again. At first Stretch was shocked by how affectionate Casper had become toward him. “Really? After all that I did to ya? I love you too, ya lil’ bulbhead!” He lightly patted his nephew's back while returning the embrace, smiling through tears. He also quickly realized that he didn’t remember the last time someone he told him that they loved him. Then Casper looked up at him thoughtfully, surprised by his unusual reaction. “You okay?” He asked, feeling concerned.
“Yea, I'm alright..I know ya probably ain't used to seeing me like this..”
“But why don't you? I never see you sad like this..”
“Cuz..I don't wanna get hurt..” Stretch trailed off due to being unsure of exactly what to say, thinking of his most recent memory again. “By what?” Casper landed his hand on his uncle's shoulder sympathetically. “Well, maybe I'll tell ya more when you're older, but..I find feelings to already be painful, you know what I’m saying? But with some that’ve used ‘em to hurt me..is even worse!”
“But, it'll only hurt more if you don't get them out..”
“Yea I know that, and I'm still working on that..but I don't want ya doing it too, shortsheet.”
The young ghost nodded in understanding. “I won't..”
“Good..and I think ya oughta rest now too, kid.” He gently tucked his nephew in bed beside him.