Are you here?|Zauren

AYH?-3

I woke up late that afternoon still feeling horrible. I packed up a few of Zayn's things and it took everything in me to do so, but it was for his family, so I couldn't resist. I didn't want to be selfish. I wasn't a selfish person, but I knew as I started getting rid of his things that's when I needed to come to the realization that he was actually gone.

After coming home from the post office I saw Henrietta who lived across the hall standing in front of my door with something in her hands. She turned her head and smiled when she saw me. "There you are. I looked a fool standin' 'ere knocking," she laughed, and handed me the tuboware in her hands. "I am so sorry for your loss, but I made you some of my family famous brownies and they won't heal the hole in your heart, but they will try to." I smiled and we shared a hug.

"Thank you Miss Henrietta."

She looked me up and down and smiled. "You're a strong little thing, aren't you?"

"I try my best to be. It's a bit of a façade right now, but I'm trying," I shrugged.

"I hear ya. Well hey, if you ever need anything it's not a problem to knock on my door." I smiled and nodded.

"Thank you."

"Have a nice day now."

"You too, and thanks again for the brownies."

I headed inside and grabbed a glass of milk before heading into my bedroom. I was eating these God sent brownies when I heard a creak in the hallway. I placed the brownie down and craned my neck to try and see out the open door. I didn't hear the front door open. "Hello?" I stupidly asked.

Maybe I left the front door open and someone just slipped right in. I was being robbed right now, and they were going to either flee or come kill me so I'll keep my mouth shut. (I've watched too many movies with Zayn.)

Suddenly, standing in the doorway of my bedroom was Zayn. "Holy fucking shit!" I screamed and dropped the glass of milk onto my bed. I jumped out of my bed and took a step back. Zayn laughed and I heard it. I looked down at the brownies to see if Miss Henrietta put something in them that was making me hallucinate and see people that weren't there and I even pinched myself, extremely hard to see if I was dreaming. He was still standing there.

"Why are you afraid?" he asked. "It's me. It's Zayn." I took a deep breath and rubbed at my eyes. Get it together, Lauren.

"Is this real.. are you here?" I shook my head. "I don't know what's happening but you're... you're dead." The word tasted bitter in my mouth.

"I am dead.. unfortunately."

"How are you here..?"

I heard a loud knock on the door and when I blinked Zayn wasn't there. I ran toward the door and started heavy breathing, looking around. "No! No, come back!" The knocking continued I made my way to the front door and opened it. Lola from directly next door was standing there. "Are you okay? I heard you scream." I looked behind me and there was still no one there. I was hallucinating.

"I uh, I thought I saw a mouse or something.. sorry." I rubbed at my forehead.

"No, it's fine! Are you okay... with all that's happening?"

"Yeah.. No.." I admitted.

"If you need me, you know where to find me." I nodded my head. I heard  laugh behind me. My eyes widened, and I slowly turned around.

"Don't believe her. She's always filing noise complaints on us."

"Are you okay? Your face just went pale." Lola questioned.

"Do you see what I see?" I panicked. Lola raised an eyebrow and glanced behind me. "Do you see the mouse again? I swear I will have to call an exterminator or something," she said.

I rushed past Lola and to Miss Henrietta's door and started banging on it loudly. It opened moments later. "What in Heavens name is going on with you girl?" Lola said from behind me.

The door swung open and Miss Henrietta was standing there with a concerned look on her face. "What do you need little lady?" she asked.

"What did you put in those brownies? Are you trying to drug me? Do you think it's funny?!" Miss Henrietta placed her hand over her heart and Lola's mouth fell open. "Drug you? Those brownies have no drugs in them, merely love."

"I'm seeing Zayn and Zayn is dead. He's not here anymore, why am I able to see him and hear him? That didn't happen until I ate your brownies!"

"I'm gonna go now.." Lola mumbled from behind me and I heard her apartment door shut.

"I'm sorry.. I'm not understanding."

"And neither am I, unless the dead guy I saw in the casket was a dummy and everyones playing some twisted joke on me," my voice cracked. "He's right behind me."

Miss Henrietta peered past me and shook her head. "No ones there." I turned around and no one was there. I guess I am hallucinating. "It's not my brownies. I can show you the recipe."

"I'm fine. I'm sorry.." I rushed back into my apartment and locked the door.

I grabbed the remaining brownies and tossed them into the garbage can. I headed into my room and started pulling the covers off my bed that were soaked in milk.

"You're not crazy." I looked up again, startled. It was Zayn again.

"Yes, I am crazy. You're not really here. Stop talking to me," I closed my eyes and rubbed at my temples mumbling to myself that this wasn't real. Zayn laughed and shook his head. "I am here. I'm here for you. Your wish come true." I thought about last night and how I made a wish upon a star to have Zayn come back but I didn't think it would actually happen. Did anyones wishes actually come true?

"Don't cry. Please don't cry. I've seen you cry everyday for a week. I don't want to see you like that anymore. I'm here now," he said getting closer to me. I could feel his cold breath, and his hands were still soft as ever, but really cold as he carressed my cheek. I could actually feel him. "This isn't actually happening.." I mumbled to myself, and started shaking my head.

"It is and I heard everything you said to me yesterday, and I'm asking myself the same thing. Why do people do dumb things? I was so close to beating you and making you do the dishes."

"How are you here? This isn't real," I closed my eyes and mumbled to myself repetitively. "Wake up, Lauren. Wake up this is just a sweet dream. Face reality." I opened my eyes and Zayn was leaned up against the wall with a smirk on his face and his arms crossed. "I'm here Lauren. I don't how I'm here, or why I'm here.. I'm guessing I have some unfinished buisness but I'm here."

"Am I the only one that can see you?" I asked. Zayn shrugged.

"I guess so Miss Henrietta and Lola couldn't see me."

"So you're a ghost?"

"I'd prefer kindred spirit." He chuckled to himself. I've missed that sweet sound.

"So you're a ghost..." I repeated to myself. The lump in my throat was back, and I placed my hand on my throat.

"I'm losing my fucking mind," I said walking out of the bedroom and to the living room.

I grabbed my car keys and shoved them in my pocket, grabbing my purse. "Where are we going?" he asked.

"You're not real!" I shouted, my hand on the doorknob ready to leave. "Please, stop talking to me.."

"It's weird for me too. I remember dying. I remember the mass amount of pain I felt when that van slammed into the side of my car. I remember the shards of glass that hit me and the way the airbag caused me more pain than it did me good. I remember gasping for air in the back of that ambulance as the paramedics tried to fill me with blood and stitch me back together again. I remember that last breath I took. I just need to you to know that you're not crazy, Lauren."