Halloween

1945

Holding the photograph in her hand, she reminded herself that he was dead before wiping tears from her eyes.
“Marie?”
“He’s dead,” she said. She took a deep breath before letting go of the photograph. “He’s dead, gone, and I should have known something like this would happen.”
She could hear Edward take a breath in before speaking. Though, thinking about it, he didn’t really need to breathe as a ghost. “But you were happy.”

“Were,” she pointed out. “Now I’m mourning someone who is technically ‘Missing In Action’ but I can just feel it, he’s dead. Besides, I can’t mourn him forever because with me, it might actually be forever.”
“Happiness never lasts, are you not thankful for the moments you did have with him?”
“Well, yes,” she said, nodding. “But I’m not going to get any more of those moments with him. No more dancing when he’s back home and listening to the radio together and talking of what kind of wedding we want when all of this is over.”

“Is it over now?” he asked. Marie knew what he was referring to without him saying it out loud.
“Yes, 2nd of September this year, 1945.”
“It lasted a while longer than the other one then,” he said quietly.
“By two years, I think,” said Marie after she had tried to work it out in her head. “But I can’t seem to care about anything. I know at some point I’ll lose my job to a man and I don’t know why any of this all matters any more?”
“I’m afraid I can’t answer that for you.”

“Leo’s dead and I just can’t bring myself to carry on. How am I supposed to walk around as if the man I was going to marry is no longer alive?” she asked. She ran a hand through her hair and sighed. “I don’t know why I’m asking you for, you’re dead. You haven’t had to live for almost a hundred years. I’m ninety-five and I look seventy years younger. I’m still not sure this isn’t Hell.”
“I have seen Hell, I can tell you this is not it, my dear,” he said softly and Marie let out a sob. He looked unsure of what to do as she broke down into tears.
“I can’t even go to Hell,” she muttered. “I can’t die!”

“Marie, look at me,” he said quietly. She didn’t listen. “Look at me.”
Hearing his voice raise a little, Marie looked up at him. “What is it?”
“Summon me next year,” he instructed. “I can give you some company, if nothing else. You may not be able to come with me yet but someday you will.”
“How can you be certain of that?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“It’s waiting for something,” he said. He seemed to stare right through her for a moment but then looked into her eyes. “For what, I cannot say. It does not tell me but when I look at you it whispers to wait for some fateful moment.”
“You don’t even know?” She was shaking as Edward shook his head slightly.
“No, but I know that moment will come. Whatever fateful moment it is, it will come and then you may have the sweet release of death you now long for.”

“So…” Marie swallowed as she tried to figure out that everything meant. “So something is going to happen that will let you kill me?”
“Yes.”
She nodded to herself. “And that’s the only way I can die?”
“It appears so, my dear,” he said.

Looking at him, she wondered if he pitied her, if he wished that the demon face would decide now was the best time. Marie wondered if asking to live was worth it all, if taking that medicine all those years ago was worth it. It did seem like he cared somewhat, especially after the conversation they had before. He had wished she had a happier life. But he was also a ghost, one who had killed himself after killing other people. She didn’t know if he could care.

“I should continue on, Marie,” he said as he took her hand. He pressed a kiss to the back of it. “Summon me next year, even if it is only for the company.”
“I will,” she said, forcing a weak smile. “Goodnight, Edward.”
“Goodnight, Marie.”