Ghost tales

Tale 1

The autumn weather is a trickster. One minute you're hot, the next you can be freezing. At least that's what humans say. 

I don't remember the breeze on my skin or the burning when you're sunbathing. None of us can. We lose most of our memories after our physical bodies die. We remember only feelings. 

That's what confused me at first. How I felt when I met her. 

I appeared on her patio. She was slowly rocking back and forth in her chair, knitting. I don't know what, but from the finished sock she has on her lap, on top of a blanket, I assume it was the other pair. Her gray hair barely reached her shoulders and was rather thick compared to other older women I've seen.

"What a lovely day. It's hard to believe that this kind of weather exists after a week filled with rain clouds," she said. 

I looked around myself to see to who she was talking to. No one was around, except for me. I narrowed my eyes as she looked forward at the large fields. A single house stood kilometers away from here and I assume it was the closest neighbor she has. 

"It's so easy to be sad during those days. I don't get sad, rather peaceful."

Can she sense me? I have met people that can notice ghost presence or even see us. It doesn't happen too often and it is still a surprise. I opened my mouth to speak, however I didn't utter a word. There is no point. She won't be able to hear me.

"Of course it's hard to find peace when you live alone. Your own daughter barely visits you. She has her own life now, I understand, but it still hurts."

She watched the field for a couple of minutes when her phone started ringing.

"Time for some apple pie." She stood up and I followed her to the kitchen. 

Almost everything was white and spotless. The marble island stood proudly in the center and had the sunlight covering most of it. Closer to the windows was a wooden table with four white chairs surrounding it. The lady turned on the kettle and got tea out of the cupboard. 

Ding

The oven rang and she pulled on mittens to take the apple pie out. Her face changed as she inhaled the scent of it. I wish I could enjoy this moment with her as I cannot sense any smells anymore. She looked delighted.

"I remember a young girl coming here. The first time I met her she was holding a basket with muffins inside. It was almost a year after my husband died. She was nice and I knew it wasn't an act. She just radiated this positive energy that I never knew I needed until then. Her mother was with her and I offered them to come inside. Turns out they were my new and only neighbors around here."

The kettle stopped boiling. She took a teabag, placed it in a mug that had a family photo on it, then poured water in. She dipped in and out the teabag until the water turned scarlet. On the package I saw strawberries so I assume this was strawberry tea.

"What I also found out that the parents were busy people. Eventually they asked me if I could watch their daughter and I agreed. It definetly brought me back memories when Sophia was just a kid. It made me miss her more, but those feelings soon went away when that precious girl started to stay with me more often."

She got a knife and took one slice of the apple pie. A ginger cat jumped on the island and she smiled.

"Right, Apollo? She was quite lovely and a great company. We baked together and her favorite to make were chocolate cupcakes and this apple pie."

She took the plate and went outside. She started walking towards to the barn.

"She was so lively. Always eager to hear stories or help. I wish Sophia was the same way at her age. Where did we go wrong? I have no idea."

She opened the barn doors. I saw that there were chickens and ducks inside.

"I couldn't really imagine my life without her when her parents said that she doesn't need babysitting anymore."

She moved around the large hay stacks. It was a lot more darker here, but there was enough light to see a silhouette at the corner of the barn.

"So imagine my surprise," she turned on the light," when she visited me. I think, her parents didn't know. I didn't want to lose her like I lost my daughter."

She placed the plate down, next to a young girls feet. Her eyes were closed and she appeared to be sleeping. What seemed unnatural was the red stains under her and her weirdly pale skin.

"Hello,"she locked her eyes with mine," Genevieve. I'm glad you're back."