Ghostly Affairs

Chapter 2: The Connections

The park was quiet, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows over the benches and winding paths. May drifted over to her usual spot beneath a large tree, her eyes scanning the familiar surroundings. Mrs. Green was already there, her delicate form perched primly on the bench as if she were waiting for an invisible bus. Ben lounged nearby, sprawled on the grass with a casualness that seemed almost lazy.

"Hey, look who's finally back from her living-world adventures!" Ben called out with a grin, propping himself up on his elbows. "So, how was your date with the fancy lawyer?"

May rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. "It wasn't a date, Ben. And you know that."

"Could've fooled me," he teased, his grin widening. "What's the scoop, May? Spill it."

Mrs. Green looked up, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Yes, dear, we've been dying to hear what happened." She paused, then added with a soft laugh, "Well, you know what I mean."

May took a seat on the grass, her legs folded under her. "I saw her again. I actually touched her. I don't know how, but it happened. It was just for a second, but... it was real."

Ben let out a low whistle. "Touched her, huh? You're breaking all the ghost rules now. What's next? Moving furniture?"

Mrs. Green shot him a look. "Ben, be serious. This isn't something to joke about." She turned to May, her expression turning more serious. "May, are you sure it's wise to be getting involved like this? Touching things in the physical world isn't normal for us. It could mean... well, we don't know what it could mean."

"I know," May said softly, staring at her hands as if expecting them to show some sign of what had happened. "But it wasn't on purpose. I just—felt something, and then it happened."

Ben leaned back, his expression thoughtful for once. "Maybe you're just special, May. Or maybe there's something about this Lin person that's triggering it."

May glanced at him, frowning. "What do you mean?"

Ben shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe you've got some unfinished business with her. Or maybe she's got a vibe that's different from other people. She can see ghosts, right? Maybe that's got something to do with it."

Mrs. Green nodded slowly, considering his words. "It's possible. Some people have a natural connection to the other side, even if they don't realize it. But May, you need to be careful. If you get too attached, it could make things... complicated."

"Complicated how?" May asked, looking between them.

"Well," Mrs. Green began, her voice gentle but firm, "the more you interact with the living, the more you start to... slip, for lack of a better word. You could lose your sense of self, or worse, get stuck between worlds, unable to move on."

Ben nodded. "Yeah, like that ghost who got too attached to his old house. He kept trying to talk to the new owners, freaked them out so much they moved, and he was left all alone. He's still wandering around, lost and confused."

May shivered at the thought. She didn't want to end up like that, trapped in some endless loop of confusion and despair. But there was something about Lin that felt... different. Important.

"I get it," she said finally. "But I have to know why I can do this. Why I can touch her. Maybe it's connected to who I was... or what happened to me."

Mrs. Green's expression softened, and she reached out as if to touch May's hand, though her fingers passed through it harmlessly. "We understand, dear. Just promise us you'll be careful. Whatever this is, it's new territory for all of us."