Chapter 4: Secret Ghost
Saturday, May 21 2016, 5am
My grand-mum stood, watching the window with crossed arms, waiting. The sky was the colour of a dark turquoise, only the strongest stars remained. What was she waiting for? The first ray of sun crept up in a blinding orange knife, and grand-mum gasped and hunched over, pressing on her stomach. I lunged to my feet, startled and afraid for the look of agony on her face. The movement caught her attention, and she jerked her head towards me, green eyes wide.
“No my child,” she moaned then moved forward onto her hands and knees, gasping. “Don’t.”
I ignored that and jumped down the stairs to run to her side, but once I was there I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t have any idea how to help. She was breathing in deep aching gasps, in terrible pain and tears rolled down my face, “Grand-mum?” I put my hand on her back. I felt her fever-hot skin burning through the think clothing she wore, and heard her make a sound like nothing I’d ever heard in my life, like someone dying. I opened my mouth to scream for someone, anyone. “Please don’t die!” I cry with even more tears flooding from my eyes.
My hand suddenly went right through her. The scream, for whatever reason, locked tight in my throat as she, transparent, looked up at me with despair and desperation in her, once full of life, emerald eyes. She faded on the light of the morning sun. My mouth still open, utterly unable to speak. I waved my hand slowly through the thick air where she stood. Slowly then faster. The air felt cold all around, like I was standing in a blast from an air conditioner, and the chill slowly faded, like her.
“Oh my goodness,” I whispered, and clapped both hands over my mouth and muffled the scream that had to be let out or I’d explode.
She’s a ghost. A frickin’ ghost! Was she gone? Was she dead?
She wasn’t a ghost. How could she be a ghost, if she sat here – right here!
My hand went right through her. Right through her. But she was real. I’d touched her, held her close. I’d – My hand went right through her.
“Don’t panic,” I said numbly, out loud. “Just… don’t… panic. There’s an explanation…” Yeah, right… an explanation.
I was about to be carried away by panic all over again, and then something stopped it, something cold. I moved to the sofa and curled up, shivering, I felt cold air brush over me, ice-cold. I sat up and looked at the air conditioning, it was off. I sat up on the sofa with my knees to my stomach, head buried in them. My head jerked up. “There it is again…” I whispered, confused. The cold draft got stronger.
“Grand-mum?” I blurted, and sat very still. The draft went away, returned. “I - I think I can feel you. Are you still here?” Another pause without the icy draft, and then it drifted over my skin again.
“So - you can see me?” Yes, I thought as the cycle repeated this time a little warmer. I weirdly felt a little better. Okay, I was having a conversation with a breeze, but at least I don't feel alone.
