THE BOY WHO SEES GHOSTS
{ Part 1 } { 10/18/19 }
Carter has been able to see ghosts for about as long as he can remember. Most people think of ghosts as those scary things in movies, and at first, Carter did as well, but they are just people and pets that have something that keeps them around. When he was younger, he often kept his eyes on the ground to avoid seeing them. In all honesty, he was scared because no one else could see them…but even worse than that when he looked at them, they always looked so concerned…or lost. Even to this day, he continues to keep his head down enough to block them from his sight, and when he has to look up he has become quite good at pretending that he doesn’t see anything.
Even now as he walked towards the small café for his first day of work, he never looked at the figures that no one else could see. He opened the door and listened as the little bell rang. What he didn’t expect to see was another part-time worker standing behind the counter placing crescents in a bag with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes…but that wasn’t what surprised him. No, it was the girl floating in the air with her arms around him from behind. Carter looked slightly dumbfounded. An elderly woman came from the back “ah! Carter, you’ll be working with Michael with the counter.” She said beckoning him to slide behind the counter.
Carter simply nodded and smiled running his hands through his dirty blonde hair. He walked behind the counter throwing an apron on and stood at the register next to the other boy. “Hi…your new right? it's nice to meet you.” He said extending his hand to shake. Carter took his hand and smiled nodding “Yeah…” he said. She isn’t there…just pretend she isn’t there.
The morning went by without any issues. Carter’s eyes would glance over at the ghost now and then. She looked so sad…. yet…caring…He shook his head and said he was taking his break before heading into the back to sit by himself. He closed his eyes and placed his head on the table he was sitting at. Only to hear a soft voice say “you…you can see me….I know you can.” She said. Carter sat up straight like a pinboard as he looked into her silvery eyes. She was hovering over the table smiling sadly at him. “Please…help me.” She said desperately. Just pretend you don’t see her. Carter pulled out his phone and sighed as if it was his phone vibrating that caused him to sit up. The girl’s cheeks puffed up as she leaned in closer to him. So close he could see the swirling of the shades of silver in her eyes. “you…are horrible at pretending…please…You saw his face…please help me.” She told him.
It went on like this for the rest of the day. He would ignore her, and she would continue to talk to him. Her long dark hair floating in the air. The bright side of it all was that the girl was attached to Michael and didn’t stray too far from him. So, when Carter left to go home, she didn’t follow. He thought after one day she would give up…but a week passed…then a month…and she persisted.
As Carter went on break that morning the ghost followed this time just sitting right in front of him in the chair. Her head was in her hand as she sighed. “Please,” she said. Carter sighed and said in a low quiet voice. “what do you want?” Her eyes lit up as she bounced out of her chair “FINALLY!” He looked up at her with tired hazel eyes and she slowly floated back down into the chair. “I want your help with Michael…” she said. “I’m his girlfriend…well…I was…. but I got sick and didn’t get better… Now all he does is go to work…visit my grave and go home. And…there is this girl he has been seeing…but…He won't act on it…I can tell he feels guilty for caring for someone other than me….I just…Want him to know that I’m okay….that he doesn’t have to continue waiting for me….I like this girl…and….I know she loves him…” She explained.
Carter's eyes stared at his bagged lunch as she spoke. Ghosts never spoke to him before…they never seemed so…personable…till now. He was compelled to help her…but- “Look…I’d help if I could but what am I supposed to say? Oh…your dead girlfriend told me to tell you to go out with that other girl” he said sarcastically looking up at her. Her eyes widened before she sunk further…through the chair and onto the ground.
“Ah…yes…that…wouldn’t work…” She said, “but…there has to be some way…” She said. She then pointed to his phone on the table “there has to be someone who knows how to deal with this kind of stuff…come on…just…search it up.” She said. Once again a sarcastic expression crossed his face as he said, “ah yes let's search up ‘someone who can talk to ghosts.’ And see how that goes.” She nodded ignoring his tone “Gotta start somewhere.” She said.
“look…I never agreed to help you…I just want to be left alone.” he responded a little bit louder than his normal quiet tone. The girl sighed and looked at the door that Michael was no doubt behind working with a customer. “If he continues like this…he will never get to live his life…I could never forgive myself…if this continues to go on.” She said.
Carter sighed and packed up his lunch “Look…I have to clock out…I’ll think about it…but…I make no promises.” She gave him a slight smile and a nod as he took his apron off and walked out the back door. That night when he got home…he spent the entire night searching up things related to speaking with or helping ghosts…