Page 24 of Ghost Of You
“I’m fine,” she insists, even though the tears streaming down her face tell a different story. “I need to go and prep this design for a My Little Pony tattoo.” She says this with such a bizarre mix of emotion that I almost laugh—almost. But before I can even think of a response, she bolts out of the room like she’s being chased by a swarm of angry bees.
I stand there, frozen in place, my brain trying to process everything that just happened. What did I do? Or more accurately, what just happened? Did I miss some crucial piece of information, some cosmic joke that everyone else seems to be in on?
Feeling like I’ve just walked into the Twilight Zone, I sit back down, trying to make sense of the scene that just unfolded. Maeve was fine—sarcastic, funny, and as tough as ever—and then, bam, she’s in tears and running out like the room’s on fire. Ethan was his usual smug self, but even he seemed off, like he was trying to hide something. And Toby... Toby looked like he was about to drop a bombshell before Ethan cut him off.
Just as I’m about to spiral into a black hole of overthinking, the door creaks open again. For a split second, I think it’s Maeve coming back to explain herself, but instead, it’s Ethan. He pokes his head in, wearing an expression that can only be described as sheepish.
“Everything okay in here?” he asks, his voice tentative as if he’s afraid I’m going to hurl something at him.
“Depends,” I say, crossing my arms. “You going to tell me what’s going on, or are you just here to practice your peekaboo skills?”
Ethan shifts uncomfortably, his gaze darting around as if searching for an escape route. “Well, you see, I was going to explain, but…” He trails off, his voice dropping to a whisper. He clears his throat, attempting to regain his composure. “There’s something I need to—actually, never mind,” he says quickly, forcing a strained smile. “I think I’ve forgotten something—important. I’ll just, um, catch up with you later.”
Without another word, Ethan takes a few hurried steps backward, and in an instant, he vanishes, as though he’s been abruptly yanked away by an unseen force. The room falls into an eerie silence, the space where he stood now empty.
I’m left standing there, a mix of confusion and alarm gripping me. What just happened? Why did he leave so suddenly? The unsettling quiet that follows is almost deafening, amplifying my growing sense of unease.
I glance around the room, searching for any clue or sign that might make sense of the situation, but everything remains stubbornly unchanged. It’s as if Ethan’s disappearance has thrown me into a void of uncertainty, leaving me stranded with nothing but questions and an unsettling feeling of being utterly in the dark.
Chapter eleven
After a long and surreal day at work, I collapse onto our bed, burying my head in the pillow. I’m utterly exhausted, my body heavy with fatigue and my mind still reeling from the relentless grip of that nightmarish dream. It seems like every time I start to feel a semblance of calm, the nightmare resurfaces, dragging me back into its clutches.
Adding to the chaos, everyone around me is acting strangely, and I'm being bombarded with questions about how I’m doing. I understand it's meant to be a gesture of care, but it feels as though there's an underlying expectation that I'm not okay. Perhaps it’s just my overactive mind spinning out of control, amplifying the confusion I felt earlier today.
I need to remind myself that, despite all the current turbulence, things are steadily improving. Life is moving in a positive direction with the future that Laelia and I are building together. Nothing is going to derail that.
Turning my head slightly, still resting on the pillow, I let my gaze drift to the wall where Laelia's handmade box frame hangs. It holds her positive pregnancy test, a cherished artifact fromjust over a month ago. She wanted to capture and preserve that moment so that every time we see it, we are reminded of the day we learned such life-changing news. The sight of it brings a sense of grounding and hope amidst the chaos, a quiet testament to the beautiful future we’re working towards.
17th March 2023
Lounging on the living room sofa, with a steaming coffee on the table and a pile of snacks beside me, I’m deep into a FIFA showdown with Ethan and Jasper. For the past two hours, I've been schooling them in virtual soccer, and it's safe to say I've never met a pair of gamers as hopeless as these two.
"Come on, man. Just let me score once," Ethan whines through the headphones.
Ethan and Jasper are at home, probably in their pyjamas, while I'm here in my comfy fortress of snacks.
"If you weren’t so terrible, maybe you’d actually score," I taunt, savouring the victory.
"Fuck off, Killian. I can beat you at other things," Ethan retorts.
"The only thing you'll beat him in is how many STIs you’ve had. Killian's at zero. You’re... probably in the hundreds," Jasper chimes in.
"Fuck off, Jasper. At least I get laid," Ethan shoots back. "Besides, I'd beat him at other things."
"Like what? Smallest dick?" I shoot back.
A chorus of laughter erupts on the other end. "We both know you'll be winning that contest," Ethan says, his smirk almost audible.
“If it was small, I wouldn’t have Laelia. And who do you have?” I tease.
“Alright, alright, dickhead. Lay off. I got a text back from Brenda,” Ethan announces, his voice taking on a self-satisfied tone.
“Brenda?” Jasper asks, puzzled.
“I thought it was Caitlin?” I question, curious and a bit smug. “Fuck yeah!”
“You’re a prick,” Ethan mutters, obviously annoyed. “Caitlin was two weeks ago. It’s Brenda now.” He pauses, and I can almost hear him grinning. I roll my eyes. “She wants me to come over tonight.”