• I woke up, my mind fuzzed and my eyes sore. I looked to my left, at my alarm clock. 9:17pm. I guess I slept all day. I slowly got out of bed, straightening out my twisted shirt, and opened my bedroom door. I wandered into the living room, where my mom sat reading her book with the TV on. She looked up at me as I entered the room.
    “Sweetie, you’re finally up. Are you feeling okay? Do you want some tea?” She started asking me all these questions; I nodded at some, shook my head at the others. I took a breath.
    “Mom, can I not go to school tomorrow,” I took another breath “I….don’t really feel….up to it.” My mom got up from the sofa and came to embrace me in a hug.
    “Sure honey. Are you sure you don’t want anything right now? You haven’t eaten anything all day.” I shook my head.
    “I’m going to go back to sleep.” I turned my back to my mom and hastily walked back to my room, hoping to escape the world. I closed the door behind me and quickly broke down into tears like I did that morning. I hugged myself around the stomach, wishing that I had a shoulder to cry on again, my parents would never truly understand how I felt. I yearned for my best friend’s warm hugs, how they always felt so true. I suddenly felt familiar arms wrap themselves around me, silky hair brush against my face. I quickly opened my eyes and gasped. He wore the same cloths as that day, same hair, same warmth. But I could not see his face, because it was resting on my shoulder, warm breath being blown onto my neck. The tears continued to stream down my face as I buried my face into his neck. I don’t know how long we were standing there embracing, me crying like that, him just standing holding me. When we finally broke apart, I gasped. He was the same except he was translucent. I could slightly see through him. Sorry I am worrying you so much. I reached out to touch his face, and my hand did touch it, and feeling of joy quickly grew in my heart but was shattered as my hand passed through, into his cheek. He shook his head. I’m so sorry, but it’s true. Oh, and if you ever need this information in the future, you can only touch ghosts if they want you to. He quietly laughed as he grabbed my hand and held it in both of his. Don’t cry for me anymore. It’s been really troublesome to try and get through. He laughed again and rested his forehead on mine. You have to let me go sometime or another, my sweet. I nodded and tried to smile.
    “I’ll try my best.” I laughed slightly. That’s my girl. His body got slightly more translucent. Tears started to run down my cheeks again. He lightly grabbed my shoulders and kissed me on the cheek. Our normal goodbyes. I leaned into him for one last time and gave him a kiss. He moved his lips to linger at my ears. Don’t mourn for me anymore, if you do, it will make me very sad. He laughed into my ear, his breath filled with the scent of the mint gum he had been chewing before his death. He took a step back and smiled as the last of him disappeared. I stood there for a moment, and then touched my hand lightly to the spot where he kissed me. I slowly turned back to the door and opened it.
    “Mom?” I said into the hallway, my voice a bit shaky.
    “Yes honey? Do you need anything?” She asked in a sweet voice.
    “No, but….I think I will go to school tomorrow after all.”