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There's mist hanging heavy beyond closed window. Not dark yet but night is creeping closer and with it – loneliness and cold. Lydia used to be a person who loves both.
Right now it feels like a curse she cannot escape.
Later she'll probably regret sitting by the window for hours waiting for nightfall with her back stiff. But her life is already a cascade of messy decisions, what's one more? She shuffles just a bit closer to rest her head on cold glass.
She's close enough to see her tired eyes reflected back... But instead it's green she catches.
– You're still here.
Barely visible silhouette shifts, obscuring her reflection.
– Ha! Of course I am! We're on same wavelength, you and I!~ Two tunes resonating ~
– Can you pretty please drop the act for five minutes?
– Anything for you! Five minutes coming right up!, – his shoulders drop but he reaches for one of the clocks on his arm anyway, counting minutes. – But I gotta say after centuries of dealing with this guy I couldn't be able to tell you what's act and what isn't! So... Whatcha wanna talk about?
– Why you're still here.
– Ha! Hahahahaha... Well that's easy one. Honey, dear, love of my death. I want you to think real hard about something: if you're a medium (and powerful one at that!) and you keep dreaming about me...
Then.
Who's.
Haunting.
Who?
– ... You're joking.
– No can do, love! Five minutes aren't up yet! I'm aaaallll serious talk and honest truths till time runs out!
– So you're saying.. That I was the one reaching out to you all this time?..
– What I'm saaaaying... I'm not the only one keeping this telephone line alive.
Silence falls over them.
She searches for something to ask while she can get honest(somewhat?) answers but questions run from her like bugs from under lifted rock.
– I give up. I expected revenge and schemes and tricks... Instead you're just... here?
– I can always offer you a nice haunt on discount! Spice things up at family or business gathering? Shake some poor bastard out of his pants? Shake you out of your pants too, if you're up to it, hehe...
– Are you really advertising your work to me in the same sentence as trying to get into my pants???
– I'm just saying! Both options are on the table!
– You're ridiculous.
– And you're not sulking alone anymore. So I count that a win in my book.
– ...
– ... If looks could kill yours would be daggers straight to my heart. Not like it would actually kill me but it's a thought that counts.. Anyway. What I'm trying to say. What I'm trying to say... It doesn't matter much what you want from me. You got me either way.
– And if I'd ask to never see you again?
– You already did. And believe it or not I got the memo first time! But. But! You keep beeping in and out on edge of my radars so maybe lets talk about mixed signals here, hmm?? It's been years and I'm still on your mind. It's been eternity and you're still on mine.
– Doesn't mean there's any love.
– Call it whatever, whichever, spider. I don't mind this back-and-forth thing we're doing. I was tiiiniest bit furious back then but lets be honest I just can't stay mad at you! What's 30 years for a dead guy anyway? 50? 100? Blink of an eye either way.
– I will be dead in a hundred years. What then? You said it yourself, blink of an eye.
– ... You don't seem like a gal with no regrets, moving on easily. So I have plenty of time to win you over. All the time in the world.
– I don't want to be a prize to be won, not anymore, not ever again!
– Sheesh, it's a figure of speech, babes! But fine, fair, whatever. I'm not trying to antagonize you! I can do that if you're into it~ But you don't like it so I won't. Easy as that.
– As if my nightmares don't count as antagonizing...
– Hey, don't blame your subconscious on me! I play it up for the fun of it, that's what I do, but not everything is about me here, you know? Ask that Freud guy or something! What are you truly afraid of? I just dig it out and put it on stage for you to see! You're director and audience, and you decide what all of this means.
– Clearly I'm still afraid of marriage. Who could've guessed...
– Orrr maaaybe... You're afraid of what marriage means for you, hm? That one's easy for me. Together forever! Or as close to forever as could be... Shit happens of course, I had my own share of heartbreak! Can't kill a romantic out of me I'm afraid...
– ... What it means, huh? Too many things and too much expectations. From anyone. From everyone. For the rest of my life and then after. With no escape and no end to it and no happy endings...
– Alright, slow it down with hopelessness, sourheart. You don't owe anything to them, any of them. Hell, you don't owe anything to me! I'll take whatever you give me because I just can't get enough apparently but you don't owe me any of it! Not anymore... Anyway! Your macabre little life is yours and yours alone to live! And your death will be too. And I will be there if you decide to call.
– ... How are you making it sound so simple?? As if there's no layers to it, no nuances? No consequences?
– Because there are none when you're dead. Well, not quite, you've seen the rules, many stupid rules, but it doesn't matter. Because you are dead. It's done. It's over. It's either hanging on or moving on. And I'm not good at moving on.
– Right. And you never moved on from me?
– Well, I'm still here aren't I?
– ... I guess we both are.
– See?? Now you get it! That's exactly what I was trying to say! Your five minutes are up by the way. Wanna play charades or something? Get drunk, smoke a pack, regret it in the morning? Watch movies, dig a grave. Take your pick.
– I think I'll sleep on that. But thanks for the offer. I might take you up on it tomorrow.
– Sure thing, Lyds. Whenever you're ready. Goodnight, sleep tight and all that.
– Goodnight, Bee.
Shadow of a ghost watches her get up and leave. Smoke from sigarette mixes with mist outside, indistinguishable. With a puff he rises hand and childishly draws "B + L" with a heart on cold foggy glass.
He stays there till darkness consumes his silhouette, leaving no traces behind.
