It all begins after the End.

Athena has trouble with her friends, she feels like she's going crazy and she's living a dream. What could go worse ?

   One finger. The bags under my eyes where as thick as one finger. My index finger, more precisely. I had been measuring since the beginning of the week; no, I had nothing better to do.

What Dawn had said a week ago didn’t affect me " I couldn’t live without Aaron, it was too hard. I tried to pretend to the guys that I was fine, but it wasn’t true; nothing was true. Not even the death of Aaron, to my eyes. He was still here, with me, in my heart and in my mind; I saw him every day, every hour, every minute.

I was crazy about him.

 

“Athena!” Dawn yelled, waving a hand in front of my eyes.

“Huh, what?” I asked, confused as the red-haired girl sat bank on the bench, opposite me.

 

 The all stared at me, looked at my un-touched sandwich on the wooden table, with worried looks in their eyes.

 

“Eat.” Dan commanded.

“I can’t. I’m not hungry.” I said back.

“You’re never hungry.” Josh impatiently snapped. Ed elbowed him, telling him to ‘shut up’.

“I am, just not during lunch times.” I said, in my defence.

“Ath, I can see your cheekbones. I couldn’t see your cheekbones before Aaron’s death. You’re just not eating.” Dawn explained. A pinch formed in my heart.

“I… Don’t say that.” I said, with a tight voice.

“Oh, please! Stop, will you? It’s over: he’s gone!” She shouted, mentioning the sky with her finger.

“You just don’t understand!” I yelled back. “None of you do!” I added. Dawn sat back, glanced at Josh, Dan and Ed, then back to me.

“I’m sorry… I just gets on my nerves.” She said quietly.

“You’re not!” I said back, without lowering my voice. “You’re not sorry for anything.” I said, holding back tears. What am I saying?

“Ath, it’s okay, we’re all sorry.” Ed said.

“I just miss him.” I said, looking down at the sandwich.

“We all do.” I heard Dan’s voice say.

“Please eat.” Dawn insisted.

 

 I nodded and forced myself to eat. It was hard to swallow, due to all the pain and guilt in my stomach.

 

-

 

   A noise of a shot made me jump out of my gaze that afternoon. The same shot I heard the night Aaron died, the shot that killed him.

My heart raced in my chest; it was not the first time, but it always scared me. It always will.

 

“Ah, f**k my life.” I muttered, sinking down into my sofa.

 

 The small living room was illuminated with the warm, April sun flowing in it. Seven months… It was so slow and long.

 

“Hey, at least you have one.” A voice echoed back to me.

 

 I jumped up. Who was that? I mentally asked, panicked by the fact I may be going crazy. Aaron’s voice; someone kill me.

I stood up and went to the fridge for a drink, I was probably too tired.

A fast movement caught my attention as I was about to touch the fridge’s handle. I snapped around to face the kitchen’s door frame. No one was here. But I did feel a presence in the room, I heard a chuckle echoing in my ears. I looked around: nobody.

 

“Who’s here?” I asked, in a shaky voice.

“It’s me, Athena…” The voice responded, in my head.

“Wh- who?” I asked, scared to death.

“Do you believe in ghosts?” The voice asked. No… No, that’s not happening! I mentally screamed, shaking my head as I held my temples. “It is happening, imagine a ghost in front of you, the person you wish to see the most.” The voice carried on, as if he could read my mind.

 

 My eyes shot open, I could feel my pupil shrinking in a small dot in the middle of my green iris. My heart beat like a drum and cold sweat was dripping down my forehead. No one’s here, it’s your imagination. I mentally said, reassuring myself.

 

“I am here, don’t ignore me, Athena, I love you and so do you.” The voice answered.

“A- Aaron…?” I managed to whisper. Imagine him… I instructed myself.

 

So I did. Green eyes, jet black messy hair, tall, that tattoo on his neck, leather jacket, cheeky grin… Every detail that came to my head.

 

“Hey.” A low voice called.

 

 I looked up from the ground to see a pale, nearly transparent body stand before me. It was him; it was Aaron. Dear Lord, ghosts exist…

I wasn’t as shocked as anyone could imagine. My heart imploded in the inside and raced like hell. I was still folded up on the ground, too scared to move. He just stared at me, with his bottle-green big eyes; I could only look back up.

 

“Babe…” I whispered, reaching a hand out for him to grab.

 

He did so, and then he kneeled down to hold me in his arms. His skin was cold, it felt like millions of small prickles when he touches mine. It’s not real; it’s just a dream " a nice dream. I don’t want it to end. Never.

 

“It won’t end.” He whispered in my ear. His breath was freezing against my ear, it gave me Goosebumps.

“It’s a dream.” I whimpered back.

“No, it’s real. I am real.” He gently protested back.

 

 I sniffled as a tear rolled down my cheek. This dream was torture, I’ll be even more heartbroken than before when it ends.

 

“I’m telling you it won’t end!” He snapped, making my eyes open quick and stare at his. “You’re as stubborn as you have always been, Athena.” He said, sitting down on the floor, opposite me, Indian-style.

“But you’re… You’re…” I couldn’t spit the word out.

“A ghost, yes.” He said, smirking. “But a real one, I am not a dream, look.” He said, leaning over to pinch me.

“Ow!” I snapped, rubbing my now-red piece of skin.

“You’re not dreaming, babe, I’m real.” He insisted.

“Right. So now I’m seeing you as a ghost. I am officially crazy.” I stated, nodding slowly. He sight and got up.

“Call me when you’re a believer, like you used to be.” He said, walking out of the kitchen.

“No, wait!” I shouted, shooting up and grabbing his wrist. It was as cold as ice, and those prickles came back in my hand as I touched him.

“See?” He said, swinging back to face me. “It’s all real.” He said, once more.

 

 I smiled weekly at him. I have Aaron, now; to myself. And I didn’t need anyone else.

Author's Note

well, well, I finally put an other chapter ! :) I am so sorry if I'm late ! xx