Life As We Know It

Santa's Gift?

"Hey!" 

This was all Lillie heard. She would usually keep walking, but something inside of her compelled her to stop. Nobody has ever said anything to her, and that is due to the obvious fact that nobody can see her. So why is every bone in her body telling her she should turn around?

Maybe because when a deep rich voice emanated from behind her, she knew only one person it could be. And even when she knew for a fact, that he wasn't talking to her, she had to at least quench the need to see who he was talking to. She turned around to peek where the unknown man's attention was pointed towards, awaiting to witness an interaction between him and someone, when she realized his attention was on her.

She glanced at him perplexed. Why was he looking at her, and how could he be looking at her? She slowly turned her head back around, to see the most logical option, that someone alive was just now simply standing behind her. The person he was supposed to be staring at, was not there. A look of puzzlement traveled over Lillie's face. "Yeah, I'm talking to you". Lillie froze. She turned her head once more towards the man, and their eyes met.

Her heart stopped. The ticking time bomb it once was, came to an abrupt halt. Before she knew it, Lillie started to jump up and down, maintaining eye contact with the man the whole time, before closing them tightly shut, and ceasing her excitement. The man looked at the woman with bewilderment. 'Is this woman crazy?' he thought as he watched her now in amusement. 

Lillie's eyes flew open and rested upon the man. "Can you hear me?" She faintly asked. She wasn't quite used to talking and when she spoke, she felt her throat go dry. As she waited for a reply, Lillie thought about what she should do. 

The man paused before replying. "Yes? I can hear you? But, I think I should get going. It has been a long night, and I think whatever is going on with you lady, that it might just be too much to handle for me. I just wanted to know why you didn't pay for what you bought. But, whatever, I'm just gonna get going now, so have a goodnight miss." Lillie turned frantic.

She didn't care what she said or did, but she needed to talk to this man more. "Wait! Please sir, I know I have been weird but I would really like to continue talking to you. Would it be okay if you came over to my house right now, it's only a couple of blocks from here, and I can apologize for my weird behavior, perhaps with some coffee?" As soon as she said this, she knew her odd behavior from before, had now officially exceeded the limit that this man could handle. 

Why would a man, who didn't know her, suddenly decide to follow her? Especially a strange woman at that, and one he has never met before. Lillie was about to speak up to take back what she just said, when suddenly the man answered. "Okay". 

This man was surely crazy, somehow more crazy than her at this point. He didn't know who she was, and now he was going to come over to her house? Just like that? 'I must be crazy' he thought. 'Surely there is no way, that in the middle of the night, I am walking over to a random woman's home'. 

His thoughts ran wild, as Lillie slowly decided to start walking. He followed, and together they made their way over to Lillie's house.

———

Carson's Perspective

'She's beautiful' this was the only thought that kept reappearing in my mind. Something inside of me was surely crazy. It felt as if my head tugged at my own soul as she asked me if I wanted to come over. I had to say no. 

Why would she invite an unknown man to her house, unless she felt that she could handle it? 'She's probably a killer or something. Most definitely a killer. 'Say no'. But I didn't. I didn't say no. Instead my mouth almost practically shouted the word okay. 

I couldn't help it though. When I stared at her, the world was practically nonexistent. My heart was on fire. When I first flashed a smile her way, I almost smacked my head. I probably looked so dumb, and then she goes and looks away without acknowledgment. Probably due to the fact I had food in my teeth and she wanted to save me the embarrassment.

But I couldn't help it, and I still can't help it. Her beauty is bewitching me. Her hair was as waves of pure earth, a deep brown that complimented her beautifully. Each strand was moving freely as if in an ocean born breeze, which was a compliment to her stillness. Her eyes were of river waters, which were in a glossy serenity. The aura that she had, seeped into the air between us. 

I was breathless. The lightly dusted freckles across her cheeks and nose, and the way her bangs tickled the top of her eyebrows, was the description of pure beauty for me. I willed myself to stop staring, and be polite. Now, it was time for me to go to her house, and see what was awaiting me.

———

Lillie's Perspective

Well, this is it. He's in my house. Say something Lillie. Try not to be any weirder. Oh gosh, he better not be a killer. Of course he isn't, calm down. "I'm gonna go and make the coffee now, and get some snacks for us while we talk." I slowly walked into my kitchen, and from my kitchen I peered around my house and made sure it wasn't too messy. 

I took note of the front door which enters straight into the living room, and how to the right was the open concept kitchen. Turning around I peered at my dining room, and backyard, and once I realized my house was clean, I decided to start the coffee. 

"Are you broke?" He asked suddenly. "What?" I said, with confusion pouring out of me. "You didn't pay for your groceries, and it appeared as if the cashier didn't mind. So I concluded that maybe you have a deal with him. Or he's your friend perhaps?" 

I burst out laughing. What was I supposed to do? Just tell him straight to his face that I was a ghost? "How about we talk about that later, and we have our coffee and snacks for a quick minute. I think it would be better to show you rather than tell you right now". He nodded his head, and we decided to eat in silence. 

While sitting in silence, all that I had in my mind were questions. How can this man see me? What's different about him? I kept sneaking glances at him, and had one question stuck as the main question in my mind. Was this a gift? Have I been on Santa's extra nice list this year perhaps? 

Once finished, the man silently stared at me. Confusion was evident in his eyes, and I knew he wanted to talk about it finally. "I guess it's time to go", and as I stood up, he followed. We left my house and I decided to go to a busy street late at night, with him following like a lost puppy dog the whole time. 

———

Carson's Perspective

We arrived at a busy street when she finally decided to stop. "We're here", was all she said as she silently walked a few feet ahead on the sidewalk. "Whatever you do, be calm, and don't talk to me". I felt as if the night could not get any weirder, and she just kept proving me wrong. There wasn't much more I could take of this madness. I was exhausted, and just patiently waited for whatever she was about to finally reveal to me. I then quickly noticed that there was a whole herd of people traveling briskly on the sidewalk. They looked as if when they reached her, they would not walk around her, and go straight through her. As I was about to shout out for her to move ... the whole herd went right through her.