Don't Ghost Me

Chapter 3 - Longing

It was a long and exhausting evening for Cait after meeting with Julie’s three ghost friends and band mates. Cait lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling and feeling the anticipation build as she wondered if Luke, Alex, and Reggie were in the studio downstairs.

“Do ghosts even sleep?” she mused, voicing her thoughts. Unable to sleep, Cait sat up and carefully descended from the loft. She sighed and strummed the guitar as she walked through the quiet music studio. Cait sank into the plush leather sofa and gazed up at the blank ceiling, immersing herself in the symphony of nocturnal sounds beyond the door.

“Anyone there?” she asked out loud. “I just wish someone is there, so I don’t feel so alone,” she whispered, the sound of her own voice echoing in the empty room. Her eyes fluttered closed, and a solitary tear traced its way down her face, finally landing on the soft leather of the sofa. Another tear welled up in her eye, and soon there was a steady stream of them.

“This sucks so much,” she said, wiping the wetness from her face. Cait grabbed the soft pillow at her feet and hugged it tightly. She let out a soft whimper, trying to stifle her sobs in the pillow.

Out of nowhere, she felt a gentle touch on her cheek, as if someone had brushed a stray hair away from her face. As someone softly stroked her hair, her crying gradually subsided, comforted by the gentle touch. Cait kept her eyes shut, expecting the emptiness that lay beyond.

“Reggie, is that you?” she said, her voice barely audible as it was muffled within the pillow. “I feel so alone and empty… I wish I could hug you right now. I really need someone to hold me.” After she said that, she clutched the pillow even tighter. The pain in her chest intensified, as if her heart was being squeezed tightly, while the loneliness settled in.

“I’m here,” Reggie said, wishing she could hear him. “I’m not going anywhere. And I wish I could hold you too.”

Reggie’s heart sank as he watched her tears stream down her face. He longed for a solution to ease her pain. All he could think of was stroking her hair and making her feel him close. The sound of Reggie’s humming filled the room, causing Cait’s eyes to flutter open slightly. As she stared into his eyes, she blinked, momentarily taken aback. How was it possible that she could see him right now? Was it because of the melody he was humming? She could even feel his touch as he continued to stroke her hair softly.

As Cait listened, she recognized the familiar melody of the lullaby she sang when she first arrived. It was a lullaby her parents had composed to soothe her to sleep during her nightmares. Even now, it still had a soothing influence. And she loved hearing Reggie’s soft humming, a sweet melody that brought her comfort. Reggie rested his head on his arm, closer to her face as he kept humming and leaving small circles on her temple with his thumb. With unwavering eye contact, Cait observed every detail of his face, savoring the sight of him while she could.

His breath tickled her cheeks, a tangible sign of their closeness. She had an overwhelming urge to express her emotions to him, to unleash a torrent of thoughts and feelings. But she couldn’t form the words as her eyelids grew heavier by the second.

“Try to sleep, Cait,” Reggie whispered. “You need your rest. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

Caitronia smiled, her eyes fluttering shut as she relished the tender caress and melodic timbre of his voice. This was exactly what she had been yearning for all this time. Just to feel something other than the pain and sorrow that was consuming her. For once in a long time, she felt a calmness wash over her, as if all her worries had melted away. Even if it would be for a little while, it’s what she needed to silence her racing thoughts and find rest. Her dreams were filled with pleasant images, where the three boys appeared as living beings rather than ghosts. In her dream, she imagined herself gliding across the dance floor with Reggie, their hands intertwined. She could feel the gentle warmth of his arms as he pulled her into a tender embrace.

However, it was just a dream that she abruptly snapped out of. As her eyes fluttered open, she found herself back in the empty studio; the silence echoing in her ears. Cait let out a tired sigh, rubbed her weary eyes, and slowly sat up. For what felt like an eternity, she stared blankly at the coffee table before finally noticing the note that lay there.

“I promise I’m still here,” the note read and Reggie signed it. A smile spread across Caitronia’s lips, her cheeks wet with a few tears. A sudden, icy sensation on her face interrupted her tears, leaving her breathless.

“Reggie?” she whispered, closing her eyes as the coldness lingered. “I could really use a hug right now.”

“I really wish I could hug you,” Reggie replied, although his words went unheard. Saying them out loud made him feel better, like a weight being lifted off his chest.

He carefully traced small circles on her cheek with his thumb, all the while searching her face and taking in every detail. Reggie just wanted to let her know he was still there. He stared at her lips and bit into his. It would be unwise to proceed with that plan. As he leaned in closer, he could hear the soft sound of her breathing, a rhythm that matched his own. Cait shut her eyes tightly as she felt his presence getting closer, and he kissed her tenderly, their lips meeting. Immediately, she was fully awake, her fingers finding the spot where Reggie had kissed her, a gentle reminder of their connection. A grin spread across Reggie’s face as he let out a hearty chuckle. Why was he feeling this way towards someone who was still among the living? As he thought about it more, the smile slowly faded from his face. They could never be together, even if she could see him. It was a love story that defied logic and reality - a living girl and a ghost boy entangled in a passionate relationship? He forcefully pushed aside the negative thought and gently caressed her cheek. Cait leaned in, feeling the icy touch against her skin, and couldn’t help but smile.

“Thank you for being here for me, Reggie,” she whispered.

“Always,” he scribbled on the notebook. “I promised you I would, no matter what.”

Just then, Alex and Luke materialized out of nowhere and observed before Luke cleared his throat to get Reggie’s attention. Their love-struck friend glanced at them, his hand caressing Cait’s cheek gently.

“We got a gig at a huge venue,” Luke said with a wide grin. “It would be good for Cait to get out of the house. Let her know it’s tonight, and we’d love for her to be there.” With that, Luke and Alex disappeared. Reggie looked at Cait and smiled and took the pencil in his hand and scribbled down the words Luke had just told him.

Cait vehemently shook her head, signaling her disagreement. “I’m not ready to go out in public right now, Reggie.”

“You’d be able to see us again, Cait,” Reggie wrote. “You’d be able to see me again.”

With a heavy sigh, Caitronia got up from her seat and paced back and forth, her lips bitten with nervousness. “Julie is the only person I know around here. I don’t think I’d feel comfortable being in a crowd. I really want to see you again,” she whispered, her eyes filled with anticipation. “It would be great if I could see you whenever I felt like it, like Julie can see you.”

Her sad expression transformed into annoyance, and she tightly crossed her arms. The emotions she was currently feeling seemed undeserved. Their unfairness extended not only to her but also to Reggie. The memory of the icy touch on her lips consumed her thoughts. It’s possible that he kissed her at that moment. A ghost boy was interested in a living girl?

Cait’s arms fell limply to her sides as she drew in a deep breath, allowing the calming scent of the room to wash over her. “Alright, I’ll go.”

In a burst of excitement, Reggie leaped up and dashed towards her, standing in front of her, eager for her to feel his presence. As he reached for her hand, he could feel his heartbeat quicken. Cait raised her hand up and felt the icy touch, sending a chill down her spine. As Reggie rested his forehead against hers, he could feel the gentle rhythm of their breaths harmonizing.

“I feel like all I do now is wish,” Cait said abruptly. “We only met yesterday, but I feel like I’ve known you for a long time. I would feel so much better if I could feel you hug me.”

They stood there in silence, their hands intertwined, as Reggie’s gentle touch brushed against her cheek, tucking away a stray hair. An icy breath tickled her cheeks, causing her to shiver.