Visitant Love

"Miss?" A sputtering apology escaped Kayla's lips as her eyes refocused on the old lady in front of her. The soft wrinkles creased as the lady expressed a worried look at Kayla. The aged landlord gestured swiftly to the surroundings as she asked again, "I was wondering if you liked the apartment?" "Oh, yes very much," Kayla confirmed gently. "If I may, why is the price so low? I mean I am not complaining, but I am a bit curious." Unfazed by this question, the lady slipped a smile and replied joyfully, "I am looking to make an extra buck and fill all these units, so I can vacation to Europe!" She chuckled as she reached into her bag, pulling out the lease papers and setting them on the counter. "I just need you to sign here and you are all set to move in." Seemingly like a valid response, Kayla signed the papers and smiled awkwardly at her new landlord. "Thanks...uh" "Beth," she slid the papers back into her bag, "let me know if you need any assistance." Beth quickly left and, just like that, Kayla was alone. A silent air fell stagnant in the empty apartment. She was alone. No family. No friends. Just Kayla and her thoughts. Her thoughts... now that's a scary thing. Everytime Kayla started to think she would spiral into deep thoughts reflecting on past events. If she wasn't conscious of it, she could be lost in her own mind for a long time. Her thought began with the origin of longing, but twisted into confusion of her own feelings. Did she miss him? Why on earth would she miss someone who used her? Before she got too deep she snapped out of it, enraged at her own thoughts. "Stupid," she muttered under her breath as she shut the door behind her. She had to unpack. Some time later. Pitter-patter. Rain descended upon the building. Kayla laid on the floor looking sorrowfully at the ceiling. She zoned out to the faint sound of TV falling on her ears. The lights were off in the apartment, leaving it illuminated by the TV playing an action movie. Up and down her chest went as she drifted further and further into sad thoughts of the past. Eventually, her eyes shut and she fell asleep. She was dreaming. A soft breeze swayed a curtain as sunlight began to seep into the room, highlighting a Queen-sized bed occupied by two bodies. Kayla laid there looking wistfully at the man next to her. He was awake and had his arm wrapped around her. "Kyle," Kayla began, "do you only like me for my body?" This question had been haunting her since she met him. While they had been together for only two months, she thought of him as her whole world. "Yea," he replied shortly, with no emotion in his voice or even looking at her. A void of silence took over as Kayla waited for him to say he was joking. Yet... he never did. She laid there still in his arms, wondering why and how she had gotten to this moment. Her eyes began to swell. She couldn't cry, that would be weak. BANG Kayla startled awake, sitting up off the floor looking around at her surroundings. As she scanned the room, she found a box that had fallen off the counter onto the floor. Luckily, the tape held the box shut and all the contents within from spilling out onto the floor. I must have set it close to the edge, she thought. Kayla picked the box up off the floor and the moment she set it on the counter her TV shut off. "What the heck?" she exclaimed. She turned to face her, now dark, living room full of boxes. A cold air settled on her. Brr, she shivered. Hesitantly, she shuffled toward her TV. She kneeled down to reach the switch when suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, a figure appeared near the counter. "Ah!" she exclaimed as she felt on her butt. Kayla quickly reached for the power button, turning on the TV and returning light into the room. She swung her head back towards the spot where she had seen the figure and only found a stack of three boxes. My eyes must be playing tricks on me, she thought. Rubbing her eyes, she sighed and got up from her fallen position. What time is it? She pondered as she looked for her phone. Great 5:00 am, she dreadfully admitted. Since she was awake she might as well unpack. Box after box she opened and box after box she emptied. Until finally she was done, she packed light anyways. She decided to take the cardboard down for recycling after. As she was placing the broken-down boxes in the bin, she couldn't help but overhear the people behind her. "Is that her?" one asked. "Shh, you are too loud," the other whispered. "Sorry but is that the one who moved into 33?" "Ya, we'll see if she lasts longer than the others" Longer than the others, Kayla thought, what's that supposed to mean? Unsettled by hearing this she decided it was time to just go back in her apartment. For Kayla it was better to not think about things like that because she was an overtthinker and once she started thinking about it, it consumed her. Upon arriving back at her apartment, Kayla singled out her Bluetooth speaker and put on upbeat music. It was time to organize! She danced, she sang, and organized a little. However, she was making progress. A few hours into her jam session, she was organizing her books when suddenly she heard a male voice shout, "Hey!" Throwing the book in hand away from her as she jumped, Kayla looked around her room in a panic. Nothing. Her heart was racing. She heard that. A man had just yelled, she wasn't going crazy. Carefully she made her way to the living room. Nothing. Then the bathroom, and yet again nothing. I'm not crazy, she thought. Kayla decided to get back to work and this time she turned the music louder. She was determined to get settled. Her focus was on organizing her books into color themes. Picking up the book she had previously thrown, Kayla resumed. A shiver ran down her spine, an odd thing t be paired with her racing heart. Is the AC on? she wondered as she put her books on the shelf. THUMP. THUMP. A slight banging could be heard just barely through her loud music. Kayla paused and tilted her head and she tried to confirm what she was hearing. Not being able to quite focus she paused her music. Silence She looked around waiting for the noise to resume and just when she was about to turn her music back on an eerie whisper grazed her ears "leave." To afraid to even make a noise Kayla jumped back into the corner of the room strucken with fear. Ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok. Breathe just breathe. Minutes go by and she's just sitting in the corner with her head in her knees. More time goes by and she is still in this position heaving heavy breathes. She begins to go into an immense sob. Why. Please I just want something to go right in my life. I really don't want to deal with a haunted apartment. After pleading with herself she finds the feeling of frustration taking over. Fed up she stands with her head held high. I won't be bullied anymore. "Listen here you visitant being! I have had a terrible two months, I MEAN TERRIBLE! I just want to move into a nice apartment with a killer deal and be happy! I want to be happy!! And I am not about to let some ghost ruin it, find somewhere else to haunt!" Kayla screamed with her eyes shut and fists shaking at her side. Tear were streaming down her face as she trembled. Silence fell over the room and she kept her eyes closed waiting for a reply. A voice spoke out. However it was different from before, gentler and sincere. A regretful tone sung, "I'm sorry." Kayla's thoughts began running wild, Oh my god. It was a ghost. Was this why the people before her had never stayed long? Is he scary? Should I open my eyes? Will he hurt me? I'm scared. "I really am sorry" he apologized again. "I..." he searched for the words, "I just don't like people living in my home." Kayla couldn't help but feel sad after hearing this. She decided to open her eyes. What she say was not what she expected. It was a young man. He wore a concerned face. He looked worried for her but he kept his distance to comfort her. "That's the first time I've had a man apologize to me" she joked. A moment passed and then they both started laughing. Tears were streaming down her face yet she was laughing. All the negative energy had left the room and a feeling of safeness settled over. Kayla calmed her laugh and looked at the man infront of her. A soft smile graced her face. His smirk parted as he spoke, "my name's Luke."