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Chapter 5

I am holding a minute tea cup.

“So, how long have you been staying here?". My mom’s eyes sparkled with some kind of inquisitive...spark. Elodie relaxed her back and exhaled sharply. "All my life, I guess", she replied. Her voice was like honey on strawberry cheesecake. Sweet and sultry like the host of an ASMR channel. I hated the fact that I loved her voice. "I may have stayed in other places during the very early years of my life probably, given the fact that I wasn’t born here". She sneaked a glance at me. I looked away and sipped at my teacup.

“I'll leave you two alone". I glared at my mom.No.No.No.Wrong idea. She flashed her brightest smile and left us alone. I and Elodie. The girls next door. I almost choked on my tea. Elodie smiled and looked away. I caught myself staring at her chest. Then her waist. Then her laps. I couldn’t control myself. "You like what you see?". I snapped my eyes shut and gasped like I had been held at gunpoint. I fluttered my hands around and stopped to rub my eyes. I had to make her think it was a fly or a dust particle that entered my eyes or something.

Anything other than her thinking I was interested in her.

“Do you have a room? I would like to see it if you don’t mind". Elodie talks and stands at the same time. I also stand. Only because humans are prone to mimicking the person next to them. "Show me, will you? ”She reaches her hand out. I hold it

I am holding Elodie’s hand.

I think I’m possessed because none of my actions are just according to my brain. Why am I doing this?. She’s a stranger. I loosen my grip and lower my hand. ”Um ,let’s go”. I walk ahead of her and stop at the door of my room. Elodie catches up. I open the door to my room. My eyes widen and I start coughing. I feel like I’m silently choking but I stand very still.

Hailey is sitting on my bed.

I turn around only to see Elodie, who looks like she’s seen a ghost. Her face turns completely white. Mouth wide open, eyes filled with terror and hands hanging by the sides. She couldn’t have seen Hailey. Only I can see Hailey. She must have seen something else. But there’s no spider. No dragon. No unicorn. No clown. Just my furniture, my wallpaper and other things a room should have. Just my bed, with Hailey on it.

“G-ghost-Hailey. Why is she here?”

My heart stops.

My legs give up on me.

I fall to the floor.

Elodie’s eyes are fixed on my lips, again.

“You see her too", I say. I am choking on my tears. Y-You see her". "I’m not crazy! I’m not crazy". I whisper because I don’t have the strength to shout. I don’t know whether these are tears of joy or happiness. I know I’m not crazy. Elodie sees Hailey. Elodie knows Hailey.

I’m not alone.

The world fades away.