Chapter # 01: She
His chest pounded as he walked through the empty, dark streets of the city. His long shadow led him like a ghostly companion. He had never felt so alone, yet so alive. The harsh gusts of wind tousled his hair. Taunted and reminded him about how fleeting life was.
His mind was consumed with thoughts of her – the mysterious girl he met just a few weeks ago. She introduced herself as a ghost. Which is unbelievable, yet he chose to believe her.
He crushed leaves under his feet and headed in the direction of their favorite spot: a park bench in front of a tall oak. He could see her silhouette in the distance, sitting motionless and almost statue-like, carved out from darkness. He took a breath and crept towards her.
“Hello,” he said, rubbing his hand against the other.
“Asher,” she said. “Why don’t you believe me when I say I am a ghost?”
“I do.”
“Why are you with me, then?” her eyes fixated on him. “You should be afraid of me.”
“Afraid of you? Why?”
“Because I am a ghost,” her voice raised.
“Why does it matter?” He was aware that ghosts were commonly linked to feelings of fear and peril, yet he couldn’t muster those same sentiments toward her.
“I can hurt you.” Her gaze met the ground.
“Really?” He sat beside her and leaned against the metallic frame that felt cold against his back.
“Probably,” she turned away in the opposite direction.
“Don’t worry,” he paused briefly. “Humans make me fear than ghosts could ever do.”
“Nevertheless…” she began to meet his gaze, but he was quick to interrupt her by placing his hand on hers.
“Revealing your true identity suggests your intentions were not to harm me.”
Relief washed over him as soon as he confessed. Even though she was a ghost but she possessed a different aura than myths.
“You can’t trust ghosts,” she moved her hand away from his.
“It’s a matter of opinion. Humans can’t be trusted,” his mood shifted.
“Why hate humans? You are one of them.”
He took a deep breath. “I am not human.”
“Are you a ghost too?”
“No, I am neither of them. I am just an ordinary person.”
Surprise washed over her face because his words made no sense to her. “How do people differ between human beings and persons?”
“Everyone is a person. But, only a select few of us reach the true form of human being,” he answered, rising from the bench and slipping his hands into his pockets.
She watched him carefully, studying his face in the dim light. “What happened in your past?”
He fixated his gaze on her. “Even after three weeks with me, you’re unaware?”
“I tried my best, but couldn’t fully understand you. It might be the reason I couldn’t harm you so far,” she shrugged.
A smirk spread across his lips. “Well then, let me introduce you to a side of me. I’m actually offering you the chance to hurt me, something I actually desire.”
“Go on,” She moved closer with her chin on her hands and urged him.
“It started when I went to Hyderabad for higher studies and enrolled myself at a famous English center,” he began.
*