Finally Seen

(Warning for Mental issues, depiction of death & character just being dead.)

Everyone has been acting off today, first Mrs.Brown marked me absent, despite me being in class. And then Daniel ignores me! It’s like they can't even see me…It’s alright though, it’s probably just a prank, but everyone’s been doing it…why?

I shrugged at the thought as I walked over to my friends.

“Why isn’t Rocky picking up his phone,” Daniel asked nervously. “He always picks up.”

Why was he trying to call me…and why wasn’t my phone buzzing? I was right here, there was no need for them to try and call me.

“I don't know,” Andrew chimed in. “He hasn’t been in school all day.”

“What are you talking about dude,” I said. “I’m right here! Can't you see me?” They were talking about me as if I weren’t there.

They just ignored me. “All day? That’s odd,” -Michael made a face- “he’s never missed a day of school.”

I was starting to get annoyed. “I’m right here, if this is some elaborate prank, stop it!” I yelled, hoping it wouldn’t draw too much attention, but hoping for my friends to snap out of it…it did nothing, no one around us heard me and they especially didn’t act like they heard me.

I went up to Michael and pushed his arm, just for my hands to go through him and me stumble forward. When I regained my footing my eyes widened in shock. What…just happened? What the hell! Was my mind playing a trick on me, no. I was sure my hands went through him, I tried again…same outcome. What is going on?! I decided just to go home, I was able to touch anything else, so why not people?

When I got home, I got my answer really quick. An ambulance had been at my house, my mother outside crying, my body lying in the kitchen. I got my answer…I was dead. Oh my god, I’m dead! This was horrible, but it had been what I had wished for…right? I wasn’t expecting to die randomly though. I hadn’t even noticed that I’d died, so what could have caused it? An investigator came into the room, announcing that this area was closed off for investigation. He looked at my body and then around the room, stopping where I was with a shocked expression flashing on his face…had he seen me? No, that’s not possible. He shook his head and looked away from me. No, he definitely saw me.

The investigator and three others brought the body back to their lab, I for some reason felt obliged to go with them. It was so cool and so weird at the same time, I shouldn't be here, but I was a ghost. What are they going to do, kick me out? They couldn’t, seeing as only one of them could see me, and I hoped he would be able to hear me too. I read his name tag…Dr Jaron Iverson. Odd name, but whatever…I waited until he was in his lab alone and called out, highly doubting he could hear me.

“Dr. Iverson?” I said, not expecting a response.

He hummed and turned around, his face paling when he saw me. “Why am I the one who can see ghosts..?” He asked himself quietly, he looked at me again. “What do you need? You do know there is nothing I can do to help you now that you’re dead, correct?”

I sighed, but then I realized that he could actually hear me, that was new. “How can you hear me? More importantly, how can you see me?” I questioned.

“I’ve always been able to see the dead, never once have I talked to them,” he said. “Now, why is it that you have stuck around me?”

I shrugged. “Don’t know? Just bored, and it’s been annoying not being able to be seen…until you did,” I paused. “Do you think I could try something?”

He was confused, but he allowed it. “Of course.”

I walked towards him, hesitating for a moment. I really wasn’t sure if I was able to touch him, but I seriously doubted that despite being seen and heard by him. These two things were probably all I was limited to. I reached my hand out, my fingers touching the soft fabric of his coat. I was able to touch him…Holy crap I could touch him! My face lit up like a little kid’s. He just looked bewildered.

“How,” he started. “That shouldn’t be possible.” He was fascinated by this, no doubt trying to figure it out.

I just stood there in shock, not realizing how much time had passed by with my hand on his arm until he moved his hand up and touched my hand, once again shocked that he could touch me and I could touch him. We stayed like that for a second before realizing it was getting a bit awkward and I pulled my hand away. No doubt this defied everything that was real for spirits and the dead. Despite every bit of nervousness in my body, I smiled. Jaron just shook his head as if to shake off the surprise and went back to the table where my body laid with his clipboard.

It was so odd seeing myself like that, pale with white covering the color in my eyes. I was…well…dead. I folded my arms over my chest uncomfortably, Jaron must have noticed my discomfort because he set his clipboard down and walked over to me, putting his hand on my shoulder.

"You don't have to stay in here," he said in a soothing tone. "I know this is unsettling to you."

"I don't mind..." I muttered. "But thank you for being concerned." I smiled a bit at him. "Friends?"

He smiled back. "Friends."

THE END