A Ghost's Story

*Mentions of death*

Immortal. Now that’s an idea I never thought of when I was alive. Of course, I had heard whispers of such people, if you could call them that. Legends say they have untold powers, like quick healing, and mind-reading abilities, and even that they can heal others, even from lethal wounds. That would’ve been helpful to know. This was, of course, Mrs.Grant’s fault. The topic for this month’s Religious Studies was the Immortals, and she told me ahead of time because I just like to know these things.

So, as I was walking to school in my sunshine-yellow tennis shoes, my light-brown-into-blonde hair bouncing with my steps, these thoughts spiralled around my mind endlessly. I walked through a couple of moving cars at the crossing, making one of them slam on their brakes before they realised they could see through me. To be honest, I don’t make it easy for anyone with all the bright clothes I wear. I put my hand up in a silent apology and continued to school. When I got to the gates, I had never been more thankful to be a ghost because the amount of living people trying to get in was crazy! The wind blew my curly hair into my face and as I brushed it aside, I tripped over another ghost’s leg.

“Oof!” I said as I went down, falling on the girl’s leg. “Sorry, I couldn't see, my hair was in my-” I abruptly cut off as I noticed the solidarity of the girl on the floor next to me. She was unremarkable in every way except for the shocking violet colour of her eyes. She smiled timidly at me and continued collecting her books, which had spilt all over the floor. I got up in a daze, wondering how she could’ve knocked me over, since she was alive and I, well, I wasn’t. I shook off the weirdness, convincing myself I had just accidentally made myself solid in time to trip over her.

Us long-term ghosts could do that. We were the ones who couldn't move on because we had something bigger to accomplish in our lives, whereas the short-term ghosts just stuck around because they still had a promise or something equally insubstantial to fulfil. It was harder for them to be solid, even for a minute, and they often tired themselves out that way. For me, and all other long-term ghosts, it was much easier and we did it periodically throughout the day without feeling much strain.

I walked through the halls (and walls) until I got to my locker. I turned solid briefly to collect my books and put them in my ghost-friendly backpack. Or as it’s commonly referred to in the living world, ‘Unfinished product’. 

The “polite” word for ghosts is Unfinished, but if you’re a ghost, and you call another ghost a ghost, it’s fine. But it might be a bit pretentious if a living person whom you don’t know calls you a ghost. But as I was recognising these social rules and how people should really respect ghosts more, a voice called out most shockingly:

“Ghostgirl” Heavy footsteps echoed down the corridor, as disgruntled expletives were uttered.

“Elli! Wait up!” I turned around just in time for Zach to run through me and get tangled in my backpack straps. Again. I sighed.

“Zach, for just once, could you NOT run through me? I mean, most living people find it weird or even creepy to walk through us, but you seem to be fine with it.” I made my hand solid just in time for him to grasp it and continue walking down the hallway with me, our intertwined fingers swinging between us.

“Well, I thought you might want an escort to class, and I just happened to be late this morning, so I wanted to make sure you were still available for a friendly chat before the monotony begins. Oh, and have you heard about the ‘guest speaker’ for RS? I’ve only heard whispers, but I know you like to know this sorta stuff way before it’s common knowledge.” He finally stopped for breath as we came to my first-period classroom.

“No, but I do know the month’s subject is the Imortals, although I think it should be a history subject since it’s more like a legend than a real thing. Bye, Zach.” And with that, I kissed him on the cheek and walked through the classroom door. He grinned at me through the glass and waved goodbye. I waved back and sat at my desk, wondering why Mrs.Grant hadn't told me about this “speaker” when I asked last week.

***

“Amara!” I spotted her just before she disappeared into a wall, and she stepped back and poked her head out of the wall, seeing me and waving. I walked through the students running down the halls, trying to get to lunch before the lines got too long.

“Hey,” I said as I caught up to her, “Are you excited for RS?” She looked down and shrugged.

“I don’t know, I mean if there were Immortals, why don't they live among us and interact with us? Are they too stuck up? Do they think we’re lesser? I don’t know, I just don’t like the thought of them. It makes me uncomfortable thinking that maybe my mum didn’t have to move on, maybe she and I could’ve lived properly, y’know?” She noticed me cringe and her eyes widened.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t think! I’m so stupid, really, I’m sorry.” I shook my head, pushing the memories back into the dark recess of my mind they had been since it happened.

“No, it’s fine. I need to get used to it, I mean, you’ve been a ghost since you were born. And it wasn't her fault. You and I both know that. I think I just need a bit more time to, I don’t know, deal with the trauma or whatever. It’s fine, really.” Amara nodded and offered me a small smile.

“If it’s any consolation, it’s pizza day.” I grinned back at her.

“Only if I get in line first.”

“You’re on.” And with that, we both took off in the direction of the canteen. 

When we arrived at the end of the line, I looked around the tables, trying to find the one face I knew better than the others. I saw him talking with some of his other friends, since his classroom was closer to the cafeteria than mine, he had already gotten his food and eaten more than half of it. When Zach looked up, I waved and he waved back. I shuffled further along the line and grabbed my pizza along with some dessert. As always on a pizza day, the dessert was chocolate pudding, light, fluffy and smooth. Amara and I sat down with some girls from our classes, and we all talked about nothing in particular. 

Suddenly, hands covered my eyes, and a smooth, deep voice said,

“Guess who.” I smiled, needing no other hints.

“Zach, you know I’ll always know it’s you.” I said as I grabbed his wrists in my now-solid hands and pulled them to the side, tipping my head back and grinning up at him as he bent down to kiss me. Amara giggled cheekily beside me and stood up.

“I think we’ll leave you two to it. But Elli, you should get going soon, the bell’s about to ring.” She and the other girls walked away to put their trays in the ‘used’ rack and then left.

“We should get going, Zach.”

“Only if I can’t find you.” He said in reference to the game we sometimes play, where he tries to find me when I’m invisible.

“OK,” I said, as I turned invisible, and slowly walked towards the wall of the cafeteria nearest the RS classroom. 

“You better not be in anything,” Zach warned as he carefully made his way in the direction of the double doors, one wall from where I was standing. I laughed and his head whipped towards where I was positioned.

“I know the rules, don’t worry.” Zach was hamming it up, stretching his arms out and waving them wildly. I was about to step away from his flailing arms, but the bell chose that moment to ring loudly. The harsh sound made me jump and become visible again, just as Zach’s arm went through my torso. I saw the goosebumps raise on his skin and I stepped back. I grinned, trying to dislodge the uncomfortable feeling that had suddenly crept up my spine.

“So, race you to RS?” I challenged Zach and as soon as the answer came via his slightly evil grin, I took off through the walls, knowing I would get there before the second bell.

Briefly, I heard Zach’s thundering footsteps echo down the adjacent halls, along with the customary yells and threats that follow a speeding student. I smiled to myself, recognising the area I was in and knowing I would be on time for the class. I could no longer hear Zach, so I assumed I was safe in claiming the victory for our little race. I put on one more burst of speed right as I ran through the wall to the RS classroom. The boy that was standing next to my teacher made me stop and stare.

He had this glow about him like he had a stage light stuck in him. His face was sculpted and blemish-free, his shoulders broad. He was built very athletic-like, his muscles big, but not bulging. And from the way he stood, you could tell he was confident and in control. I realised a bit too late I was staring and blushing furiously I headed to my seat. As I pulled out my chair, I looked up and saw the girl with the violet eyes again, and this time she was looking at me with a keen interest. I quickly turned around and plonked down in my chair right as the door flew open, and Zach appeared red-faced and panting in the opening. He glanced at the boy, and they assessed each other since Zach’s entry had interrupted Mrs.Grant’s and his conversation.

“Zach, next time, can you not slam the door into the wall, please? It’s quite expensive to replace.” Mrs.Grant regarded him cooly, one eyebrow arched.

“Yeah, sorry Mrs.Grant.” He said quickly, looking around the room and upon spotting me, walked over and sat in the seat opposite mine.

“What’s up with the new guy?” Zach whispered as he caught me looking at the handsome boy in question.

“Uh, I have no idea.” I said, “Wait, maybe he’s the ‘guest speaker’ everyone’s talking about?” Zach narrowed his eyes and studied the newcomer.

“Hmm, I think he’s an alien trying to invade Earth by using the teachers. He’s sweet-talking Mrs.Grant, and who knows who his next victim will be?” Zach said conspiratorially. I laughed loudly but covered my mouth half from embarrassment and half from the way the new boy was looking at me. The final bell rang and made me jump. Again.

“All right class, today we have a very special guest. Please welcome Peter, who will be sharing about the Immortals and what it means to be one.” Mrs.Grant paused, waiting for applause, but all she got was a smattering of claps. She stepped to the side and sat in the chair at her desk, waiting for Peter to begin.

“Hi everyone! As you all now know, my name’s Peter, and I want to talk to you about the ‘Immortals’.” He made air quotes and smiled knowingly, only what he knew was anyone’s guess. 

“For as long as humans have been on this blessed earth, we have been around. Originally, we all had the same beliefs and we were all ‘Immortal’. But then, some fell away. They decided they didn't want to study all that makes us immortal, and they wanted an easy life. They became unkind and mean, selfish and rude. They didn’t want to wait until they were married to have kids, they just wanted to do what they wanted when they wanted it. And while that may sound fun, think if you were on the receiving end of it. What if it was your girlfriend or your boyfriend they were taking advantage of? How would you feel if someone took your phone, or your bag just because they wanted it? The world would fall into chaos! And it did. Most people, when they saw the fun the others were having, stopped practising the most crucial part of our being; Anvarol. Eventually, there were just a few of us left, and even now, our numbers are rapidly decreasing. Everyone forgot about Anvar and the power it gives us. They forgot about the healing powers that came with being an Anvarolian.” Throughout his speech, Peter looked around to make sure he had everyone’s attention.

“Being Anvarolian has plenty of benefits, but some may see some downsides as well. For instance, we study the ancient texts of the prophets of Anvar and we discuss them and how to apply them to our lives. This might seem like a big task to some because we spend hours in the morning studying and talking about these texts. To others, the time and effort of keeping to the strict moral codes might look like a waste of time. In summary, Anvarol is a timeless practice, that has been forgotten over many long years. Any questions?” He looked around expectantly, as a few tentatively raised their hands. He pointed to one person in the back, whom I couldn’t see due to the tall people sitting behind me.

“So, are you actually immortal? Can you not die?” Peter smiled gently.

“Yes, if you practice Anvarol you will find nothing can take away your understanding of life in the Anvar. Because Anvar is actually Life itself. It’s also Peace and Love and Joy, Truth and Mind and Principle. Does that answer your question?” The person must've nodded because Petter pointed to someone else.

“Is it true you can talk to the dead?” I recognised the voice this time and I was surprised to realise it was Amara.

“Yes and no. So as I said before, Anvar is Life, so no one really dies they just move on.” He sighed and looked to the ceiling, thoughtful.

“So, there are different levels of reality. There’s this one, where Unfinisheds and the living exist together, and then there is the Other. The Other is most commonly thought of as heaven, where the dead go after life. But the thing is, death doesn't really exist. You just move on when you’re ready, and that’s why ghosts are called Unfinisheds because they haven’t really finished living to their fullest capability. Here, it looks like someone stops breathing and their heart stops pumping, but life is soo much more than just blood and breath. How do ghosts stick around? Their bodies aren’t here, but their Soul is, and that’s the part that matters. That’s the part that moves on and continues living long after its body has disintegrated. Do you get that?”

“I guess.” Amara sighed. I put my hand up before anyone else could, making sure to get Peter’s attention. He nodded his approval and I jumped into my question.

“But what if a ghost wanted to start practising Anvarol? How would that work? Because we don't have bodies to become immortal.”

“Ah, I was wondering if someone was going to ask that.” He nodded and smiled encouragingly at me, “If you don't have a body to ‘preserve’ how do you become immortal? Well, if you are practising Anvarol, you will soon realise that bodies don’t really matter, and they’re only needed some of the time. For instance, the ones who have ‘passed on’ don’t have their bodies, but they don't need them for the stage they’re on in their journey. So simply put, if you’re a ghost and you’re practising Anvarol, you’ll find you have a body when you need it. And don’t think this is some weird thing where you take any body you want; you’ll appear in your previous form (in other words however your body looked like when it was with you) and find it disappears when you don’t need it.” I sat thinking about what he had said, puzzling the sentences over in my mind. I almost missed what the next person was saying, I was so deep in thought.

“What about all the ‘powers’ you guys are said to have?”

“Well, I think most of them are true, but they’re thought of differently than you think of them. We can ‘teleport’ yes, but we think of it more as ‘being where we need to be’ no matter where our bodies are. We can’t read minds, but we can heal, thanks to our understanding of health, and again, we believe Anvar is Health.” Mrs.Grant stood up and clapped her hands once.

“OK, class, I think Peter needs to be going. So let's finish this class with a little writing project; please write down anything you liked about what Peter shared with you, what you didn't like and what you would like more information on. Now let’s say thank you to Peter and let him go back home.”

After Peter had faded out of view in front of the whole class, Mrs.Grant handed us each a lined piece of paper. She gave us until the bell rang to finish writing our feedback on the lecture. I stuck the end of the pencil in my mouth, an old habit. I thought for a few moments before I started to scribble furiously.