Ghosts

We were sitting in a room. Me and you. The wind was drilling our heads.

Shut up, you shouted.

Shut up, the wind shouted back.

Shut up, repeated the echo. But we never heard it. Nor me, nor you.

We were sitting in the room. The lights were off.

Do you believe in ghosts?, asked You.

No, I replied scared of being tricked.

Do you believe in heaven? In hell? In that we go somewhere?

I looked at my cat. She had my grandmother’s eyes.

Me neither, said You. It’s all the same to me.

And then you had an idea that everyone always has. You pointed at the bookcase we hardly saw in the dark. Ouija board, said You. I smiled. You smiled. You put the half-smoked cigarette in the empty glass. I never knew you smoked.

So what do you think, you asked knowing that I would say yes.

We fought over the board like teenagers getting excited about meeting famous people who were long dead.

Who wouldn’t you want to see the most, asked You. Hitler? Stalin? Your father?

My father still lives. I hope I don’t see him.

You set the board and I didn’t get the candles. Our eyes adapted to the pitch black room.

Do you..., you asked. I shook my head. I saw it in films many times. It’s one of these things we never learn.

Let’s put our things together and ask them some questions. But why would there be ghosts in a brand new flat?

You ready?, asked You.

I’m not, said I. You smiled and I smiled and the wind smiled back.

We stared at each other not knowing we did. I felt my hand moving. I smiled. You smiled.

The cat jumped on the board. Or was it your hand? The board slightly moved. You smiled and I did too.

My eyes were now closed and I whispered the question. You liked how I whisper. You told me that once.

The board moved again and I shook my head. You smiled and I didn’t. The wind was quiet as never.

Some books fell from shelves and I heard the floor cracking. I heard you breathed deeply but you weren’t there.

I saw you in the hallway trembling like baby. I saw you in the corner laughing like mad. I gazed down in fear and felt my hand shaking. Relax, I heard your voice. I’m here just like you.

The wind never blew. The echo sang far. The only bodies remaining were me, You and the cat.