Bittersweet

The next night found Mary and Lily in about the same routine. Mary was busy typing away at her computer, while Lily was pacing preoccupied with her own thoughts. “Well that about does it for tonight” said Mary breaking the heavy silence.

“So your project is all finished now?” inquired Lily.

“Just about”

“What still needs to be done?”

“Well I still am missing one story, but I’m thinking of just putting some kind of note with it that stated I couldn’t find the source of the story.”

“What story are you looking for?”

“Your’s.”

As soon as the word was out of Mary’s mouth, she realized she had been having a conversation with Lily herself, and not just talking to herself like she sometimes did. Whirling around on the room, Mary looked about trying to find the source of the voice. “You can talk?”

“Yes.”

“But you never have talked to me before.”

“You never really said anything to me that asked for a response before.”

“Wow....so um hi.” Mary swore she could hear soft giggling near her. She whipped around again, squinting; trying so hard to see the body of the voice she was talking to.

“Mary, would it make it easier on you, if you could see me?”

“Yes, it would. Long as it isn’t too much trouble...” Mary trailed off.

“No trouble at all,” replied Lily.

Within moments, a figure of misty contents began to appear a few steps away from Mary. As it solidified Mary could make out Lily’s features and dress. “Wow...” whispered Mary.

“Thank you, I think. Though I think it would have been more impressive if I could be in color, but that’s what you get when you’re dead” mused Lily.

“Still, I’ve never seen a ghost before. Never had a conversation with one either.”

“Then tonight is a night of firsts, isn’t it?”

“I guess so.”

“But I would appreciate it, if you didn’t go gabbing about to your friends about this. If word got out, I’d have every blithering moron with a Ouija board, trying to “contact” me.”

“No, believe me I won’t. They’d probably lock me up anyways. Wait, you died who knows how long ago, how the heck do you know about Ouija boards?”

“I might be dead, but I’m not deaf. And I’ve certainly had my share of roommates in the past that I’ve seen and heard quite a few things.”

“Oh. Sorry. That also kind of explains how you don’t talk like I thought you would.”

“No, I started picking up the new lingo after it got too confusing to understand what was being said. I mean a person can’t really eavesdrop, when she doesn’t understand what’s being said.”

“I suppose that’s true enough. Why would you be eavesdropping though?”

“Well one, I’m just naturally curious. Two, it’s kinda hard not to when I’m right here and three, since I can’t leave the room, it’s kinda nice to know what’s going on beyond that door” Lily finished pointing to the door.

“Why don’t you just leave the room and see what’s going on for yourself?”

“Because I can’t.”

“Why?”

“You certainly ask a lot of questions.”

“Sorry, it’s just why stay in this room you know? I mean it must get awfully boring and I’m sure you’d like a change of scenery now and again.”

“Well yes, I would. But that doesn’t change the fact that I can’t leave the room, even if I wanted to.”

“Well why?”

“Because of how I died” Lily explained and then continued, “but really that’s a story for another day. You should be going to sleep if you’re going to get up on time.”

“Yeah I suppose you’re right.”

With that, the misty form dissipated and Mary got ready for bed. Just as she was falling asleep, Mary got up the courage to ask Lily what she’d been thinking about since she had found out that her ghostly roommate could talk. “Hey Lily?”

“Yes?”

“If it isn’t too much..trouble...would you tell me your story. Yanno so I could finish my paper. If you don’t want to though, I understand.”

“No, I’ll tell you. Tomorrow, before two in the morning though, okay?”

“Sure. But why before two?”

“Because I have an...engagement then that’s why.”

“Oh. Okay. Good night Lily.”

“Good night Mary.”