The Galaxy Behind Her Eyes

She stood near me, comforting me in any sort of way she thought would help. “Trust me. Like, really trust me! It’s… it can be a bit overwhelming at first.”

She took my hand and held it tight. “I still don’t believe it.” I flatly called out, seeing the hope disappear like her smile. “This is ridiculous.”

“No! Wait.” She held my hands and she got closer to my face. I can see her blue eyes, a faint galaxy glossed over. I always saw that was special in her, but it was never linked to this ability. “Trust me, alright?”

I rolled my eyes and squeezed to her hands like she did mine. I looked into her eyes, seeing them shift. The stars in her galaxy eyes twinkled, like they would at night. Blue slowly morphed into a red, magenta color. It was indescribable. Her smile wore off into a mindless gap, seeing how she paid no attention to the surroundings around us. I looked around instead, seeing the objects on the table slowly levitate. Her hair defied gravity, the books did too. I felt weightless, I was off the ground. She was too! What is happening? I looked at her necklace, a golden glow floating to her face. I followed, retracing back to her magenta eyes. There was no pupil, just a starry galaxy.

She blinked, the world was back. The blue glossy galaxy and pupil were back, we dropped to the floor again. “Maria, was it?”

Maria? She passed away a year ago. “No, no way.”

She gave a deep sigh and smiled, a kind of smile where her eyes ever so slightly closed, and tears had started forming. “Trust me.” She closed her eyes and bowed slightly, I can see tears stream slightly from her eyes. She moved out of the way, revealing her.

Maria.

She was… she was there. She wasn’t, but she was. She had the classic wavy brunette hair and the flowy white blouse she loved. Of course, she was ghostlier and pale… but I can see the tanned skin still, the makeup blush she liked to put on and the obvious mascara. She was there, I… no way could she be.

“Theodore.” She called to me. I can see the tears rush in and stream down her face, not ruining the perfected makeup. “Teddy, baby.” She whimpered, she was here. She was truly here. “Teddy, I missed you so much.” As she walked up, I felt hot tears drip from my eyes. I grew weak in my knees and dropped immediately. My heart raced, beating so quickly I couldn’t comprehend the feeling.

I felt the feeling on my back, a weight being pushed against my front. I looked up, seeing the ghostly body cling onto me. “Finally, I’m perfectly fine… see?” She let go and kneeled before me. Her face streamed with tears, “Look at me, Teddy. I’m fine! You were so worried, I understand. But I’m completely okay.” She placed one hand on my shoulder, I felt that pressure.

My chest still raced with my heart pounding. “Maria?” I heard myself speak. I was crying, that was a weak voice that came out. “Maria, is that you?” My voice cracked in that sentence, the tears only coming more frequently. I went out and hugged her, feeling a cooler touch than from her hand. I felt weird, I can’t describe this feeling. It was hard to see her, I felt lost and now I feel like everything is right again.

“It’s me.” I heard her whimper the words, “I’m here, you can see me.”

We were there, at least a minute, of just us hugging. I couldn’t let go, I didn’t want to let go. She was my sister, everything I hoped and dreamed of was to see her after that car accident… and she’s here. I didn’t want to let go, not anymore, not ever. I missed her so much, I still cry ever since the funeral announced her burial.

“It’s…” Zoey started, I looked up seeing her eyes had changed to a deeper red color, “It’s time to go.”

“No.” I whispered. I couldn’t believe this, it was only a minute. She was here for only a minute! “No! She can stay with us!” I heard my voice crack into tears again. I couldn’t stop myself. “Longer, please.”

To no avail, I felt her slowly space away from me. The pressure on my shoulders were lifted and I couldn’t feel her body wrapped in my arms. “Teddy.” I heard her call out. I looked out, seeing her face dissolve into the surrounding area. “Please visit me, with the family.”

“Stay longer! Maria you can’t leave us again!” I yelled out. I tried to touch her, grab her and force her back. But she stood up. I stood up, seeing an obvious difference in heights. I was now taller than her she smiled.

She reached her hands, as pale and dainty as they might seem, up to my face. The last touch I had felt from her. “Take good care, both of yourself and our family.” With that, Maria went back to Zoey. She looked at me and sniffled. Zoey took her hand and she disappeared.

Zoey looked faint and regained her balance, only holding her head in what looked like a migraine. She looked at me, her eyes back to normal. I went up and grabbed her wrist, forcing her to my face and making me look into those eyes. They were blue, the pupils were back and the galaxy was still glossed over. “What!” I yelled out loud, she pushed herself away. I now realize how awkward and forceful that grab must’ve felt.

“She sees over you for a while, and I knew today was the day you could have seen her again. She did die today.” Zoey stated. “I don’t do this often, and when I do it’s for the pets all around us. I take care of them the best I can. Help them find their homes one way or another.”

“Your… you…” I couldn’t find the words. I sat myself in the chair behind me, trying to comprehend such a sight. “You saw Maria… she was here, I… we…”

“She stays around you for everything, even now.” Zoey sat next to me, putting her hand on my shoulder. “She wants to make sure you are okay, and I’m here to help deliver that promise to tell you… she’s okay.”

She was here. I got to see her today on her Death day.

I got to see her… why did that feel so bittersweet?

Start time: 9:07 PM 2/5/19 BREAK AT 9:30 PM / START UP AT 11:08 PM

End time: 11:22 PM