Jim Knew His Wife All Too Well To Know When She Said Everything Was Fine, There Was Definitely Something

Jim knew his wife all too well to know when she said everything was fine, there was definitely something wrong. He could hear it in the way her voice raised an octave, almost as if trying to sound a bit more cheerful, and he could see it in the way her shoulders tensed up and her head shot up every now and again. She thought she was fooling him but Jim could see straight through her act; in fact, he always could. They’ve been married for 15 years now, and in all that time, especially after having 2 children who can both do what their mother can, Jim knows the telltale signs that there is a ghost around who his wife just can’t seem to let go. He smiled, placing his used napkin down on his finished plate.

“Okay Mel, where is he...or she?”

Melinda looked startled, knowing all too well he would catch on sooner or later. “I don’t know what you're talking about.”

Still, she dances around the subject. Jim didn’t quite understand why as she always told him when he asked. “Come on Melinda, I know there’s one around. Why won’t you tell me?”

She sighed, looking back in the direction she had been glancing at all dinner. To her left sat a couple that looked to be a bit older than Jim and herself and in between them on each side sat two kids, a young boy and a teenage girl. It looked like they were celebrating something special with the gift bags that sat neatly tucked under the table near the older woman.

“There’s kids with him.”

“Yeah, I can see that.”

Melinda turned back and smiled at him. “No Jim, I don’t mean those kids.”

“Oh, the kind I can’t see.”

“Yeah, there’s a young girl, maybe 7 or 8, and a boy who looks to be a couple years older than her. I’m sorry, I tried to ignore them throughout dinner but they just seem so...sad.”

She risked one more glance over and the spirits still stood on each side of the man of whom had no clue they existed, and continued to happily chat away with his family. The little girl who had her hand on the back of the man’s chair looked up and noticed Melinda staring over and smiled, instantly reminding her of her own little girl at home. Feeling just a bit sadder than before Melinda went to face her husband again before her eyes narrowed at something that had yet to make itself known, goosebumps running down her arms, and an undeniable feeling of pure anger sweeping over her.

A woman appeared behind the man causing the two children to disappear. She looked...bad. Her entire body was adorned in burn marks. Melinda swears she could see the flames licking at the woman’s skin until it melted and left nothing but a bloodied mess behind and it made her want to throw up. The hospital gown didn’t help either, as it seemed more red than white. The lady stared at him as if there was nothing more she would like to do than make him join her at that very moment. Her hand raised from her side and she flicked her finger, causing his glass of soda to knock over and spill into his lap. The man rushed to get up, dabbing his pants with his cloth napkin. The woman looked pleased with herself, smiling.

Then her head slowly turned towards Melinda, that smile dropping, and blinked from behind the man to right behind Jim. Her words were more haunting than her presence.

“He killed us. He killed us all.”

And just like that, she was gone.

“Melinda, what happened?”

She sighed, throwing her own napkin down onto her plate. “I think things just got a little more complicated.”

I feel like some people need to relearn Genre Expectations... "Man, this tragedy sucks!!! Why didn't they just do XYZ, then everything could have ended happily!!" well, then it wouldn't be a tragedy, would it. "Man, this lighthearted teen romcom is terrible, it's so sappy and unrealistic!!" Well, yeah. If it had been gritty and dark, it wouldn't have been a lighthearted romcom, would it. Is the writing actually bad or are you just trying to order a milkshake from a Home Depot

and they were the best of friends forever

So I’m waiting at the bus stop when a car pulls up of a dad and a little girl. She’s about 2 or 3 years old, the window is down, and she just looks me dead in the eyes as the car rolls to a stop. I look back and smile. She then proceeds to wave hi and I of course I wave back.

After the day I had I needed that. 😭