No Longer Lonely

      Everything was gloomy; the buildings were abundant of mildew, and rain is always threatening to fall, desperate to patter about on the caved in roofs. But the worst thing by far was the silence.

      The silence was a sound of its own, a thick blanket that liked to completely muffle everything else that made too much noise for it's liking. I hated silence, probably too much for my own good. It would make things more eerie and depressing than they already were, which was torture.

      Really, anything in Neovia wanted to make me crumple to the ground in defeat, to sob until my eyes were red and puffy, and then hiccup so much that it might stay that way forever. But the problem with me is that there was nothing to have me do any of those things that would be such a relief compared to my life as it is now.

      You see, I'm a ghost, so I can't participate in any of those wonderful activities such as crying. Some people might say I'm lucky to not have to deal with things like that anymore. What they don't realize is that I do; I still have feelings, I still grieve, and I still have to deal with it.

      I'm not a normal ghost, because no one can see me. It was not a paint brush that brought this appearance to me, but a spell. Of course, this is more like a curse to individuals like me, but we have no reason to not be technical, so why bother?

      Once upon a time, there were others just like me. At least then we could talk to each other, communicate our anger to someone else other than our poor consciences. But even then, we couldn't touch one another without paws slipping right through us, not even ruffling our fur.

      It truly was a miracle when Gilly, Bruno, and Sophie saved the majority of us. I was so excited, I could really hug my brother for the first time in years! My young body was even eager to turn back into a monster; at least then I could actually touch others. But as I watched the others turn back to real neopets, I was scared as to why I wasn't.

      I longingly watched my brother fight, waiting for the chance that I could. Tears were wanting to escape as I watched him hungrily gulp down the potion from the well. It would've been the first meal I'd had in years.

      Glancing down to see if I was alive yet, the first dry tear fell. Why wasn't the spell undone for me? Artie swallows the first gulp of many from the well. Artie. My loving brother, the one who would help me whenever I got lost, the angel who would defend me from bigger neopets. Everyone was pushing past me to get their share, everything was rushing past me, leaving me confused and broken.

      "Artie!" I'd wailed, threatening to drown in my sorrows. Not even a glance my way.

      But after he'd gotten his share, his eyes widened, and his mouth dropped as he remembered me. Just his expression made my stomach twist in grief.

      "Rose? Rose, where are you? Rose!" I scream his name over and over again in response, even though he can't hear me. No one can. With a sob, he drops to his knees and buries his face in his hands. I wasn't coming back.

      So the next day, I lean up on my tippy toes and kiss his cheek the best that I can. This was our farewell. With one final glance back, he leaves me, and the tsunami of realization and sorrow finally crashes down on me.

      Here I am now, sitting here under a dead tree, dwelling over my memories of Artie. Right now he is probably playing with his friends, because his friends actually escaped the epidemic that has me in it's grips forever. Lucky him.

      I know that it's not fair of me, but I can't but be bitter to the lucky souls who thrive now. It's not fair that I'm not though, so I could care less.

      Most of my days consist of checking in on him secretly, searching to see if anyone else can see me, to no avail of course, and wallowing in grief under this tree. This tree has become mine I believe, as it seems that no other neopets like to settle down here. Then again, the entire forest might as well be mine in that case.

      Forcing my nonexistent legs to make me stand up, I stumble to our house. It's not exactly necessary of me to peek in, because I can just walk in unnoticed, but I feel it's just proper to not go in somewhere I don't belong in anymore.

      Artie is picking at a dull sandwich; ,must be lunchtime, I think. He is mouthing something, but I can't see clearly, so I lean in further through the window, only to fall in. It doesn't hurt of course, but believe it or not, my dignity is still important to me.

      His head jerks up, and my jaw drops. Did he just hear me? But as I'm about to say his name, he shakes his head.

      "She isn't here anymore, Artie," he hisses to himself. My face falls, any traces of hope that I had gone. He was debating with himself about me. The mere thought makes my heart ache for him, it was so unfair for him to have to go through this. If our roles were reversed, I'm not sure how I'd be thriving right now. His resolve must be so strong.

      I leave, because I can't stand to hear his deep grievances about me.

      The old buildings echo my calls for someone that will never come to talk to me. The day was surprisingly less gloomy than usual. It was almost scary how hopeful it seemed. But hope can always override my fear of being let down. If it didn't, I wouldn't be doing this right now.

      "Hello? Can anyone hear me?" I ask, wanting an answer more than I ever have before. "My name is Rose."

      "I can hear you, Rose."

      My jaw is seriously wanting to dislocate today it seems. This is impossible. No one has ever replied to my pleas before! And I know Kougra ears are very strong, so how can I be hearing things? There must be someone else in Neovia named Rose, that has actually been blessed the ability to be seen and heard, and is standing behind me right now; that must be it.

      But when I whip around to glance behind me, there is not a soul in sight.

      "You can actually hear me?" I ask dumbfounded, not expecting a response at all, to find that I really am just crazy.

      But I do get a reply. "You can hear me? Or are you just a figment of my imagination, Rose?"

      "I can hear you," I say, amazed. A brown Lupe about my size, a bit bigger, steps out of the shadows, big brown eyes possibly wider than mine. But then I notice something that make me laugh in pure glee. This neopet has a strange glow around him and is faded. Just like me.

      "This is the first time in years- how? You can really see and hear me?" he asks, bewildered, and by his expression, seemingly ready to be let down.

      I nod my head vigorously. "Yes, and yes! Are you like me? Did you never get turned back either? Oh, this is unbelievable!" I gasp, my words running on.

      He nods as well, dazed. "I'm Jack. All these years I thought I was the only one. I can't believe it! Do you think we'll be able to turn back?"

      I cringe. I always try to stay away from that topic. It's the only thing that I really don't believe could happen. "No," I whisper, the word barely audible. But he hears.

      The expression on his face makes me feel like I did years ago when Artie realized I was gone. "Oh," he responds, his face no longer soft and kind. It makes me scared, how fast he had changed, and a shiver runs up my spine.

      Lightning fast, he darts over, and shoves his arm through mine, which only turns his features to anguish. It was an improvement, in my opinion.

      "Still can't touch others." He sighs, but then possibly the most hopeful smile that I've ever seen lights up his features again. "At least we have each other."

      I didn't think I'd smile so much in this state in such a short time, but I am. No one has ever given me so much hope before, and I let go all my grievances. "I guess." And with that, we wander into our new, not so lonely lives.

The End