Halfway to the Grave

As soon as we stepped into my apartment we were greeted by the thick scent of paint.  Sekani flicked on the light and I took in the studio that was my home. It was filled with sketchbooks, canvases, paint, brushes.  There was a folding screen dividing the room, almost hiding a dresser and bed. A small, cluttered table was pushed against the wall near the kitchen. In the center of the room sat a stool and an easel with a half-finished painting. “This is my house—my home,” I said. There were so many paintings on the walls and even more...

Hours had passed since we’d arrived at Callum’s apartment.  He’d returned to his canvas and brushes on shaky legs after I’d jerked him off. I ignored the throbbing of my own cock and continued the search, looking for the backpack his mother said was missing. The whole time I searched, I could only wonder if it counted as sex with a ghost if they didn’t touch you? I’d only touched him so . . . didn’t count, right? Plus, Callum isn’t technically dead, just . . . slowly dying. I needed to save him. But how? I sat on the...

My parents were likely at home, since it was past visiting hours. I sat on the bed beside my body. It looked skinny and pale and . . . like it was barely clinging to life.  How long did I have until the door Sekani said was hanging out in my hospital room became visible to me? Something was telling me not long—not long at all. So much was happening it was making my head spin. I felt as if I was missing something—something important. Aside from my memory.  Luke wasn’t being a good friend. Someone was stealing my art....

By the time I arrived at the hospital a little after three in the afternoon the following day, Barnet in tow, Callum was awake and sitting up in his bed.  He looked better than he had when River, Waylin and I had left him. He had a happy smile on his face. Flushed cheeks. The doctors were probably wondering how someone who’d spent six months in a coma could be functioning so well.  They could classify it as a medical miracle for all I cared. It was just good to see him awake—alive and kicking. His family seemed to agree...

Now that I was alone, I was nervous.  My mom, dad and more importantly, Sekani were in the next room over but that didn’t mean I wasn’t sweating bullets as I waited for Luke to arrive. The door opened a handful of long minutes later.  Luke took two steps inside, and stopped. He had flowers in his hand, but now I suspected he only brought them as a show for my mom. He wasn’t actually wishing me well—he was probably the reason I was in the hospital to begin with. “Callum!” He rushed forward.  I shifted in the bed, trying...

Before long, Isla started to fuss. There was nothing interesting about a sterile hospital room and boring adults. Callum bounced her on his lap but she wasn’t interested—in him, or in the teddy bear he was waving in her face. Clare scooped Isla up without a moment’s hesitation. She had two kids and they’d made it to adulthood, so she obviously knew what she was doing. “How about we go down to the cafeteria and get you something to eat?” Clare cooed at Isla. “Is that alright?” “Yeah. Nothing with apples,” I told Clare.  If Isla had a blowout at...

Two weeks later, I was finally discharged.  The doctors couldn’t understand why I didn’t need the same recovery time and assistance as would normally be required after six months in a coma, but I felt great—like I hadn’t been days from actually dying.  Maybe it had something to do with the fact I’d been a ghost, or the way Sekani got me back into my body. Whatever the reason, today was a good day. Sekani unlocked the door to his apartment, and we were alone at last. River and Waylin had business to take care of that would keep them...