Chapter 1
Skye has a secret that she's kept all her life. It's not that she didn't want to tell people; she did. It's just that she knew if she told people, things would get out of control. She knows that when people see her, they think she's thick, or simple, some have even gone far enough to say 'special'. But at least she knows the truth. She has a gift, not something she can control, not really. She just gets distracted.
"It was the last thing I said to him… what kind of Mother was I? Oh, the shame…"
Oh, shut up, Skye willed silently, rubbing at the pain in the side of her head. Just listening to them physically hurt her. But then she quickly looks over at her boyfriend James who is staring at her… again. She curses inwardly. "Sorry, were you saying something?" she asks innocently, but she knows he can see the apology in her eyes.
James shakes his head exasperatedly. "What's got you so distracted all the time? I can tell it's something you're trying to ignore, but you obviously can't, because you're never paying attention." Somehow, he manages to make his voice sound concerned instead of annoyed. He's right, of course, but there's no way Skye can tell him the truth: that she can see ghosts, 24/7. And that all they want is help to fulfil a dying wish, but its help that she can't give.
Instead she laughs lightly, "What do you think it is?" she asks, honestly curious. He's amazing to have put up with her for this long. Skye wonders what it is that gives him this gift of almost un-natural patience. James is obviously debating on whether or not to tell her what he thinks. He probably thinks she's crazy, but for all she knows, he could be right.
"Look, I don't know if I'm the crazy one here or what but hear me out, okay?" James looks down at his lap self-consciously.
"Go on." Skye nudges him slightly.
"Well, sometimes it's like you're watching something that's right in front of us but whenever I look, there's never anything there. Other times it's worse because it's like you're listening to something, and it can be really hard to get your attention, but I don't know." He's getting pretty close, Skye admits to herself.
Feeling immensely guilty, Skye leans over to take her boyfriend's hand and kiss him on the cheek, "Baby, I'm sorry, but that makes us both sound a little crazy." She smiles at the end to make sure that he doesn't feel too bad.
"Just to make clear, I love you no matter how crazy you are." her boyfriend clarifies and Skye laughs, "I love you too."
James leans back and starts to turn the conversation in to a game, "Got to be supportive, you know?" He smirks, but Skye is no longer listening, the woman is still going on…
"I swear if I had just one do-over in my like it would be to change those last words. I don't know if I can stay like this, knowing we both regret it so much…"
When will they figure out that she just doesn't care?