Nora was walking around the house, trying to quiet her thoughts. Remembering what happened in the past burdened her and she wanted desperately to get rid of the memories, but she knew she couldn't. She just had to accept it and move on.
Nora sighed. She carefully examined the interior of the house, as she usually did. The house had remarkably stayed the same, but there were some differences. The walls, for example, were painted a new shade. There were pictures of things she didn't recognize.
She made her way aimlessly into the kitchen. It was clean; everything was put away into the places they belonged to.
"That damn thing." Nora said in disgust, glaring at the pasta arm. "I'll never understand it. They said they would get rid of it. It shouldn't be here anymore."
She shook her head and walked away from it. Even though the house had been though some changes and multiple people had come and gone, it was her home. Nobody could take that away from her.
There was a creak in the living room, followed by the clicking of the front door being shut.
Nora cautiously made her way to the living room. "Who's there?" She called, hiding behind a wall. She didn't want the intruder to see her.
Footsteps drew closer to her and she held her breath, trying not to make a sound. She was staring at the ground.
The footsteps stopped and Nora looked up. A woman with blonde, wavy hair and gorgeous brown eyes was standing in front of her. She had a smile on her face.
"Hello." The woman said, extending an arm out. "I'm Billie Dean Howard."
"Oh." Nora replied, shaking her hand. "I'm Nora Montgomery. What are you doing in my house?"
"I'm sorry. I was looking for someone." Billie Dean said. "The door was unlocked so I thought I would just come in."
Nora nodded, walking in the living room and sitting on the couch. Billie Dean took a seat next to her.
"Yes. People seem to be doing that a lot lately." Nora finally said, placing a hand on her temple.
"I'm sorry. That must be awful." She said. "I really didn't mean to intrude."
"It's okay." Nora said. "I don't think I've ever seen you before. Who is it you're looking for exactly?"
Billie Dean shifted in her seat, seeming to be nervous to answer the question. "Oh, just Constance. She wasn't at her home and if she's not there, she's usually always here."
Nora nodded.
"But I guess I was wrong." Billie Dean continued, laughing. "I'll just go now." She got up and was about to walk to the door.
"No, wait." Nora said. "You can stay. I could use the company." She gave a hint of a smile. Today had been a particularly rough day for her. She could use any distraction that came her way.
"Okay." Billie Dean smiled.
Nora got off the couch and went back into the kitchen, going to the refrigerator. Billie Dean was following behind her. Nora reached in the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water.
"Can I get you anything?" Nora asked. "Water, whiskey?"
"No, thank you." Billie Dean said, declining the offer.
Nora sat down at the table. "So what is it that you do?" She said, taking a sip of her water.
"Um," Billie Dean began. "I'm a ghost whisperer. Constance hired me and I've been studying this house quite a bit."
Nora moved a little in her seat, still coming to terms with the fact that she was a ghost. "Ah, so you know about everything that's happened here?"
"Yes." She said. "And I actually know a lot about you. I find you very fascinating."
"Fascinating." Nora scoffed. "No one ever finds me fascinating."
"You are! Your whole story is intriguing. Some of the things you've done might have.. not been so great," Billie Dean said, being careful with her words. "But I don't think you're a bad person, Nora."
"That's a first." Nora replied. She closed her eyes, trying not to think about what she helped do to those poor people. "I regret it all, you know. I just.. my life wasn't very good."
"I know." Billie Dean said. "You weren't happy. And sometimes we do things we shouldn't. But it's the past. We can't do anything to change that."
"Unfortunately." Nora sighed. She was fighting back the urge to cry. "You're the first person to get me. And I've only known you for about ten minutes." She laughed. "How strange is that?"
Billie Dean laughed as well. "Well, sometimes we just meet someone and something automatically clicks. I think we definitely have a connection."
"A connection." Nora repeated her words. "I like the sound of that." She had a huge smile spread across her face. She couldn't remember the last time that had happened.
"You have a very beautiful smile." Billie Dean said. "You should do that more often."
Nora blushed. "Well, thank you. That's very kind. But there's not much to be happy about."
"I'm sure there is." Billie Dean said. "You just haven't found it yet. But you will and someday you'll experience true happiness. Even if you don't believe it."
"I'm dead." Nora laughed. "I think my time's up for 'true happiness'."
"No, it's still possible." Billie Dean smiled. "You'll see."
Nora looked at her, unbelieving. "Sure, whatever you say."
"I wish I could take all your sadness away." Billie Dean said. Nora didn't understand why she cared so much, but she liked the feeling this woman was giving her.
"I have to go now." Billie Dean continued. "It was really nice meeting you."
"Yeah, you too." Nora grinned. She walked Billie Dean to the door.
"Before you go.. do you think maybe you can stop by and visit sometime? I mean- you don't have to, I just, I'm lonely. And I really like talking to you and I'd like to see you more, if that's okay." Nora stopped herself. "I'm sorry, I'm talking too much."
Billie Dean laughed. She gently touched Nora's hand. "Yes, of course I'll come by. We've gotta work on that happiness of yours. And I'd love to get to know you better."
Nora smiled. "Okay, good. I'll see you later then?"
Billie Dean grinned, stepping out the door. She turned around.
"Yes, you will."
