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A huge crash split the tense silence.

"Shit!"

Jim screamed in pain, causing Melinda's eyes to fly open. A vase appeared to have hit Jim in the thigh, smashing on the floor. Melinda looked around confused.

"Erik!"

She gasped, realizing he had thrown the vase.

"One of your ghosts did this?!"

Jim's face twisted in fury and pain.

"Men…Like…HIM!"

Erik's usually soft voice and beautiful voice was now harsh and full of hatred as he looked at Jim. A glass bowl of flowers exploded at his scream, showing Jim in water and glass shards.

"What the hell?!"

Jim screamed lividly, once again trying to make his way to the door.

Melinda braced herself once again for the pain, refusing to move from her spot. There was a strange "whooshing" sound, and she opened her eyes in time to see Jim being thrown back away from the door. Erik was beside her.

"I am not going to watch you go through what I did because of him. Go, now!"

"Just…don't kill him!"

"I won't. I'll just make sure he goes far, far away."

"Erik, it should be me helping you!"

Melinda smiled weakly.

"Go! Take your car and go."

"Thank you so much."

Melinda grabbed her keys and purse, throwing one last fearful glance over her shoulder as she fled into the darkness.

Melinda pulled over once she was a safe distance from the house. She punched Rick's number into her cell phone, praying to God that he would answer. He didn't.

"No…"

Melinda sobbed, hanging up the phone, not bothering to leave a message. She slumped forward in pure exhaustion. Her shoulders shook with silent sobs as she rested her forehead on the steering wheel.

"Why won't he pick up? I need him so bad…I left my husband for him!"

Melinda pounded her fists into the steering wheel, sounding the horn repeatedly. Cold air caressed her hot tear streaked face.

"Erik!"

She snapped up her head eagerly, voice filled with joy.

"He won't be bothering you or your professor again. I have bad news, though. That man, Rick, is not at his house."

"What? Where did he go?"
Melinda gasped in horror

"I am not sure. He drove to the airport…he seemed to be in a rush."

Tears trickled down Melinda's cheeks; she stared at Erik in disbelief.

"No…"

"Don't despair…he'll come back."

"What if he hates me for how I acted earlier? What if-"

"You need to go somewhere. Do you have a friend to go to?"
"Delia…"

Melinda muttered, once again taking out her phone.

"Hello?"
Delia picked up the phone quickly, seeing Melinda's number on the Caller ID.

"…Sweetie, sweetie, what's wrong? Don't cry, I can't understand you…You WHAT? You left Jim? Melinda, I'm coming to get you, you are staying with me. Are you sure…? All right, see you soon."

"What's wrong, Mom?"
Ned asked, looking up from his homework.

"Melinda is having an awful night, she's gonna come stay with us for a while."

"Is she OK?"

"I don't know honey, I guess we'll see when she gets here. Go get ready for bed, now."

"But I wanna see if Melinda's OK!"

"You'll be able to talk to her all you want…tomorrow. Go, Ned."

"Argh, fine."

The moment Delia saw Melinda's headlights, she was out the door running to her friend.

"Delia!"

Melinda fell into her friend's ample arms, sobbing hysterically.

"Melinda, you have to tell me what happened."

"I…I told Jim that it wasn't working out. I told him that I loved R-Rick. He said he was going to k-kill him! I tried to stop him and then my ghost, Erik…he threw a vase at Jim and stopped him from hurting me. He told me that he would make Jim go away so that he couldn't hurt me or Rick."

Melinda cried again, more softly this time as Delia rubbed her back, trying to soothe her.

"Have you told Rick?"

She asked gently

"N-no, I tried calling him…he won't answer his phone. Erik told me he left!"

"Left?! For where?"

"Erik doesn't know, only that he went to the airport. Erik also said he'll come back eventually. Why did he leave? I did this for him…because I love him!"

"I know sweetie, I know. We'll get a hold of him later. Right now you need to get to bed."

Melinda nodded glumly and allowed Delia to tuck her into bed like a small child.

"Do you want a cup of tea or anything?"
"That'd be great, actually."

Melinda closed her eyes wearily as she heard Delia heating up the kettle.

"Melinda?"
"Hey, Ned."

She opened her eyes, attempting to smile at the boy.

"Um…are you ok?"

"It's been a long night, sweetie."

"I really hope you feel better, Melinda. You look so sad."

"You big softie."

Melinda teased the boy affectionately.

"Well-"

Ned began to retort, but was cut off by his mother's stern voice coming from the kitchen.

"Ned Banks, that had better nor be your voice I hear! I am coming to check on you in 2 minutes. You had better be in bed!"

Ned stuck his tongue out at Melinda, causing her to giggle before he darted out of the room.

"Here you go, Mel."

Delia set the steaming mug of tea on the nightstand beside the bed.

"Thanks so much, Delia."

"I'll be back in soon, ok?"
"All right."

Melinda sipped the hot liquid, grateful for the warmth surging through her body.

"Erik…"

Melinda whispered incase he was nearby,

"Tomorrow I promise I will go to Arianna. Thank you so much for all you did today. Wow, a ghost helped me leave my husband…"

Melinda laughed quietly at her strange life, her eyelids growing more and more heavy.

When Delia came in a few minutes later she was already asleep.

Delia switched on the tiny bedside lamp and kissed Melinda lightly on the forehead.

Poor Melinda.

She thought somberly to herself as she closed the door gently behind her.