Jess stood in the barren room staring at her own reflection in the mirror. The door creaked open and Michael entered the room. Jess tentatively backed away from him. The look of fear on her face spoke volumes. He knew things could never be the same again, but it was worth a try.
"Jess, please don't be scared of me."
She looked at him disbelievingly, "How can I not? You know what you did to me, I don't need to remind you."
"I know, I know...and I'm very sorry..."
Jess' fear turned to anger, "Sorry?! What? Do you expect me to forgive you or something?"
"As a matter of fact, yes."
Jess was becoming increasingly infuriated. "Really? Well, give me one good - and I mean good - reason why I should."
"Jess, we were friends. Best friends in fact..."
"Until you jeopardised it with your idiotic stunt!"
Michael hung his head, "So you've mentioned, but do you know why I was out of town last month?"
"No, you hardly discuss your business trips with me..."
"Well, it wasn't really a business trip, Jess,"
"It wasn't?"
"No, it was personal."
"Oh? Care to elaborate?"
"I found out that I had cancer and I was out of town seeking the best treatment."
Jess was silent for a long while. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I suppose I didn't want you to worry."
"That still doesn't explain your behaviour."
"I know. I can't explain it, Jess. I guess I just freaked..."
"Freaked?! That's an understatement." Jess strode up to Michael who was still standing in the centre of the room. She stood toe to toe with him.
Michael opened his mouth in a vain attempt to interrupt. Jess wouldn't let him. "No! You can NOT do that to me. I won't let you. I am not going to listen to you anymore. I don't have to believe you! You're dead and I'm asleep, for God's sake!" Jess was gesturing wildly with her arms, "You know what? I'm just going to wake up, now. Goodbye."
Jess woke with a jerk and groaned. She blinked several times to adjust her eyes to the dim light. She could feel her heart pumping wildly. She took several deep breaths before peeking at the alarm clock on her bedside table. 5:39am. She got out of bed and changed into a crop top and bike pants, pulled her hair back into a ponytail, threw a towel around her neck and left her apartment. She took the elevator to the top floor. One of the advantages of owning a high-rise apartment was that you were given access to the pool and gym on the top floor.
The beauty of going up to the gym at this hour was that there was no one around. She entered the gym and smiled when she saw the light punching bag off to one side. That was exactly what she needed to alleviate the adrenalin pumping inside her.
Jess threw her towel down on the bench and strapped on the light boxing gloves. She focused on the punching bag in front of her as her feet started shuffling. She squared her shoulders and lined up for the first punch. She quickly and effectively drew her fist back and pounded it into the bag, setting it into motion. She kept her eyes on the swinging bag as she danced around it, landing several more punches into it, each one thrown with power, precision and purpose.
Before long, Jess had fallen into a rhythm. She would have had no intention of stopping if she hadn't thrown that punch that sent a sharp pain coursing through her left arm, settling in her shoulder. She cried out in pain and was more than surprised when a man who was working weights came up behind her.
"Are you okay?"
She spun around, "Yeah, I'm fine. I just agitated an injury, that's all." She smiled at him as she took off the gloves. She rubbed her shoulder gently.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm sure, but I think I'd better stop before I do myself any more damage."
She picked up her towel and slung it around her neck before leaving the gym.
Jess went back to her apartment and took a nice, hot shower before getting ready for work. She put on a white blouse with a straight, knee-length, navy blue skirt and a matching jacket. After making sure she looked presentable, she picked up her handbag and car keys and left her apartment for the second time that day.
After her morning workout, Jess felt indestructible. She made her way quickly through the morning traffic and before she knew it, she had arrived at the 27th Precinct. How good it feels to be behind the wheel once more she thought as she parked her car.
Upon entering the bullpen, she spotted Ray getting up from his desk. She called to him as she quickly weaved her way through the bullpen.
"Jess, hi! I wasn't expecting to see you at this time in the morning."
"I wanted to talk to you about those tapes, Ray." She said with such confidence that Ray wasn't sure what to make of it.
"If you want to watch them, now, I can go get Benny and Kowalski's in the break room..."
"No, no, Ray, that's the thing. I've decided that I don't want to watch them...at all."
Ray paused, "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. I just...look, I'm moving forward...slowly, I admit, but I am moving forward. To take a step backward would be foolish."
"As long as you're sure..."
"Ray, I'm absolutely positive." She smiled brightly.
Stan chose that moment to approach them from behind. "Hey! Vecchio!" They both spun around. "Jess! What are you doing here?"
"I dropped in to tell you guys that I'm not going to watch the tapes."
"Why not?"
"No reason to subject myself to such torture. I can exorcise a ghost without watching them."
"Do you still want us to destroy them?"
Jess snickered, "That's not necessary, Ray. Just file it away somewhere. I was thinking too extremely when I said that."
"If you say so."
"Thanks." Jess shifted her stance in the brief but uncomfortable silence that followed. "Uh, well, I'd better get going..." She indicated the door.
"Oh. Wait. Before you go, the reason I came over was to tell Vecchio that the Coroner's report came back."
"So? Cause of death was a gunshot to the chest. Anyone could tell you that."
"No, it's not that." He turned to address Jess who had gone silent, "I don't know whether you knew, but they found a lot of cancer in his brain. He would have only had about 3 months to live."
As Stan's words began to sink in, Jess began to feel light-headed. I saw a ghost. Even if it was in my dreams, it's still a ghost. I was sure it was a figment of my imagination. How? Oh, Lord, I have to get out of here.
"As they say, it's been nice doing business with you. I really do have to get going."
She shook hands with Ray and Stan, in turn before hastily leaving the bullpen. She moved as quickly as her shaky legs would carry her to her car. After fumbling with the keys and finally managing to press the unlock button, she slipped into the driver's seat and rested her head on the steering-wheel with her eyes closed.
It wasn't the news that Michael had cancer that caused her to feel dizzy. It was more the realisation that she had seen Michael's ghost. No. It wasn't just that she'd seen it. She'd had a conversation with it as well...and what it had said was true! Jess wasn't sure what scared her more, the ordeal or the ghost. It seemed that the 'one step back' was inevitable. No matter how she tried to avoid it.
As soon as Jess felt she was able, she slowly lifted her head. Looking in the rear-view mirror, she wasn't surprised to see the imprint of the steering wheel in her forehead. She snickered softly, rubbing her forehead before slipping the key into the ignition and starting the car.
She put the car into gear and pulled out into the traffic, disappearing amongst it.
Finis