Lucky
The divine sounds of the ocean covered up the empty silence nicely. It was perfect too, for neither knew what to say next. So for a few moments, the only sound was the ocean spouting lovely noises through watery lips. Kat shifted position, Casper wrung his hands, and the sea blabbered on. Both gazed out into the fading sunshine, still struck silent. Until:
"It's fortunate, in a way."
Casper turned to look at the teenage girl with slightly narrowed eyes.
"How so?"
"Well, you don't remember your life much. That can be a good thing sometimes."
He was still peering at her curiously, it made her nervous. Kat drew her legs up to her and wrapped her arms around them.
"Sometimes I want to forget my life. All those moves, friends I had to leave behind, my mother."
"You want to forget your mother?" He asked in disbelief.
"No, not her all together, just the way she died."
"How long ago did she pass away?"
"Nearly two years now." Kat softly responded. He nodded in sympathy.
"And how…?"
She didn't answer for a while. It was getting darker by the minute and the ghost could barely see her. But he did see dim shining tears gently sliding her face and her hand reaching up to brush them aside.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't-"
"It's alright; I just haven't really talked to anyone like this before. Not in a long time."
"No one?"
"My dad and some counselors awhile back. But never with any friends before now." She wiped the last drop away and gave him a brave smile.
He returned the gesture, "I'm honored."
She took a quiet breath, "She was murdered."
The statement shocked the spirit, a feeling of sadness rushed through him. He reached over and patted her back as she broke down.
"I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have asked."
"I-I just can't say it. It doesn't seem real. How can she be there and then dead a second later? If only she didn't go to the bank after work, then she'd still be here."
Kat hid her face in hands. The sea splashed over rocks and trickled down, as if sobbing with her. Seagulls screamed. Casper tried his best to calm her. She fought through the tears to continue her story.
"A man came in waving his gun around, god knows why, he said he didn't want to kill anybody, but it went off anyway." Her crying grew more intense.
"You see why you're so blessed now?" She uncovered her crimson stained face to gaze at him. "See how awful it is to bear those memories? I can't get rid of them! Sometimes I wish I was a ghost too so I don't have to remember."
"Don't say that Kat, having painful memories are better than having none at all."
She still wasn't convinced. He thought a minute.
"You still remember what she looked like?"
"Of course."
"What she wore, her smell, the way she laughed?"
Finally, a snicker sounded through the tears.
"Always."
"There you go Kat. If you concentrate on the good things then the bad will fade away, so you won't ever think about them."
"I never saw it like that. Thanks dad." She giggled sarcastically.
"Hey, I was trying to be serious." He poked her side playfully.
She chuckled and swatted his hand away. The stillness came between them again, although more lighthearted than the first. Kat dangled her legs over the side and swung them freely while absentmindedly humming a tune. It sounded beautiful against the rustling of the wind, and familiar… He joined in and whistled a few bars awhile before asking.
"Where did you learn that song?"
She shrugged, "Something my mom used to sing when I was little."
"I think my mom sung it too."
"You remember?"
"I think it was because your humming reminded me."
"That's a memory."
"Not a complete one, but it's a start." He agreed.
Kat stretched out next to him, tracing stars lazily with her finger. "I guess we're both lucky after all." He nodded, tapping his finger to the tune without thinking.
"Very."