I didn't stay in the house for much longer.

I headed out to the footpath of the road and began walking down it... my mind blank.

Was I really seeing Jamie? Or was I just hoping against hope and causing myself to go insane.

As I reached the sandy trail that led out to the beach, I shivered there in my clothes, my shoes slowly gathering sand on their insides.

I remembered seeing her there at the hospital, at the beach, in my room... always there and yet, out of reach.

An angel.

Why was God letting me see her?

I couldn't make sense of it.

I saw up high in the sky, the moon was a pale white colour and its light overshadowed me, making me appear paler in its overcasting light.

I took off my shoes and put them in my hand, stepping on the wet sand, and feeling my feet sink into it with every step I took.

I could feel the tide creep up to me, and surround my feet with salty foamy water. I closed my eyes softly and whispered.

"Please... help me..."

"Young man."

I blinked my eyes opened, surprised, and saw that same dark man I had passed a couple of weeks ago. He had a shabby beard, and piercing brown eyes.

I would go as far to say he was beautiful in his rags, but that might come off as offensive if I did tell him of his impression on me.

"What are you doing out here, so late?"

I cleared my throat and approached him, mumbling, "Just trying to find my way."

"Just go back the way you came," he said, his voice deep yet kind.

I gave a small awkward chuckle and pointed to behind me. The waves had filled in my footprints in the sand.

"I know my way home... it's just," I began, nervous to say this to a stranger, but the man had a nice air about him, "I mean, I don't know if I should go the way I am heading."

"What does your heart tell you?"

"To go back to my parents and beg them for forgiveness."

"Why?"

"Because I have put my folks in so much anguish over me, I just want them to know, I'm sorry for my choice."

"Money... it corrupts people." the man said, with a sad soft smile and put his hands in his coat pockets, walking past me and continuing on his journey, where ever that may be.

"Hey, wait!" I called to him, and desperately followed behind, "What is your name?"

He just chuckled weakly, before walking around the corner, and when I arrived to it, he was... gone?

"Mister!" I yelled at him and searched for the shabby poor man. I looked to the ground, seeing he had left no marks on the sand.

I took a few deep breaths in, before leaning on the path's fence... foreboding the worse for myself.

Thinking my sanity was just on the cuffs.

I arrived back to the house as dawn was approaching and the sun was letting its distant light shine across the land and town.

As I crept into the home, I peered in through the doorway of the living room, to see if Hegbert was doing okay.

He still seemed to be in a comfortable sleep, and I approached him quietly, tapping his shoulder. The elderly man turned a little away from me from my touch, and I sighed heavily, giving a sad smile.

I began to head away, but just as I had reached the hallway, I heard him mutter out.

"Landon... is that you?"

I gave a nervous grin, and came back in, replying awkwardly, "Yeah, it's me. Who else...?"

Mr Sullivan groaned, as if not liking me being the person to stir him.

"See you in the morning," I said to him, my eyes dreary and my body aching from lack of sleep.

"Landon..."

I froze for a second time and looked back at him, slightly frustrated.

"Yes, Hegbert?"

"Say a prayer for me," He only responded, his eyes half opening to gaze at me, and I nodded my head, nervous, replying.

"I will..."

"My time..." he continued, and I listened, tiredly, "It's coming to an end soon."

"Don't say that..." I whispered, approaching him and placing my hand on his shoulder. He turned his head upwards, facing me with sad eyes, "He told me, he'd look after you... that you will be protected."

"Who?" I asked, afraid. Hegbert only gave a small smile and replied.

"God."

I felt tears rise in my eyes, and I shook them away as quickly as they came.

"Sir, please don't speak such melancholic words."

"But I'm not melancholic," Hegbert spoke back to me, a soft sweet smile rising gently up his lips, "I'm happy... because tonight I saw paradise... my time... it's coming to an end."

I wiped the tears away from my cheeks with my arm sleeve and squeezed his shoulder tightly. I reluctantly left him to himself and headed for my room.

Laying in that bed... it felt like I was intruding, even though I had slept many nights now on Jamie's old bed.

My eyes stared at the empty space before me, my pupils shining from the wetness I had gathered in my woes.

I looked across the room to the open door, hearing Hegbert walk in soft broken steps to his room. I could see the cane's shadow stretch up the floor as the elderly man entered into his bedroom.

I lay there, watching quietly, and closed my eyes slowly. The last thing I saw that dawn, was the sun reaching its rays into the cold room.

I fell asleep, laying there unconscious.

"Landon.. wake up..."

I opened my eyes weakly and saw a girl softly smiling at me. I closed my eyelids again, smiling back before opening my eyes and seeing she was gone.

"This house..." I said quietly, and yawned, stretching my arms, "This house is haunted... or else," I gave a small laugh, "I am."