"Damn, she is hot," Aaron said. Zak shushed him as the news anchor began to talk.
"The sixth month battle over the life of Alexandra McConnell came to a close today as the parents settled their dispute out of court. McConnell was struck by a drunk driver on March 17th, and has been in a coma ever since. Her story has sparked the life support debate to the hottest it's been since the Terri Schiavo case. McConnell's parents, divorced, have been in and out of court since the accident trying to decide who has the ability to make the decisions regarding their daughter's life since both had equal custody when McConnell turned eighteen.
Today, the parents reached an agreement outside of court to take their daughter off of life support. Protestors are already gathering outside Mercy Hospital in the small town of Monroe, Michigan in an effort to stop taking McConnell off life support tomorrow morning."
I looked up at the guys. Aaron's mouth was still open in shock, while Zak was staring at the screen in horror.
"Oh my God," Aaron breathed, "She really is alive. Your ghost is alive."
I should have been happy. This was what I had wanted all along. Zak had finally realized I was alive. I wasn't happy, though. I knew it was too late. Tomorrow my parents would be taking me off life support. I only hoped they did it before my soul disappeared so that I at least would have the chance to cross over.
"What are you going to do?" Aaron asked.
"What can I do?" Zak replied, shaking his head, "Her parents are taking her off life support tomorrow morning. Once her body passes away she'll be able to cross over. Be at peace."
"It's not that simple. It can't be. Why is she attached to you? Why did her soul leave her body in the first place if she wasn't ready to die? There has to be a reason," Aaron said, "And I want to find out what it is." Aaron left the room, putting the door stop in place. While he was gone Zak barely moved. I could read the turmoil written across his face. When Aaron returned he was carrying two pieces of equipment.
"Saving you seems to have zapped all her energy, otherwise there's no way she'd be this quiet knowing she was going to die tomorrow," Aaron said, "So I'm going to give her, her energy back." Aaron set an EMF pump down on the bed and turned it on. I felt it hitting me like wave after wave of static electricity. I could see some of the definition coming back to my arm. Aaron pulled out a spirit box next.
"We don't have time to review a recording," he said, turning it on. He held the spirit box out in front of him, "Alexa, are you here?"
Of course I'm still here, I thought, I wouldn't leave Zak, even if I could.
"If you're still here you need to talk to us so we can help you," Aaron said.
Zak doesn't want me to be here. I won't hurt him.
"Give it to me," Zak said, holding out his hand for the spirit box. Aaron didn't question him, simply handed it over.
"Listen to me, Alexa," he said, "This is my fault. I've made it my job to try and capture ghosts, and prove that they exist to the rest of the world. When you showed up you asked me for help. Instead of listening to what you really needed, I assumed I knew what was best, because I thought I'd seen it all. The truth is, even after all this time, I still don't know anything. I need you to teach me."
"I need you, Alexa," he said, "Please let me know you're still around." I took a deep breath, soaking up the energy as it poured over me.
"Hi," I said, for lack of anything more profound. It was odd finally talking to someone who was willing to listen. The most beautiful smile I'd ever seen broke across Zak's face.
"Hi, sweetie," he said, "What are you doing?"
"Stealing your bed," I replied, smirking. Zak knelt down beside the bed. He was so close I could see every color in his eyes. He was so beautiful.
"You can steal whatever you want," he said, laughing, "Why did you choose me?"
"I didn't. I was brought to you," I took in more of the energy, "I think… I'm supposed to be near you." Zak took a deep, steadying breath. His voice was slightly shaky now.
"Is it too late?" he asked, his voice nearly breaking on the last, "Am I too late to save you?"
"I don't know. All I know is that… I am tied to you. I tried to go back to my body, but… some force would always return me to you," I explained. I was tiring now. The EMF pump could only give me energy. It couldn't give me back the time I had spent wasting away. I couldn't tell Zak I was disappearing. I didn't want to hurt him, "Zak… No matter what happens. I will always watch out for you." I could hear my voice crackling, and breaking up. Apparently, Zak could, too.
"No… don't go, Alexa. Please…" he said, panicking, "Fuck!" Zak dropped the spirit box, dragging his fingers through his hair. He paced back and forth across the floor.
"What the hell am I supposed to do?" Zak asked frantically.
"It's a sad day when I'm the logical one," Aaron said.
"What are you talking about?"
"It's obvious what we need to do," Aaron said, grabbing Zak's car keys from the bedside table, "We need to go to Michigan."
