Someone's Watching Over Me
The next day, Molly wakes up with Libby by her side. She stayed overnight and, although it was a night of mostly crying and talking about her feelings, Molly feels as though a weight has been lifted off her shoulders.
Molly gets out of bed and looks out at the glowing yellow sun, warm colors of the sunrise filling the sky. It's beautiful. Still, she feels kind of empty without her ghost friend by her side.
I wonder why Scratch says I need to let him go? All the memories we made and fun adventures we had together. That can't have all been for nothing. And he saved me! I should have died in that car accident, but he protected me. I know it could just be my imagination playing tricks on me, but it felt so…Real.
With a determined look on her face, Molly gets ready for the day. Libby's still sleeping so she does this as quietly as possible. It's really early in the morning after all, and she's got a plan.
Once Molly's ready, she leaves Libby a note to let her know where to find her. Just in case something goes wrong.
"If Scratch isn't going to come back to me unless I'm in danger, maybe I'll go find that danger. If my dream meant anything, it must be leading me back to him. Back to my old life." Molly whispered.
Molly heads downstairs. As quietly as possible, she grabs the keys to her parents' rental car they recently got and starts heading out.
As soon as Molly gets in the front seat and starts the engine, she panics. Frozen in her seat, she starts to have vivid flashbacks of the car accident. It scares her and she starts to cry as the memories replay.
Then, Molly snaps herself out of it. Using her grounding techniques, taking in her environment and breathing. She wipes her tears away and slowly starts driving.
"No. I'm not going to be scared. I need to face this fear and move forward. It's the only way out." Molly said.
Molly carefully drives down the road, knowing her destination. She's a bit nervous she'll get in trouble for driving alone with only her learner's permit at sixteen, but she's too focused on her mission to care.
Molly watches as the sun continues to rise, the world slowly becoming brighter, even though it's all a blur to her. Ever since the car accident, she's been feeling disconnected and pulling away from reality a lot. It's scary, but she's trying her best.
Suddenly, Molly sees her destination. A small lake on the outskirts of Brighton. She gets out of the car and starts walking through the forest. The trees surrounding her and the sounds of the morning birds just waking up. It's all so tranquill.
Then, Molly walks out on the dock just overlooking the water. She looks down at the deep blue lake. Then at the sign that says, 'warning, deep water, don't swim." She's never been the best swimmer, but that's not really why she's here.
In my dream, I was drowning and Scratch was there. There was that blue light that protected me at the bottom of the lake. That must be where he is. If that was just a dream, maybe Scratch will still come to save me if I'm in trouble.
Thinking this through, Molly starts to realize this is a crazy theory and she's probably just imagining everything because she misses Scratch. But, all of this, everything that's happened, she can't help but believe it's for a reason.
Molly looks out at the water one last time. She smiles, taking in the peaceful sight of that yellow sun lightening the blue sky.
"Well, here goes everything!" Molly said.
Molly takes off her shoes and jumps into the lake, not bothering to change out of her clothes.
Dark blue water surrounds Molly. She doesn't even try to swim, she just lets herself sink down deeper and deeper. Hoping to see that blue light again, a comfort and tragedy all in one.
Molly closes her eyes, letting the push and pull of the water all around her take control. She sees herself in the car during the crash, letting go of the wheel as the world around her spins out of control. It's terrifying and yet, when she opened her eyes and saw that blue light surrounding her, she felt so safe.
Maybe that's the feeling I'm chasing. I don't know…Sure, the trauma from that car crash haunts me, but in all of the chaos, I felt safe because I knew you were there. Protecting me. I just…Want you to come home.
Suddenly, survival instincts take over and Molly's eyes shoot open. She starts to panic, running out of oxygen as her body forces her to swim. She starts to breathe in water, burning her lungs.
Molly tries to scream for help, but no one can hear her underwater. A silent scream that feels all too familiar.
Losing strength, Molly starts to give up. She tries to swim and save herself, but she just keeps sinking. So, she starts closing her eyes, giving into the darkness surrounding her.
Then, just before she loses consciousness, Molly sees a glowing light. This time, not blue, but bright yellow. Golden glowing joy energy that she knows all too well.
Then, everything goes black.
Molly wakes up back on land, gasping for air as she takes in her surroundings. She sees Ollie and Libby by her side, both worried and confused, but there's something deeper. They look scared and hurt.
Sitting up slowly, Molly coughs and continues to take deep breaths. She's so grateful to be able to breathe again.
"That's it, just take slow deep breaths. Everything will be okay." Ollie said.
Molly does as Ollie says. She smiles, happy to have her best friend and boyfriend here. She thought Scratch would be the one to save her, but this is almost better. These are the people who are really here and will always be there to save her, no matter what.
Molly starts to tear up. The emotions overwhelm her to the point where she just can't hold it in anymore. She chokes out those two words of guilt, fear, and hurt.
"I'm sorry…" Molly said.
Hearing this, Libby and Ollie both look at one another concerned. Then they look back at Molly sadly.
Libby hugs Molly tight, never wanting to let go of her friend who's always helped her with her problems and pushed her out of her comfort zone. Now, Molly's the one who needs help.
"You have nothing to apologize for. I got your note, that you were coming out here to the lake to…See if you could find someone…Molly, what were you trying to do?" Libby asked.
Libby breaks away from the hug and looks at Molly with a serious but sympathetic expression. She didn't think Molly was trying to end her life, so she's genuinely curious as to why she'd do something like this.
It's hard for Molly to speak, she's too overwhelmed, but frozen in fear at the same time. Still trying to process everything that's happened. Then, Ollie speaks up.
"Were you trying to…You know, end it all?" Ollie asked.
Even saying the words, Ollie starts to choke up and starts crying. He's tried so hard to be strong, but seeing the girl he loves suffer is just too much.
Molly takes Ollie's hand and looks at both him and Libby, they deserve to know.
"No. I was trying to see Scratch again. I saw a blue light around me, like a force field protecting me in the car accident. Then I had a dream, or nightmare, about drowning and I saw that blue light again and actually heard Scratch. I just…I wanted to see him again." Molly explained.
Libby and Ollie look at one another, understanding but still concerned.
"So, you thought he'd come back to save you if you were in danger. That's why you went to the lake…" Libby replied.
Molly nods. A slight smile on her face as she wipes her tears.
"But, you both came for me. I didn't see a blue light, I saw a bright yellow light. I think that was me, my golden joy energy. I…I saved myself. Just like Scratch said." Molly said.
Molly looks at the sun, now fully up in the sky and shining bright. Blue sky surrounding it. She feels safe again, just knowing she has people in her life who truly care about her and will always be here. The three look out at the sky together, sharing this peaceful moment after the metaphorical storm.
After a moment, Ollie wipes away his tears and looks at Molly curiously.
"We saw that bright yellow light too! We looked in the water and knew it was you…That's how I knew where to find you underwater. Maybe part of your dream was real…What did Scratch say to you in your dream?" Ollie asked.
Molly thinks about this. It's the one part of the story she's been trying to avoid because it's just too hard to let go. She knows she needs to move on from that part of her life. Scratch is happy and living his life. Now it's time she tries her best to live hers. It's what he would have wanted for her.
"He said…I need to let him go. He told me to save myself. Who knows, maybe it was all just a dream, but it all felt so real. Maybe moving forward, accepting change, is what's best." Molly replied.
Molly starts to cry, letting out her sadness that she's hid away in a box for far too long. It's time to let go, time to feel.
"But it's so hard to let go…I just…I don't know how to move forward." Molly said.
Libby and Ollie hug Molly, comforting her in her moment of sadness and grief. The trauma of the car accident has really taken a toll on her. It's brought back so many memories of loss, but also bittersweet nostalgia of saying goodbye to her best friend.
Then, as they break away from their hug, Libby grabs Molly's shoulders and has her look at her. Molly can't help but feel safe looking into those kind eyes.
"I know it's hard to let go of the past…It can feel like it's haunting you and pulling you back to comforting memories all at once. It's scary, moving on. But staying frozen in a time that doesn't exist is just going to leave you feeling worse in the end. Even though there's comfort in the panic sometimes. It's just not worth it." Libby said.
Molly nods, wiping her tears and taking in this information. She knows Libby has been through a lot emotionally as well, so they can relate to one another in that way. Fear taking over and anxiety taking the wheel. It's a feeling they both know all too well, but that doesn't mean it can't be overcome.
Ollie puts his hand on Molly's shoulder and she looks at him. Curious and sad, but a bit more hope in her eyes.
"Libby's right. It's not going to be easy to move forward, from your trauma or a past you want to hold onto. It's scary, but it will be worth it. I think that's what Scratch was trying to tell you. Whether he's here or not, that's what he wants for you. To let go so you can be happy too." Ollie said.
Molly takes in both their words and starts to feel hopeful again. That sense of peace and joy washing over her senses like a calming wave. It's nice and something she hasn't felt in a long time.
Molly looks out at the beautiful sun and sky one last time, then stands up.
Libby and Ollie stand up quickly, making sure Molly's okay as they cautiously stay by her side.
Then, Molly smiles. That bright smile they've missed seeing.
"Why don't we get out of here, get dried off, and have some hot cocoa at my place. My treat! Honestly, I need a nice peaceful moment with everyone after all of this…What do you say?" Molly asked.
Libby and Ollie nod and, with that, the three ghost friends all walk off together. Knowing healing will take time for Molly, but she's on the right path.
As Ollie drives and Molly and Libby sit in the back seat. Libby wraps a blanket around Molly to keep her warm and Molly looks out the car window as the world passes her by. Then, she sees something. That blue light in the distance, shining down from the sun and onto her hand.
Molly smiles, a bit tearful but feeling joyful again. Then, she hears a familiar voice.
"Go live your life, kiddo. One day at a time." Scratch said.
The End