The Writer's Ghost

Chapter 1

"What do you see when you imagine your house? What colors did your mind paint the walls? What furniture did you buy unconsciously? When did you decide all that? Today? A year ago? A month ago? I have decorated my room since I was a kid. It was silly at first but it made me happy.

Did you imagine anyone in your house? Are you living alone? Are you with someone you love? Are you with someone you hate? Are you with a total stranger? Many people live with others. Not me. I had to live alone. I had to lock myself in. I had to lock everyone out."

As Carol read that random page from the book in her hand. It did not feel unfamiliar. Nothing in that book can feel unfamiliar to her. Not a page. Not a line. Not a word. Every line was so close to her heart as if the pages opened up to give her a warm hug and she fell right into it. The pages felt warm as if newly printed no matter how many times she had already read it from top to bottom. This book was her best alternative for the addictive coffee.

As her mind raced and her heels started vibrating, she was reminded of coffee. But she flipped some more pages, stopped after a couple and started reading it. When she lifted her head outside the 'A Lone Girl' copy in her hands once in a while, she found too many more of those in hands around her.

Except, nobody was reading it here unlike her.

One by one, in random orders, the people around her were called in. As if the monster inside were looking at who was affected by the nervousness more. There was an interviewer inside who could read minds. That's what the girl next to her says and suddenly Carol wanted to be included in that juicy conversation. She carelessly closed the book on her lap caring nothing about what page she was on as she turned to the people around her.

"Not just minds. Body language, tone, expressions, clothing, SHE can read anything,"

"He." "Not she." The girl with glasses corrected her immediately. Her book seemed pretty new. And her glasses were read only. There was an 80% chance they'll ever meet again. Carol knew it.

"He's a himmmm. Remember that. If you mess up inside, you're done for." The other girl does a killing expression as she delivers her advice. They'll be seeing each other everyday now. Carol was sure. As long as this girl does not go inside and calls him a she herself.

"It's still confusing for me." Carol put in more effort to sound concerned. Another person's name was called. She was glad it wasn't her. She had to end this conversation first. Wasn't this the whole point of the interview?

"Diana Joson?" The man in suit called again, only for the glasses girl to jerk up on remembering her own name. As she went inside leaving the two alone, the curly hair girl tried to break the awkward silence with "It is hard for me too. I thought he would be a she."

"I have to keep my mouth shut to make sure I don't blunder inside." She added with a soft chuckle. "Dolores Zen here. You can call me Rez."

"Caroline Loster. But please call me Carol. Caroline is too long." The shiny skin of hers could distract anyone, but Carol kept her calm. The dimples were too evident when she laughed again.

"Where is yours?" She broke the stare before it felt impolite gesturing the book toward her.

"I did not do the homework. Have read it some, at the library but, just don't hit me where I like."

Carol was about to hit her where she might like it, but Dolores was called in.

As she walked away it was clear she will be hired today. She walked like she was already working here and was part of the interview panel inside. She is the dream of every new publishing company.

Some more people after Dolores were interviewed and then Carol was called in. She thought she would not be affected after waiting so long but the deep breath before taking the door said something else. But it said it just to her. When she entered, she pulled Mike Ross right away and made people believe that they needed her here. Of course she had memorised the book she had read a thousand times.

She made no direct contact with the man sitting there as he was not supposed to be there at all. All the women in the room can be turned into men but he can not be a man.

He can not say he has written 'A Lone Girl' and be a man at the same time.

No man could have written this book.

It has to be a woman.