Ghost

Chapter 24

"To live is the rarest thing is the world. Most people exist, that is all.
- Oscar Wilde
~~~~~~~~~~~~

She seems slightly calmer.

Granted, she cried for two solid days but it's like something changed overnight. Today when she woke up she spoke to me first, as usual, but then she laid in bed for a while.

She was whispering softly, almost shyly, and I realised that she was talking to her baby.

Somehow, this filled me with joy. She looked nervous, apprehensive, but I could sense something else in her... Excitement. She's happy.

Today's the day she's supposed to die, but she doesn't look like she's in a self-murderous mood to me.

Still, I watch her closely all day. She seems to spend most of the day shopping on her phone for baby clothes, talking to me and Mr T excitedly every now and again, and when she finally goes to sleep it's with a slight smile on her face.

I'm stood over her bed, watching her.

I mean, obviously I'm glad, but I didn't expect it to be this easy to stop her.

"Well what did you think was going to happen? She's got a reason to live now."

Harry's voice shocks me from my thoughts and I jump at the sound of it.

"Harry..." I look behind him for the caveman guy but there's no one there.

"Did you really think I'm that stupid Louis?" He grins. "I mean... Honestly, as if you'd follow my plan and not talk to her! You've never done what I asked before so why would I believe that you would start now?"

"What are you going on about? You knew I wouldn't follow the plan?"

"Of course I knew." He smiles cheerfully. "But now you've saved Adele and her baby. She won't harm herself now."

"But... What was all that stuff about the caveman and-"

"Oh he's real. Actually he's over there right now." Harry points to a spot just next to me and I jump away, staring at the empty space.

It's creepy to think there's something there I can't see but Harry just laughs.

"He won't harm you. He thinks he's hunting boars, he's not even aware of you."

"What's going on?! What was all that stuff about your plan?"

"Oh, I had to say all that. Just in case anyone was listening in... Raphael was actually, bloody nosy git that he is." Harry scowls then beams at me. "I knew that you'd make yourself known straight away, I knew you'd tell her about the baby... And I knew that would stop her. I can't believe you think I'm that stupid to be honest."

"But... Why couldn't I just have come back and told her?"

"Because that's against the rules." He explains patiently as if he's talking to a toddler. "The dead aren't allowed to change the fate of the living. I knew someone would be listening so I just made all that stuff up. I knew you'd offer to go in her place and I knew that you'd stop her before anything happened. But as far as they're concerned." He points upwards. "I didn't really do anything wrong. I had a plan, it was you that broke it. Granted, we've broken several universal laws and torn a slight tear in the fabric of reality..." He shrugs nonchalantly.

I stare at him, trying to take it all in.

"Why? Why did you let me come back if it's against the rules?" I finally ask.

"Because you're my best friend." He says simply with a little shy smile.

I grin at him and he smiles back.

"You know... I'd known Adele's fate before she was even born and it never sat comfortably with me. I hate to see a soul so unhappy. But like I told you before, love is stronger than anything. Stronger than us lot up there even." He looks at Adele's sleeping figure. "She'll never know that love saved her."

"Thank you Harry." I say genuinely.

Suddenly something occurs to me.

"Aren't you worried about someone listening in now?"

"Nah. They're all at harp practice. I wanted to come earlier in the day but I had to wait until they were all busy, I had to be sure no one would be listening in this time." He takes a breath. "That's not the only reason I'm here Louis. I'm here to give you a choice."

"What choice?"

"The chance to pass over-"

"No."

"Louis." He sighs. "Adele's going to get old-"

"I don't care, I'll love her with every breath in my body-"

"Well that doesn't mean much considering your not even breathing."

I roll my eyes.

"Look Louis, I can't force you to do anything. I've just got to tell you this. We have no idea what'll happen now, we've never had a soul do what you've done, we have absolutely no clue what'll happen now. We can see Adele's baby will grow up to become a diplomat, he'll change the world, that much is true. But... After Adele dies we just don't know. She'll probably be so attached to you that she'll never want to pass over."

"Well she can stay in the house with me."

"It's not that simple. When she dies she might not even be able to see you, there's a good chance that she'll become a rogue, as confused as Niall was."

I look down at the sleeping figure on the bed. I know what he's telling me. I'll have to watch her grow old. It's more than likely that she'll become like Niall... Maybe when she dies I'll never see her again. We'll be stuck in this house together, unable to see each other.

"You'll get maybe 60 years with her Louis... After that who can say? You'll be stuck for eternity, and eternity is a very long time... You'll be alone in this house, knowing that she's here too. And this really is the last time I can offer you the chance to move on, even if you change your mind I can't offer again after this." Suddenly his face changes and he looks desperate.

"Think how awful those three hundred years were and imagine it forever. Is it really worth it?" He urges.

I picture a long lonely eternity, hoping Adele finds me like Niall did but knowing how unlikely it is.

But who can say? Maybe Adele won't be as confused as Niall, maybe she'll see me as soon as she dies?

It's such a risk though. She's safe now.

My parents, Niall... Everyone I ever knew is waiting for me on the other side. And this is my last chance, if I don't go now I'll never see any of them ever, ever again. I think of Nialls sad smile the last time I saw him.

My choice is either leave now and be with Niall and my family, but never see Adele again... Or...

Spend 60 years with Adele but when she dies I'll be stuck for the rest of eternity in this house, probably alone. Or maybe not. It's a huge risk.

I drag my eyes from Adele's face back to Harry.

It's a simple choice.

"It's worth it Harry. I'm staying with Adele."

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AN- Dedicating this to the lovely lamusique just because you're fab x

I'll post the epilogue in a couple of days. Thanks so much for reading x