}{нєℓρ мє, ι'м ∂єα∂}{

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Echo Only

--

He felt confused, his mind hazy, as well as his eyesight. This looked like the park he hung out at all of the time, but the scenery was different. Everything felt unfamiliar to him, though he'd taken the same route as always. Hailey frowned and took a couple steps toward the swing set.

Odd. Everything was odd.

He looked around, golden brown eyes darting from person to person. It was relatively busy around here, no doubt because of the nice day. The people seemed fine- children played and parents watched, conversing with one another about work and life. Nothing out of the ordinary, yet Hailey felt out of place. He inhaled quietly and gingerly sat on the swing, hands wrapping around the chain. A little girl swung next to him, giggling as she rose higher and higher. Hailey watched, expecting her to notice him, but she didn't.

So he just swung a little, his feet dragging to and fro across the mulch.

[~echo~]

Amelia Oakhart sat on a bench in the shade nearby, watching the children play. When she saw the boy, she looked around him and noticed, too, that nobody but her seemed to notice him. 'Another ghost,' she thought to herself. Sighing softly, the girl rose to her feet and made her way over to the swing set. She pretended to look around apprehensively as though she wanted to swing and then looked at the boy when nobody was glancing her way. "What is your name?"

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Hailey's shoulder jerked in surprise and he looked up, eyes wide, "Are you talking to m-me?" he asked. She was the first person to even acknowledge him, let alone talk to him.

[~echo~]

Amelia coughed and covered her mouth with her hand, opening it on one side to speak to him. "Yes. Quickly, follow me." With that, she led the way towards a secluded spot on the playground on an abandoned picnic table.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

He hopped off the swing and followed her like a lost puppy, his lips curving into a smile, "You're the first person to actually talk to me!"

[~echo~]

Amelia nodded, not talking yet. When they arrived, she sat with her back to the crowd of people and gestured for him to sit facing her. "So, what's your name?"

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"I'm Hailey," He held his hand to her across the table, "Who're you?"

[~echo~]

Amelia refused to take his hand, knowing that both he and she would feel nothing. "I am Amelia Oakhart... Hailey, do you know what you are?"

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

He slowly pulled his hand back and tilted his head, "Of course. I'm a human."

[~echo~]

Amelia's wise eyes gazed imploringly at him. "But you aren't. You are a ghost. You must have died and your soul was not truly aware of it."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

He stared at her as though she'd grown six heads, "A ghost? What on earth are you talking about?"

[~echo~]

Amelia gazed evenly at him. "Have you had any symptoms like nausea, blurred vision, dizziness?"

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Hailey pursed his lips and shrugged, "Well, sometimes, I guess. But that can happen to anyone."

[~echo~]

"Has it been frequent?" she pressed on gently. She hated to see ghosts that didn't know what they were.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Hailey nodded, "Mostly in the morning and nighttime. I've kinda grown used to it."

[~echo~]

"Those are common symptoms of a soul trying unsuccessfully to leave this plane."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"That's a little dramatic," Hailey cocked an eyebrow at her, "I could just be getting over a cold."

[~echo~]

How should I prove this... the girl thought, looking at him. Finally she thought of something. She knew that he would phase right through her if he tried to touch her so she held out her hand. "Shake my hand."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"Okay!" Hailey chirped and reached for her hand eagerly. He went to clasp her hand, but his went right through and the boy blinked his golden brown eyes.

[~echo~]

Amelia looked at him. "Does that prove it to you?"