“Not the kind of unconsciousness that torments the dead, but the kind that kills the living.”

“Joshua?" I called out, a slight hitch in my voice. "Yeah?" "What do I look like to you?" He tilted his head to the side, frowning. "What do I look like to you?" I repeated urgently, afraid that if I didn't talk fast enough, I would have time to realize how absolutely, mind-bogglingly stupid I sounded. Joshua smiled. He answered me, so quietly I almost couldn't hear him. "Beautiful. Too beautiful for people not to have noticed you the other night.”

“Hours can pass like years when you wait impatiently for something, especially something you crave and dread at the same time.”

“I guess a case of nerves could survive even death”

“This is my first . . . ah . . .” “Haunting?” he offered. I snorted. “Yes, this is my first haunting.” “Then I’m flattered.”

“I swear I’m not imaginary.” An uncontrollable grin spread across my face. “I would know if I was imaginary, right?”

“My parents’ names are Rebecca and Jeremiah, by the way,” he whispered as I approached him. I laughed, jittery. “Got it. So even though they’ll be too busy screaming at you, and they can’t hear me anyway, I’ll at least be able to address them properly?”