Ghost Story

There is a family moving into my house! It’s been years since anyone has lived here with me. I think I died almost forty years ago and I haven’t been able to leave this room since. It’s so lonely being in a room by yourself. I think maybe I’ve gone a little crazy. Maybe, but now I won’t be alone! I went to the window and looked down. I saw a lot of furniture sitting on the lawn, waiting to be carried in. A car pulled up and a little girl got out of the back seat. I wonder if she will get this room? Then I can have someone to talk to. Better the little girl, I can be her imaginary friend. I think the parents would be upset if they found me. I don’t care as long as someone finally opens the door so I can get out!

The girl disappears into the house. I rush over to the door and listen for footsteps on the stairs. I hear someone say, “Go look at the rooms sweetie. Pick whichever one you want.” I hear some childish steps on the stairs and know she is coming here. Finally, someone will open the door for me!

I hide behind the curtain so I don’t scare her. I hear the door opening and know she is peeking in. This is the perfect room for a little girl, I know she’ll love it. She walks over to the window seat and climbs up onto it. She is looking out the same window that I’ve stared out for the last forty years. I peek out from behind the curtains and she turns her head. “Who are you?” she says. “I used to live here a long long time ago.” She stares at me with wide eyed innocence only the very young have. If she would have been slightly older I think she would have been frightened, instead, she just looked at me with curiosity. “Are you a ghost?” she asked.

I thought about it for a moment. “Yes, I suppose I am. I’ve been stuck in this room for a long long time. I’m glad you came, I couldn’t get the door open.”

She looked at me and then she looked at the door. Her gaze went back and forth a few times and came to rest on me. “If you’re a ghost why do you need to open the door? Couldn’t you walk right through it?”

I just stared at her. I then looked at the door and then looked back at her. My mind flashed to the times I tried to open the door. How my hand seemed to pass through the doorknob. Suddenly I felt sick. “You know, I never tried.”