Away

Keira couldn't believe how her life is right now. For her it couldn't get any worse. First her parents were completely ignoring her and have been at work more than they have been at home, then her boyfriend suddenly stops communicating. She saw him every day walking by her house, and whenever she called out to him, he just ignored her.

Today was no different.

"Justin!" Keira screamed at the top of her lungs from her bedroom window, but still he ignored her. She groaned and decided this was the last straw. She got out of the house and followed him. He walked hurriedly with a bouquet of flowers in hand. Keira’s heart ached at the thought that he might be cheating. She kept following him until he walked into the entrance of the town’s cemetery.

"Why would he be here?" She thought. Keira watched him go to a head stone and kneel. Tears fell down his face, he muffled his sobs with his hand. Why was he here? He shook his head before laying down the flowers next to the headstone. Justin gave a heavy sigh before leaving the place. Keira walked to the head stone and read whose it was. As her eyes made contact, her heart stopped.

"In memory of Keira Gonzalez, an amazing daughter, student and girlfriend."

So, this is why everyone has been ignoring her.

Keira’s dead.

~ ~ ~

Gasps left Keira as she fell to her knees, reading the head stone over and over. She felt like she was suffocating, utter shock was painted on her face.

“H-how am I dead…” She thought. Keira sighed deeply, squeezing her eyes shut in hopes to see if this all could be a horrible nightmare.

“You’re a newbie aren’t you?” A voice interrupted. Keira darted her eyes to where the voice was from. She blinked a couple times, staring at the floating boy in front of her. His black hair framed his face, his eyes were a clouded gray and he wore a sympathetic smile on his lips. He couldn’t have been much older than Keira, maybe 17 or 18.

“A newbie? What or who are you?” Kiera asked. The boy reached his hand out to help her back onto her feet.

“I’m Rafe. You just realized that you passed away, so you can see all the ghosts of the town now. Hence, being a newbie. Do you remember what happened to you at all?” Rafe asked.

“No! I can’t remember anything. And if I can see ghosts now why isn’t this place crawling with them?” She motioned to the cemetery. Rafe wore a puzzled expression at the statement that she couldn’t remember how she passed.

“First off, the ghosts aren’t bonded to this place. We can roam wherever we like till we’re ready to go to our own realm. Second, the reason why you don’t know how you died is probably because you have unfinished business.” He responded. Keira felt her knees buckle as she processed the information.

“How do you know all this?”

“It’s my job to welcome any new arrivals.” He smiled. “I try to make everyone adjust to their new life and I can help you with your unfinished business if you would like.”

“I’d appreciate it. I really can’t remember anything that has happened, just going to bed one night and then everyone started to ignore me.” Keira said. “I feel stupid now, letting myself believe that all the people in my life stopped acknowledging me.” If she were still human, she was sure her cheeks would be flushed bright red by now. Rafe couldn’t help but snicker at the girl, she was truly something if she went along with her situation without investigating it.

“Don’t worry about it. Anyway, c’mon I know who can help jog your memory.” He said.

“Who would that be?”

“The big chief himself, Death.”