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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Family & Friends
- Subject: Ghost Stories / Paranormal
- Published: 09/12/2020
The Ghost Writer
Born 1961, F, from Kalispell, MT, United StatesThe Ghost Writer
Looking up when she heard the screeching sound of brakes, Jessica felt her heart jump and almost stop, before its rapid acceleration. She had been daydreaming and hadn't even looked for cars as she made her way across the street. Luckily the driver had seen her. Jessica could hear the man cussing as he drove away. Making her way over to the bench she had originally been headed for, Jessica sat down and tried to catch her breath and slow down her heart rate. Sitting on the bench after she got to feeling better, Jessica looked around. The bench sat in the middle of what the people of Ashburg called Town Square. Jessica smiled now, this was her favorite place to be when she wasn't at home writing. She loved to people watch.
As Jessica watched the people go by, she frowned, something was different today. Those walking by weren't giving her their usual glaring looks. Jessica supposed she deserved the looks that did come her way the previous times she had sat in this same spot. As much as she tried not to, she just couldn't stop her giggles when she saw something or someone that struck her funny.
Jessica sighed, she really should be back at her place working on her novel. She had only been in Ashburg six months, her sole purpose moving to the small town was so she could complete her novel. That and to move away from her boyfriend, or rather ex-boyfriend. Jessica had quit dating Rex when she had found him in his apartment living room in the arms of another woman. Jessica was sure Rex and the woman spent time in quite a few other places as well. Rex hadn't denied it, when she confronted him and Jessica had made a few plans to get out of the town. She had picked Ashburg as her new home. The small town sat in a valley surrounded by mountains and more than its share of pine trees. It was April and the snow had melted except from the mountain tops you could see. From where she sat, Jessica could see those mountains now off in the distance and smiled, her green eyes lighting up with the gesture.
Turning her attention back to the square, Jessica decided to do some people watching. Maybe she could find a few characters to write into her book. Jessica sighed, thinking about her writing.
At thirty two, she felt she was running out of time to get her name and her work out where people would be clamoring to get her next book.
With one hand, Jessica pushed back her red hair and laughed. Before they asked for her next novel, maybe she should finish her first.
Jessica looked up as a man stepped just a few inches in front of her, walking his dog. The animal looked like a golden retriever to Jessica. As the two went by, the man didn't even give Jessica a glance. His dog however sat down in front of her panting. The dog cocked its head to one side as it stared at her. Jessica smiled at the action and reached a hand out to pet the dog. Her hand hit air as the dog's owner jerked on the animal's leash, pulling it away. Jessica frowned and opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again, changing her mind. Yelling at the man would only put her in a bad mood. That was the last thing she needed.
Instead the wheels in her mind turned as she thought of how she could put the man in her novel. Jessica laughed then, thinking of ways she could make the man's life miserable, in the novel of course.
Feeling her mood lighten, Jessica thought back to that morning. She'd woken up in the small cottage she'd rented with sunlight streaming in through her bedroom window. That was all it took to start her day off right. She didn't plan on having anything ruin it now, not even the near hit from the car earlier.
She really should go back home now and write the man into the book, before she lost the way he had made her feel. Jessica was afraid that once she sat down at her writing desk, which was really her converted kitchen table, that her writer's block would stop any words she had floating in her head now. Jessica wished she would have brought at least a notebook and pen with her when she'd left her place after breakfast. Though she had only planned on taking a brisk walk to clear her head. Instead, she sat here, people watching, with no desire to leave the bench.
Looking up, Jessica saw a woman with a young boy walking toward her. The boy looked like he was only around two years old. He had dark hair and large dark eyes that stared at Jessica. When she looked at him the boy scooted back to stand behind the woman.
The woman had a hold of the boy's small hand. “What's the matter with you Jimmy? Get up here, you're going to make me trip and fall.”
As she said that, the woman was trying to pull the child forward to get him out from behind her. Jessica couldn't stop herself from laughing at the look on the boy's face. The woman, focused on the boy, ignored Jessica. Then she sighed and picked him up. “I don't have time for this Jimmy, we're already late.”
Now Jimmy smiled shyly at Jessica. She thought maybe that was because he felt safe now that he was in the woman's arms. Jessica figured the two had to probably be mother and son. Jessica smiled back at the boy. As the woman walked away, carrying the boy but not speaking to her, Jessica frowned. She was more than a little surprised the woman hadn't said a word to her. Or even acknowledged Jessica with a smile or something. Jessica sat back, thinking. So far, the only person, other than the boy, to even look at her today had been the angry man in the car. Jessica shrugged, maybe everyone was just in a hurry like the woman.
Looking up again, Jessica now saw two women approaching her. Jessica waved, hoping for some recognition. The two women only kept walking. The two were talking as they walked and Jessica eavesdropped.
The first woman was shaking her head. “It is a shame, poor thing. I don't even know if she had relatives.”
The other woman nodded. “She's always kept to herself, not that she's been here that long. I wish now I would have taken the time to get to know her better.”
The two walked out of Jessica's hearing range. Jessica frowned, wondering what the hell that was all about. Then she shook her head. Even if she knew what they were talking about she wouldn't know who it was. Since coming to Ashburg, she'd spent most of her time cooped up in her house or sitting here on this bench. She was here to finish her novel, not make friends.
Her aunt worked at a publishing house and had worked out a deal for Jessica, so she could get an advance on the book she was writing. They had read some of her short stories and had decided to take a chance on an unknown author. That's when Jessica had quit her job and moved. It was also not long after that when Jessica had gotten her writer's block. It didn't help that she had a deadline looming in a few weeks.
Jessica let out a breath. She missed her aunt Kate who was her only family since her parents had died in a car crash when Jessica was in her early twenties. She wished Kate was here now instead of a thousand miles away. She would really like to have someone to talk to. Thinking that, Jessica jumped when someone behind her spoke.
“Are you okay?”
Jessica turned to see a man maybe a few years older than her standing a few feet behind her. His blue eyes looked worried as he stared. Jessica nodded. “I'm okay, but it's nice of you to ask. In fact, more than nice. For some reason you're the first person to even notice me today.”
The man smiled and stepped forward. “Do you mind if I sit down?”
Nodding, Jessica smiled and slid over on the bench. “I don't mind at all. I could use some company, I'm Jessica.”
The man acted like he already knew that. “I'm Kevin.” Kevin sat down on the bench and looked at Jessica. She couldn't quite read the look on the man's face, but it was something close to sorrow, which made her frown.
Looking away from Jessica for a minute, Kevin then turned back to stare intently at her face. “Do you know where you are at Jessica?”
Laughing, Jessica nodded. “Of course I do. I'm sitting on a bench in Ashburg's town square.” Jessica frowned. “Why would you even ask me a question like that?”
Sighing, Kevin gave Jessica a half shrug.
“You're not really in Ashburg Jessica, not anymore. If I had to explain it, I'd say you were just looking in.”
Jessica frowned at Kevin. “That doesn't make any sense. I think I know where I'm at.”
Kevin raised an eyebrow above one blue eye.
“I'm afraid I don't think you really do. What happened before you sat down on this bench today? I want you to think back and tell me exactly what happened. Close your eyes Jessica.”
Jessica stared at Kevin like he was crazy. Kevin chuckled lightly. “It's okay, go ahead and try it.”
Shrugging, Jessica closed her eyes. “I was crossing the street to get to this bench. I really wasn't paying attention. In fact I almost got hit by a...”
Jessica stopped talking and her eyes flew open. “Oh no, that can't be.”
Frowning, Jessica stared at Kevin.
Her green eyes filled with sadness. “I was hit, wasn't I? That's why no one was talking to me, except the dog and the child. They could see me. That's why you said I was looking in?”
Jessica frowned. “Who are you?”
Kevin reached out his hand and took Jessica's. “I'm your guide, and I think it's time for us to go now.”
The Ghost Writer(P.S. Winn)
The Ghost Writer
Looking up when she heard the screeching sound of brakes, Jessica felt her heart jump and almost stop, before its rapid acceleration. She had been daydreaming and hadn't even looked for cars as she made her way across the street. Luckily the driver had seen her. Jessica could hear the man cussing as he drove away. Making her way over to the bench she had originally been headed for, Jessica sat down and tried to catch her breath and slow down her heart rate. Sitting on the bench after she got to feeling better, Jessica looked around. The bench sat in the middle of what the people of Ashburg called Town Square. Jessica smiled now, this was her favorite place to be when she wasn't at home writing. She loved to people watch.
As Jessica watched the people go by, she frowned, something was different today. Those walking by weren't giving her their usual glaring looks. Jessica supposed she deserved the looks that did come her way the previous times she had sat in this same spot. As much as she tried not to, she just couldn't stop her giggles when she saw something or someone that struck her funny.
Jessica sighed, she really should be back at her place working on her novel. She had only been in Ashburg six months, her sole purpose moving to the small town was so she could complete her novel. That and to move away from her boyfriend, or rather ex-boyfriend. Jessica had quit dating Rex when she had found him in his apartment living room in the arms of another woman. Jessica was sure Rex and the woman spent time in quite a few other places as well. Rex hadn't denied it, when she confronted him and Jessica had made a few plans to get out of the town. She had picked Ashburg as her new home. The small town sat in a valley surrounded by mountains and more than its share of pine trees. It was April and the snow had melted except from the mountain tops you could see. From where she sat, Jessica could see those mountains now off in the distance and smiled, her green eyes lighting up with the gesture.
Turning her attention back to the square, Jessica decided to do some people watching. Maybe she could find a few characters to write into her book. Jessica sighed, thinking about her writing.
At thirty two, she felt she was running out of time to get her name and her work out where people would be clamoring to get her next book.
With one hand, Jessica pushed back her red hair and laughed. Before they asked for her next novel, maybe she should finish her first.
Jessica looked up as a man stepped just a few inches in front of her, walking his dog. The animal looked like a golden retriever to Jessica. As the two went by, the man didn't even give Jessica a glance. His dog however sat down in front of her panting. The dog cocked its head to one side as it stared at her. Jessica smiled at the action and reached a hand out to pet the dog. Her hand hit air as the dog's owner jerked on the animal's leash, pulling it away. Jessica frowned and opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again, changing her mind. Yelling at the man would only put her in a bad mood. That was the last thing she needed.
Instead the wheels in her mind turned as she thought of how she could put the man in her novel. Jessica laughed then, thinking of ways she could make the man's life miserable, in the novel of course.
Feeling her mood lighten, Jessica thought back to that morning. She'd woken up in the small cottage she'd rented with sunlight streaming in through her bedroom window. That was all it took to start her day off right. She didn't plan on having anything ruin it now, not even the near hit from the car earlier.
She really should go back home now and write the man into the book, before she lost the way he had made her feel. Jessica was afraid that once she sat down at her writing desk, which was really her converted kitchen table, that her writer's block would stop any words she had floating in her head now. Jessica wished she would have brought at least a notebook and pen with her when she'd left her place after breakfast. Though she had only planned on taking a brisk walk to clear her head. Instead, she sat here, people watching, with no desire to leave the bench.
Looking up, Jessica saw a woman with a young boy walking toward her. The boy looked like he was only around two years old. He had dark hair and large dark eyes that stared at Jessica. When she looked at him the boy scooted back to stand behind the woman.
The woman had a hold of the boy's small hand. “What's the matter with you Jimmy? Get up here, you're going to make me trip and fall.”
As she said that, the woman was trying to pull the child forward to get him out from behind her. Jessica couldn't stop herself from laughing at the look on the boy's face. The woman, focused on the boy, ignored Jessica. Then she sighed and picked him up. “I don't have time for this Jimmy, we're already late.”
Now Jimmy smiled shyly at Jessica. She thought maybe that was because he felt safe now that he was in the woman's arms. Jessica figured the two had to probably be mother and son. Jessica smiled back at the boy. As the woman walked away, carrying the boy but not speaking to her, Jessica frowned. She was more than a little surprised the woman hadn't said a word to her. Or even acknowledged Jessica with a smile or something. Jessica sat back, thinking. So far, the only person, other than the boy, to even look at her today had been the angry man in the car. Jessica shrugged, maybe everyone was just in a hurry like the woman.
Looking up again, Jessica now saw two women approaching her. Jessica waved, hoping for some recognition. The two women only kept walking. The two were talking as they walked and Jessica eavesdropped.
The first woman was shaking her head. “It is a shame, poor thing. I don't even know if she had relatives.”
The other woman nodded. “She's always kept to herself, not that she's been here that long. I wish now I would have taken the time to get to know her better.”
The two walked out of Jessica's hearing range. Jessica frowned, wondering what the hell that was all about. Then she shook her head. Even if she knew what they were talking about she wouldn't know who it was. Since coming to Ashburg, she'd spent most of her time cooped up in her house or sitting here on this bench. She was here to finish her novel, not make friends.
Her aunt worked at a publishing house and had worked out a deal for Jessica, so she could get an advance on the book she was writing. They had read some of her short stories and had decided to take a chance on an unknown author. That's when Jessica had quit her job and moved. It was also not long after that when Jessica had gotten her writer's block. It didn't help that she had a deadline looming in a few weeks.
Jessica let out a breath. She missed her aunt Kate who was her only family since her parents had died in a car crash when Jessica was in her early twenties. She wished Kate was here now instead of a thousand miles away. She would really like to have someone to talk to. Thinking that, Jessica jumped when someone behind her spoke.
“Are you okay?”
Jessica turned to see a man maybe a few years older than her standing a few feet behind her. His blue eyes looked worried as he stared. Jessica nodded. “I'm okay, but it's nice of you to ask. In fact, more than nice. For some reason you're the first person to even notice me today.”
The man smiled and stepped forward. “Do you mind if I sit down?”
Nodding, Jessica smiled and slid over on the bench. “I don't mind at all. I could use some company, I'm Jessica.”
The man acted like he already knew that. “I'm Kevin.” Kevin sat down on the bench and looked at Jessica. She couldn't quite read the look on the man's face, but it was something close to sorrow, which made her frown.
Looking away from Jessica for a minute, Kevin then turned back to stare intently at her face. “Do you know where you are at Jessica?”
Laughing, Jessica nodded. “Of course I do. I'm sitting on a bench in Ashburg's town square.” Jessica frowned. “Why would you even ask me a question like that?”
Sighing, Kevin gave Jessica a half shrug.
“You're not really in Ashburg Jessica, not anymore. If I had to explain it, I'd say you were just looking in.”
Jessica frowned at Kevin. “That doesn't make any sense. I think I know where I'm at.”
Kevin raised an eyebrow above one blue eye.
“I'm afraid I don't think you really do. What happened before you sat down on this bench today? I want you to think back and tell me exactly what happened. Close your eyes Jessica.”
Jessica stared at Kevin like he was crazy. Kevin chuckled lightly. “It's okay, go ahead and try it.”
Shrugging, Jessica closed her eyes. “I was crossing the street to get to this bench. I really wasn't paying attention. In fact I almost got hit by a...”
Jessica stopped talking and her eyes flew open. “Oh no, that can't be.”
Frowning, Jessica stared at Kevin.
Her green eyes filled with sadness. “I was hit, wasn't I? That's why no one was talking to me, except the dog and the child. They could see me. That's why you said I was looking in?”
Jessica frowned. “Who are you?”
Kevin reached out his hand and took Jessica's. “I'm your guide, and I think it's time for us to go now.”
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Bhuvana
09/13/2020Nice surprise. But, I wish you had chosen a different title, not to reveal it.
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P.S. Winn
09/13/2020Thanks, never thought about the title being a spolier. Glad you mentioned that.
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