Truth is Ugly

Calling my sister was a big mistake. I had to force myself to take the stairs one at a time and almost flung the door to my room open. It was too dark and I had no plans to switch on the lights.

"Katie". I gasped and almost stumbled over trying to locate where the voice came from. I felt for the switch beside the door and found Kyle standing beside my bed, his expression unreadable.

I wanted to throw myself at him and ask him to assure me that he was okay that I wasn't hallucinating or that I wasn't talking to his ghost.

I shivered at the ghost part.

I placed a hand over my heart and blinked away the tears that were beginning to form seeing him there and knowing that this might just all be a dream or some part of my hallucination and nothing more.

"Tell me Kyle. Tell me honestly". I stared straight towards him grabbing the opportunity that he was already here and that I didn't have to wait for him to call me or vice versa.

"You're real right? You're not a ghost or a speck of my imagination?". I said but I knew and felt that I was assuring myself rather than actually wanting to know.

"Katie". He took a step towards me, I held my hand up. I've had enough secrecy for the night. I need answers.

"Stay. Stay right there. Unless you tell me what's going on, and what you really are, you can't come near me". I felt the tears make their way out of my eyes and into my cheeks as Kelsea's words sunk into my head.

I'm so sorry, Kate.

And why was she?

Simply because… Kyle died that night.

"Katie".

"I said tell me Kyle". I shut the door totally heartbroken and still confused because when he had hugged and kissed me that night, it felt real, solid.

He was alive but then he was supposed to be dead.

I didn't know how to feel towards that knowledge.

"Okay". I watched him and waited. He caught my stare and let out a resigned sigh.

"I'm somewhere between the living and the dead. I'm supposed to be dead but I'm alive Kate. I don't know what happened or how was this possible, but here I am".

I continued to stare at him. He didn't look like a ghost. I pinched myself twice and felt the pain. I wasn't hallucinating or dreaming either.

"That is weird". I murmured.

"That's what I said to Penny---". I cut him off with a shake of my head.

Penny?, whose Penny?.

"You're saying that there are others?". Kyle let out a resigned sigh and gave me a slight nod.

What?

"Me, Penny and Krista; should have died but still breathing".

I shook my head again. That just didn't sound ridiculous but it seemed impossible too.

"I don't understand". I literally don't. My knees suddenly turned jelly and I felt the force on my legs vanish.

My butt had almost kissed the tiled floor but Kyle caught me halfway from meeting it. He placed his other hand on my back and carried me with the other. I strained to get out from that awkward position.

Kyle didn't look hurt but I knew somewhere he felt dejected as he helped me to get on my feet once again..

"I don't understand either Kate but Penny told me that there must have been something that kept us here. Something that prevented us from totally vanishing and I'm starting to realize what that is or who".

Kyle pierced me with his hazel eyes while I had to restrain myself from forgetting everything and embrace him in my arms and just kiss him instead.

Even though I really wanted to hate him for not showing up ahead or telling me yesterday about all of this, I can't.

I just can't.

"It's our love Kate. It tied me to you. Your love for me and my love for you somehow tipped the balance of life and death". He paused and traced a finger across my cheeks. I managed to process what he was trying to say but it was somehow hard to grasp.

"It's you Katherine Pears, you are the very reason for my existence".