The Book of Seance
It was dark this evening at the lobby of the Kingdom, the sound of crickets and small muttering still in my ear. I look around at the decorations, displayed fondly for Halloween. Lanterns, skeletons, coffins, all that made it spooky for the holiday to come. My eyes fall, however, on the book placed right in the middle for anyone's bidding to come across it and test it out for ourselves. They called it a Seance Book and the rumors were that it could get you in contact with anyone who had passed away. I was curious, above all.
I look between the book and the desks, eyeing the other workers with a lingering fear in my heart. My heart throbs against my chest and I suddenly find it harder to breathe. 'Deep breaths,' I kept telling myself, failing to do just that. I take steps away from the book and go to rest--only then taking deep breaths. 'You can do it...' I kept repeating in my head like a record on repeat. What did I have to be scared of? A reality?
My stance straightens up, perked high with courage. This time, I stand and stride to the book. I thought over who I wanted to speak to--My immediate thought was family. I mentally scanned faces and names of family members who died, some who I never had known before they were gone. I thought of my grandfather and with that, I look into the book, my hands rising and curling around it.
Things went white, a foggy haze surrounding me. I saw a figure come into view, slowly, their frame masculine and large--It was him. I didn't feel the smile come to my lips, but I knew it was there at the sight of him, walking and able to. I start to remember the day my grandfather passed away--He was ill and I was young. Bed-ridden, I had no clue what to do--what was a six year old to do? I was naive. I remember waking up and immediately running to him, wishing to wake him up with a great, big hug--what I normally did when I stayed with them. But I remember his only response was to look at me and blink. I remember the blood oozing from his lips and he never responded to me. I poked at him and prodded, urging him to wake up. He never did. I chose to wake my grandmother up, shaking her lightly. I told her. He was dead.
"You're here," I say in a stutter as I look upon him, my eyes swell and redden, tears forming before I had the chance to force them back in. I felt his arms around me, comforting me the best that he could in his state.
"Are you well? In heaven?" I manage to say, concerned only with his happiness--How he felt now that he was gone from the family's hands. He doesn't say a single word but gives me a whole-hearted smile--One of his signature smiles that answered his question. He was okay and was no longer suffering.
At this point, tears streamed down my face and I felt an awakening. My body was shuffling around and the white haze faded to black. Black then turned back into the real world. My body laid on the ground and I feel as though I went into a deep sleep, despite the tears still shedding. I look at the workers surrounding me, questioning if I was okay and helping me rise to my feet. I nod to them and plead that I was alright, wiping away my tears.
As I begun to walk away, I look back to the Seance Book, seeing a small wisp of air wave to me. I smiled big.
This was going to be a story to tell.
