Reality

My phone vibrates, snapping me out of my frozen state. I pick it up, hoping it's Faint. But it's Justin. He says, "Check my WhatsApp. I sent you some photos of my birthday party." I open the app and see the photos. My heart sinks. In every photo where Faint should be, there is only an empty space. She has vanished.

That means it was not a dream. She really died that day.

I don't understand anything. I don't feel anything, not even my own body. My head is pounding. James lets me go from the station. I walk to the spot where the accident happened. It's not really walking; it's more like my body is acting on its own. I'm tired and sweaty. I can't accept her death. Everything is blurry. The only sounds I hear are murmurs and honks.

I wish someone would knock me down.

I saw Faint on the road. She looks happy. She smiles at me. I smiled back.

Then a car crashes into her. She falls on the road and her white dress turns red in her blood. Her blood spread all over the place. She dies looking at me with a face that begs for help. I can't just stand there and watch. I run to her on the road, but in reality, there was nothing on the road and a car hits me.

I fall on the road. My head is bleeding, but I don't feel any pain. I only see a blur. I only hear a murmur. My eyes close themselves. It's dark for a while.

When I open them again, I'm sitting on a beach. The sun is setting, painting the sky with beautiful colors. It's silent, except for the sound of the waves. Faint is sitting next to me, looking at the sea.

She says, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything. That day(nov-2), I ran out of your house and went somewhere. When I was crossing the road, a car hit me."

"You were the only one who cared for me before I died. I wanted to live with you and love you."

"I don't know what happened to me when I opened my eyes. I was at the bus stop, but I knew I was dead. I was afraid to tell you the truth because you would be shocked. You would think I'm crazy. Who would love a girl who ran away from home, died, and became a ghost?"

I listen to her without knowing what to say.

She says, "There's something else you need to know. Olivia loves you. She used to come to your house almost every day to see you. One day, she left a letter and a rose on the table for you. It was a love letter, but I got it and burned it. I did the wrong thing. I'm sorry. I did it because I was afraid of losing you."

"One day, when you were sick, Olivia said something to you. It was like this: 'I love you, Steve. I've had a crush on you since you saved me from those dogs. I left a letter for you, but I guess you didn't get it. I come here every day to see you, making up excuses. I love you so much. Please give me a reply if it's yes; if it's no, don't reply because my heart will break.'"

"Faint says, "I broke her heart. I took your phone without asking and sent a message to Olivia that said no. And one day, I went to her house and told her everything: that you love me and you don't like her."

"After that, she never came to your house again.

I say, "I liked Olivia because she cared for me more than anyone else, but I didn't know she loved me. After you sent 'no' that day, she came home to give me a cake for her father's birthday. She smiled at me, but I knew she was crying inside."

Faint says, "There's more."

I say, "What? You did more to Olivia?"

Faint says, "No, not that." She pauses and looks at me with red eyes and sharp teeth.

"That day on the road when a bad guy was chasing us? I got angry and turned into a vampire."

"That's why he ran away."

"But it went away when I saw you and calmed down."

I think to myself: *I slept with a vampire.*

It's cool and scary at the same time.

I ask Faint: "Am I dead?"

Faint says: "You'll find out soon."

Then she disappears.

It goes dark again.

I open my eyes.