Savoring the Moment

Just then, the door creaked open, and Jacob stepped in, pulling Ethan from his spiraling thoughts. He remembered he hadn't gotten the chance to hear what exactly Kai needed him to do, but he decided to ask about that later.

"Hey, have you had anything to eat at all today?" Jacob asked suddenly. "I'm about to order a pizza."

Ethan tried to remember the last time he ate and just shook his head, feeling a twinge of guilt. "Thanks, man. I appreciate it."

The pizza arrived about half an hour later, and they settled in to eat, chatting about random topics. As they shared slices, Ethan's mind wandered back to something he'd been meaning to ask Jacob. "Hey, where were you two nights ago? You came back looking really tired and out of it."

Jacob paused for a moment, his expression unreadable, before resuming his meal. "It's not something you should concern yourself with," he replied, his tone leaving no room for further discussion. The way he worded it made it clear he didn't want to continue the conversation any longer.

The atmosphere shifted, and they fell into a comfortable silence, finishing their meal without another word. After some time spent awake, they both decided to call it a night.

The next morning, Ethan woke up and immediately noticed the difference in his body compared to yesterday. Although it had only been two days, it felt like an eternity since he'd been able to move without discomfort or endure the constant pounding in his head. He figured that speaking with Kai last night must have something to do with the ghost taking a break from tormenting him.

Suddenly, he found himself looking forward to the day ahead.

As Ethan walked through the school gates, a wave of nostalgia washed over him. It felt like he was new in school once again, everything around him vibrant and fresh. The laughter of students, the scent of blooming flowers, and the bright sun shining down created an atmosphere that felt almost magical. He shivered at the thought of how he had felt just days before—like a walking zombie, going through the motions without truly being present. He never wanted to experience that numbness again; it had felt like torture.

But today was different. Today, he decided to embrace the moment. With a deep breath, Ethan pushed those dark thoughts aside and focused on the present. He made his way to his first class, a smile creeping onto his face as he greeted friends along the way.

"Ethan! You look alive today!" Alex exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement and a bit of concern. "Is everything okay with you now?"

"Just trying to enjoy the day," Ethan replied while shaking his head a little, feeling warmth spread through him. 'It's nice to feel like myself again.'

As the morning classes unfolded, Ethan found himself laughing and joking with his friends, the weight of his worries lifting with each passing moment. They shared stories about their weekends, and Ethan felt a sense of belonging that he had longed for. He participated actively, answering questions and even cracking a few jokes that made his classmates laugh.

During lunch, they gathered at their usual spot, a large table under the shade of a sprawling tree. The sun filtered through the leaves, casting playful shadows on the ground. Ethan looked around at the faces of his friends, their laughter ringing in his ears. He felt a surge of gratitude for this moment, for the normalcy that had eluded him for the past few days.

"Ethan, you should totally join us for the game night this Friday!" Alex suggested, his enthusiasm was contagious.

"Yeah! We can order pizza and play video games all night," Ryan added, his eyes shining with excitement.

Ethan's heart swelled with appreciation. He felt a flicker of apprehension at the thought of the challenges Kai would soon lay out for him, but he pushed it aside. This was just the calm before the storm, and he was determined to savor every moment.

"Count me in!" Ethan said, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."