Ghosts of the Past

The old woman's eyes softened as she placed a hand on Rina's arm. "Forgive me, dear. Where are my manners? I'm Eleanor Hayes."

Rina already knew that. She knew Eleanor from the actual 80s-90s back when she was still Hailee Rain, living a life long buried under layers of fake identities.

But she put on her best "pleasant stranger" smile. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Hayes."

Eleanor sighed, nostalgia lacing her voice. "Hailee and I were dear friends in our youth. She was such a force brilliant, sharp-tongued, always a little too stubborn for her own good."

Rina smirked slightly. "Sounds about right."

Eleanor laughed, shaking her head. "We got into all sorts of trouble together. But she had this fire about her, you know? Like she belonged to something bigger. It was impossible not to admire her."

Rina nodded slowly, a strange feeling settling in her chest. To be spoken about as if she were someone else as if Hailee Rain were long gone was both eerie and… oddly grounding.

Eleanor sighed. "I always wondered what happened to her. She just disappeared one day."

Rina tilted her head. "Maybe she found peace."

Eleanor smiled sadly. "I'd like to believe that."

Rina just nodded, gripping her grocery basket a little tighter.

If only Eleanor knew the truth.