Chapter 10

'What do you wanna be when you grow up?'

The same childlike voice from before echoed in my mind. A small girl materialized in front of me… I could barely see her face, but why did she feel so familiar? Even if I couldn't tell what she looked like, it was like I had memorized everything about her—the way she twirled, the way she walked, the way she jumped, the way she smiled, the way she—

'Jordy…' She said my name…

My hand tried to reach out to her, but it was like an invisible mirror stood between us. The girl tilted her head, looking at me, confused.

'Jordy, you look different… did you grow taller again?' she said, her cheerful voice echoing in this endless void.

'If you keep growing taller, I won't be able to pat your head anymore,' the girl puffed out her little cheeks. Before I could respond, she turned on her heels and skipped away.

"Wait, where are you—" My hand tried to reach out to the girl again, forcefully pushing against the invisible wall. But the figment of the girl shattered as the tip of my finger barely touched her. I looked around frantically in the endless void.

I around trying to find the girl, my heart pounding.

"Where are you?" I scream.

Did she just disappear? But who was she? Why did she keep appearing like a ghost?

'Sorry, Jordy…' Her voice came from behind me, and I turned to see her again, this time older, her hair longer, her figure sligly taller. She stood far away, her shoulders slumped, her face hidden but her voice heavy with sadness.

'I can't play with you anymore…' she said… I still couldn't see her face clearly, but I could hear the sadness in her voice… Was she crying?

'Sorry, Jordy…' She wiped her tears… This time, I could see the pearly tears running down her cheeks.

"Why not?" I called, my chest tightening. I can hear my heart beath pumping right beside my ears

The sight of her crying felt like a knife to my chest… She fell to her knees, still sobbing, trying to reach out to me…

'Jordy… I'm sorry…'

My hand tried to reach out again, but this time she was getting further and further away…

Please don't cry… please… I had never felt so desperate to console someone like this. Why did it hurt me so much just seeing her cry?

Who are you?

'Jordy…' I tried to run toward her, but my feet felt so heavy… and I watched hopelessly as she disappeared further into the void.

"Don't go, please…"

"Jordan?"

Like being doused with cold water, my heart racing, my body drenched in sweat. The sterile white walls of the hospital room came into focus. I looked around me in a daze before reality finally sank back in.

It was a dream.

"Are you okay?" My eyes fell to my side, like the ghost reaper, but this time it was no longer a little girl but a fully grown woman looking at me with worry. She tried to reach her hand out but stopped herself halfway.

Why are you running away again?

My hand the one reached out this time. She didn't disappear or get pulled away by the void. Taking her smaller hand, our fingers intertwined. She looked confused… her eyes darting between our hands and my face…

I see… You never left. You've always been here… beside me.

"Jordan… wha… what is this?" she said, her lips trembling and her cheeks reddening to her ears…

"Just like an apple," I chuckled… pulling her closer to me… Her body fell forward on top of me… Her lips opened and closed, trying to form words. She tried to sit up from the bed, panic and frustration all over her face… I never thought… I would find her to be this adorable.

"Jordan… this isn't the time for joking around," she said, trying to scold me, but I could still hear the worried tone in her voice.

"You always worried about me, huh?"I smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. 

"Abby…"I said softly, my thumb tracing circles on the back of her hand.

She looked up looking suprise, finally meeting my eyes… her honey-brown eyes finally looking at me.

I did grow a bit too tall for you, huh?

My wife…