Chapter 15: Henry’s Last 'Favour'

Lulu stepped into her hotel room and kicked off her shoes with a sigh. The day had been emotionally exhausting, even for her. She crossed the room, stretching out her arms, and caught sight of Henry standing by the window, staring out at the city skyline.

"Told you she'd listen," Lulu said, flopping onto the bed.

Henry chuckled, the sound lighter than before. "Yeah, you did." His voice was softer now, almost wistful. "I spent so long worrying she'd never really know how much I loved her. How much I thought about her, even when I couldn't say it out loud."

"Well, now she does." Lulu shot him a knowing look. "No more 'what-ifs.' No more unfinished business. By working together we were able to get your feelings across"

Henry inhaled deeply—or at least mimicked the motion since he technically had no lungs. He turned to face her, something different in his expression. "That's the thing," he said slowly. "I think I'm done needing you to talk for me."

Lulu sat up straighter, brows furrowing. "Wait… does that mean you're, uh, passing on?"

Henry didn't answer right away. His gaze drifted back to the skyline, a distant look in his eyes, but then he let out a soft chuckle. "Not yet," he murmured. "There's still more I want to see before I go. More stories to collect, so I can tell them to Ellie when I see her." He turned back to Lulu, his expression warm. "But I can leave without regrets now. And that's because of you. Thank you for helping me make my voice heard."

Lulu hesitated. "You're welcome?" she said, though a part of her felt oddly conflicted. The whole purpose of this trip was to help him move on, but now…

Henry must have caught the look on her face because he laughed, shaking his head. "Don't get me wrong—I'll be moving on soon. Ellie's waiting for me. But before that…" His voice softened. "I want to stay a little longer. I want to see Elise—really see her. See what kind of woman—wife, and mother—she's grown into since we've lost contact. Also, I never got to meet my grandkids, and now I can at least watch them. Maybe I can even try to understand John. I never gave him a chance when I was alive. Writing him off pretty quickly as some lowlife scumbag."

Lulu studied him, searching his face. He wasn't clinging to the past anymore. He wasn't afraid or lost. He had made peace with his regrets.

She exhaled, then gave him a small smile. "Sounds like a good plan."

Henry nodded. "Yeah… I think it is."

For the first time since she'd met him, he looked like a man at peace.

And although this wasn't the ending she'd envisioned, she found herself content with it. At the very least, she wasn't being haunted anymore.

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But perhaps Lulu spoke too soon…

Lulu unlocked the door to her apartment and stepped inside, flicking on the light. The space was exactly as she had left it—quiet, still, and empty.

Too empty.

She tossed her keys onto the counter and exhaled. It wasn't like she hadn't been alone before; she was used to it. She liked it. Or at least, she thought she did. But now, with Henry gone, the silence felt a little emptier than usual.

She let out a dry chuckle to herself. When Henry was here she was eager to get rid of him. Now that she's alone, she finds it too lonely.

'Maybe I should get a cat.'

Shrugging off the thought, she set her travel luggage down and was about to change into something more comfortable when—

Knock, knock, knock.

She froze, glancing at the door. It was late. Too late for neighbors or delivery people. For a brief, stupid second, she wondered if Henry had somehow come back.

Shaking off the thought, she approached and pulled the door open.

A young woman that Lulu didn't know stood there, shifting on her feet. Her dark hair was tucked behind her ears, and she looked slightly nervous, her brown hands clasped in front of her.

"Uh, hi," Lulu greeted cautiously.

The woman's eyes searched her face. "Are you Lulu?" It was a question, but there was no hesitation in her voice. She already knew the answer.

Lulu hesitated. "Yeah…?"

The woman let out a breath, as if bracing herself. "Henry told me I could come here for help."

Lulu's brows furrowed. "Henry…Henry!?" How could Henry tell anyone about Lulu, they only met after he'd already di—

Then she noticed it. The woman's hands—no, her fingers. The edges of her fingertips blurred slightly, the color fading into the air. It was subtle, but now that Lulu was looking for it, the truth was impossible to ignore.

A groan built in Lulu's throat as realization hit her.

Henry. That old bastard.

She'd just gotten rid of him, and now he had sent another ghost her way?!

Lulu dragged a hand down her face.

'What the hell, Henry?!'