text: Layla Stone Tears 
   
   
     
   Sam groaned.  “Alicia?  Are-are you alright?” 
  He could tell by his girlfriend’s moans of pain that she wasn’t.  Sam rushed to Alicia’s side and stroked her frizzy red hair.  “C’mon, carrot top.  Say something!” Sam pleaded. 
  Her deep brown eyes opened and looked into Sam’s cloudy blue ones.  “Sam…” 
  Sam could tell by the glassy look in her eyes that she would soon be gone.  “I love you.” She whispered.  And then she died. 
  “ALICIA!” Sam screamed.  If only he could do something to bring her back…  Sam wanted her back… 
  Alicia’s funeral was the next week.  Sam just sat next to Alicia’s coffin and held her hand.  Her cold, gray hand.  Tears fell from his lashes and landed on his girlfriend’s silky lavender dress.  They would be sealed in the coffin with her.  Every time she walked by, Alicia’s mother gave him a look of disgust.  The car crash was his fault… Alicia’s death was his fault… 
  3 years later. 
  “Hey, Sam.  You got a partner for the dance yet?” Sam’s pretty sister, Alex asked. 
  Sam shook his head.  “I just want Alicia to go with me.” 
  Alex sighed.  “Sam, it’s been three years.  Alicia wouldn’t want you to mope around and cry all the time.  She would want you to move on!  You need to get over her.” 
  Sam looked down, his eyes welling with tears.  “I can’t, Alex.  I miss her too much.  I can’t betray her.” 
  Alex rolled her eyes.  “Look, Sam.  Alicia would want you to be happy.” 
  Sam was starting to get mad.  “How do you know, Alex?  Until I hear it from her, I won’t move on.”  He yelled. 
  But the strange thing was, Alicia heard him say that. 
  Sam was sitting on his roof at night, like he always did when he couldn’t sleep.  Which was basically all the time since Alicia died.  “Gosh, carrot top.  Should I move on yet?  Should I?  Give me a sign!” He whispered. 
  “Sam!  Samuel!” A desperate voice whispered from the ground. 
  Sam looked down and saw the most magnificent thing he had ever seen.  He didn’t know it yet, though.  “GHOST!” He screamed as silently as he could. 
  The figure motioned for him to stop.  “But you know me, Sam.   Think!” 
  Sam looked more closely.  Then his eyes widened and he began to cry.  “Why are you mocking me?  Dress as my dead girlfriend…  Who are you?” 
  The figure looked hurt.  “Sam!  It is I!  Alicia!  I’ve come back for you.” 
  Sam studied her more carefully, as if he didn’t believe her.  “Is it really you?” 
  Alicia smiled.  “Yes.  I’m your girlfriend.  I know you’ve been missing me, Sam.  I can hear you every time you say that.  I’ve come back for a while.  For you.” 
  Sam’s eyes were immediately filled with tears.  He honestly didn’t know how to react.  His dead girlfriend had suddenly appeared in his backyard.  But it wasn’t her.  She was pretty, true, but she was shimmering and white all over.  She was wearing the same lavender dress that she wore when she was buried, only now it was ripped and wet.  She was a ghost.  Did ghosts have feelings?  Was Alicia cold? 
  Sam smiled awkwardly.  “I would invite you inside, but…” 
  Alicia understood.  “Your family?  Don’t worry, you’re the only one who can see me, Sam.” 
  Alicia said his name with such delight as though it put a sweet taste on her taste buds.  She savored every moment that he looked at her with those large eyes of his.  They were the last thing she ever had seen while she was alive.  His big, blue eyes.  They were clouded with tears, which Alicia thought was so sincere.   
  “Oh, Al!  I’m so glad you’re back!” Sam said as he climbed down from his spot on the roof.  As soon as he was down, he reached to hug her.  But when his arms came close, she started to vaporize so that he couldn’t touch her. 
  “Living, breathing human.  Gosh, Sam.  I’m sorry, but living beings can’t touch me!  Well, plants can, but that’s different…” Alicia apologized. 
  Sam nodded.  “Oh, I see.” 
  Alicia looked a little uncomfortable.  “There’s, ah, one more thing.” 
  “What, Al?  You can tell me anything.” 
  “I’m not staying forever.”  
  Sam was shocked.  “Why not, Al?  I love you!” 
  Alicia started to cry.  “I’m sorry, Sam!  But… I just can’t, okay?  I need you to understand.  I do love you, Sam, but… but…”  
  Sam felt sorry for the girl.  But at the same time, angry.  Why wouldn’t she stay with him forever?  Sure, he couldn’t touch her and she was dead, but they loved each other. 
  “Sam, I’m sorry.” 
  Sam looked away, hurt.  “No.  Not right now, Al.  I’ll see you tomorrow.  Meet me by… by the usual spot.” 
  Alicia nodded.  “I-I’ll see you tomorrow, Sam.” 
  Sam went to his bedroom and broke down crying, mourning the second loss of his girlfriend. 
  The next morning, Sam awoke and did the usual routine.  Brush his hair and teeth, eat.  Then he left for school.  The place of eternal torment.  Why?   
  “Hey, Sam.” Kayla said. 
  “Not now, Kayla.” Sam’s usual response. 
  Kayla batted her pretty brown eyes.  They looked so much like Alicia’s… 
  “Aw, c’mon, Sam.” Kayla pouted and flipped her shining blonde hair over her shoulder.  “You need someone to go the dance with you.” 
  “I-I can’t Kayla.” 
  Kayla was nice, pretty, and Sam’s best friend.  She understood why Sam was so upset these days.  “Still upset ‘bout Al?” 
  Sam nodded and tried to swallow the lump in his throat.  Then the usual people came.  “Hey, Kay.  How ‘bout that dance, huh?” 
  “Back off, Jon.  I’m not interested.” Kayla retorted. 
  “Still in to Dumpster Boy?  I’ll make him smell nice for ya.” Jon grinned evilly. 
  Motioning the other boys in his gang to grab my feet, he took him by the arms and they carried him out back.  They opened up the huge, slimy, smelly dumpster and threw him inside.  By the time Sam managed to wriggle out of the filth, school was over.  He had applesauce in his shoes and banana peels down his pant leg.  Sam considered walking home, but he just went to meet Alicia.   
  When Al saw him, she gasped in horror.  “Sam!  What happened?” 
  Sam ignored the look of sympathy on her face.  If she really felt sorry for him, she would stay by his side forever. 
  “Nothing.” He grumbled. 
  They were by a creek, cold and wet.  Sam remembered what had made this place so special… 
  “Gosh, Sam.  What did you want?” Alicia giggled as she reached the weeping willow.   
  “You.” He grinned at her. 
  Alicia blushed.  “Aw, you’re so sweet.” 
  Sam nodded.  “Should we dance?” 
  The night was clear and under the stars, Sam could see Alicia’s smiling face.  They slow-danced for a minute, but that soon turned into a kiss.  The first kiss. 
  Then… Sam was driving her home.  A car came speeding over the hill… right into the passenger side of Sam’s car.  “Alicia!” 
  And, it happened.  On a night that could’ve been perfect… it was ruined with a death.  The death of Alicia. 
  “I’m really sorry I can’t stay, Sam.” Alicia started. 
  “Don’t remind me.” Sam managed to say. 
  Alicia looked ashamed.  A single tear tumbled down her pale white cheek.  “Sam, I can’t stay.  I only came to tell you something.” 
  Sam was suddenly very interested in his shoes.  “What was it?” 
  “You need to move on, Sam.  Alex is right when she says I want you to move on.  Never forget me, and I won’t feel betrayed.  I’m dead, Sam.  Kayla is alive.  She’s practically telling you she wants to go to the dance with you.  Why do you think she’s turned Jon down every day?  She’s not giving up on you.  Just because you don’t want to stop loving me…  You still need to live long, happy life.  I’ll visit someday, Sam.” 
  Sam looked into her eyes, now gray with death.  He couldn’t forget; she was only a ghost.  Kayla was alive…  Did Kayla really want him to take her the dance?  Is that why she mentioned it every single day?  Sam was a little embarrassed to be getting this speech from his girlfriend. 
  “I love you, Sam.” Al smiled at him. 
  “When are you leaving?” 
  “Right now.” 
  Sam looked at her.  “I-I’ll really miss you, Al.” 
  “I told you I’ll visit on occasion.  I’ll come to your wedding…  That is, if you ever have one.” Alicia teased. 
  “Hey!  Have a little faith in me!” Sam started laughing. 
  “I do, Sam.  I do.” Alicia gave him a long, loving look.  The same look she gave him after he kissed her. 
  Sam smiled at her through his tears.  They came down hard and in millions.  “I love you, Alicia.  I’ll never forget you.” 
  Alicia began to rise towards the stars.  She looked down into his blue eyes, clouded with tears.  The same as when she had left him the first time.  As Sam watched Alicia leave and finally explode into a magnificent golden shimmer, his heart broke.  He had a painful lump in his throat and salty tears poured from his eyes. 
  “I love you.” He whispered, as though Alicia could hear his voice. 
  The strange thing was, she did. 
   
   
   Publication Date: November 26th 2010 https://www.bookrix.com/-kygirl511