I made the short drive to the park on my own. The clouds above darkened ominously but even bad weather wasn’t going to deter me.

There was only one other car parked as I pulled up beside it.

I switched the car off and took a deep breath. I saw a figure by the swings. It was Joey.

He stood waiting with his hands in the front of his Jean pockets as I approached him. His light brown hair hung across his forehead, it was his dark brown eyes that made me nervous as they tracked my approach. I was so nervous. Now that I was about to tell him all about being able to see ghosts and communicate with Parker I was feeling hesitant. I had never told anyone about what I had been able to see from the age of seven.

If I were in his shoes I wasn’t sure I would believe any of it but there was no stopping me now.

My hand curled around Parker’s note in my pocket. I was doing this for him and I held onto that when I wavered.

“Thanks for meeting me here,” I said, feeling like I was babbling. Nerves and anxiousness made it impossible for my hands to stop shaking.

“You said this was about Parker.” His expression was sombre.

I nodded. I had no idea how to even start this conversation.

“Let’s sit.” I moved to sit on the one swing and he reluctantly sat on the swing beside me.

“I need you to promise me you’re going to hear me out.” Our eyes held.

He nodded. “I’m listening.”

“You know I lost my family.”

He nodded.

“I was the only person to survive the accident.” I didn’t use the correct term to describe what had actually happened. If he knew about it, he probably knew all the details and I didn’t have to go into them.

“I um…” It suddenly became so much more difficult to continue. I exhaled, looking away from him. “I was technically dead for twenty minutes.”

I paused for a moment to collect my memories and hold them together without allowing the emotions to seep into the present.

“When I woke up I could see ghosts.”

Silence hung between us. My head turned slightly to sneak a glance at him. His face was guarded. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

I had come this far, I couldn’t back out now.

“The day Parker died.” I stopped, feeling more emotional than I had expected.

Even though I could still interact with him as a ghost, the reality was that he was no longer alive and would eventually move on to a better place.

“I saw him die and it was devastating not to be able to do anything to stop it.”

There was no need to say anything about the reaper and the fact he would be back for me.

“I went home. I was upset and Parker appeared in my room.”

This time I quietened. I wished Parker here with me now but I knew it might be too emotional for him to be able to stay for very long.

Joey stood and I held back as I watched his posture stiffen. I had no idea how he was taking my revelation. My stomach knotted and my breath stilled.

He turned to face me. It was the tightness in his features that gave me the first inkling that it hadn’t gone down well.

“Is this some kind of joke to you?” he hissed. His eyes glittered with anger.

“No..uh..I-” I stuttered, taken slightly aback by his abrupt outburst.

I thought he would allow me to get a little further into the conversation before he would make up his mind. Clearly, it hadn’t taken him long to decide I was making it up.

“Why would you do this?” He shook his head.

I stood and moved to him but he held up his hands. “Don’t come near me.”

I stopped, faltering a step back as the ferocity of his anger hit me in the chest. My worst scenario was playing out and there was no way to undo it.

“Parker wanted…”

“Parker is dead.” His tone harsh, his hands curled into fists at his sides.

I swallowed nervously.

It was then I knew there was no way to turn the situation around. He had made up his mind and there was no changing it.

“Why would you do this?” He repeated the question and I bit my lip.

He didn’t want to hear the answer to that question. Not if he believed I was lying so I kept quiet as his eyes held mine.

Even though I knew this could have happened, I was still taken aback by it.

“Do you get some sort of sick kick out of this?” He took a threatening step to me and Damien suddenly appeared beside me as I stepped back.

“No,” I shook my head.

“Don’t lie.”

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Damien’s eyes glow. “This is probably not the time to say I told you so.”

He would not let me hear the end of this. And even though he had been right, it was something I had needed to do.

“Don’t come near me again,” he said quietly, filled with anger.

I watched helplessly as he turned his heel and strode away. I felt like I had let my friend down.

It had gone so wrong. Was there another way I could have approached it, or told him that would have led to a different outcome?

“I told you,” Damien repeated beside me.

“I know.” I felt so defeated.

Parker’s unread note still in my pocket. His emotional words unheard. I had failed him.

Joey got into his car, slamming the door before he started it up and left. Damien stood quietly next to me as I stared off into the distance.

Parker appeared in front of us, his expression hopeful. I couldn’t even muster a hesitant smile for him. My heart was too heavy and I was still trying to calm my erratic heart.

His expression faltered when he took in my bleak expression .”It didn’t go well?”

I shook my head. “He didn’t believe a word I told him. He accused me of making a sick joke.”

“Did you get to read the note to him?”

I shook my head again. “He flipped out when I got to the part when you first appeared as a ghost in my bedroom.” I let out a shaky breath. His anger had been tangible.

“You okay?” Damien asked.

“Yeah.” But the truth was I wasn’t. I was still shaken by Joey’s words. He was hurting and I got that. Maybe there was no way he was going to take what I said well. Perhaps it had been too soon. But what was done was done.

There was a long list of factors that could have changed the outcome but it was a waste of time. I couldn’t go back and take the words back. They were out and I had to live with the consequences.

I let out a deep breath. I had no idea if it would get worse. What if Joey told other people? What if it got out at school? I would go from being invisible to being the centre of attention, something I detested.

Visions of students laughing and pointing at me replayed again and again in my mind. The snickering and ridicule wouldn’t be easy.

“I’m sorry Tessa.” Parker looked so sad.

I pushed all the worrying scenarios out of my mind and smiled. “I’m sorry. I messed it up.”

“I know it wasn’t easy opening up about what you can see.” He sighed. “I’d hoped he would take it better, you know?”

“It’s not easy for humans to be confronted with death. It makes them have to face a stark reality. The moment you are born your death is guaranteed.”

It was the most insightful and honest thing Damien had ever said.

Parker nodded. “Maybe you’re right.”

“So what do we do now?” I asked.

“We hope he doesn’t spread it around the school. Otherwise you’re going to be dealing with a lot more than a guy who doesn’t want to hear his best friend is a ghost trying to find closure.”

Parker cleared his throat. “Technically I stayed to help Tessa.”

Damien studied him. “She has risked everything for you. I hope you’re happy.”

And then he vanished leaving me with Parker.

“He is right, you know. He may be an asshole but he is right.” He sounded so despondent, it made my heart ache.

“First. I never thought I would ever hear the two of you agree with each other. Second. He is wrong. You stayed to help me. It was the least I could do. Whatever happens, at least I tried.”

Good or bad, I had done the right thing.