A Specter of the Past

 The tired teenage girl in ratty sneakers and a faded T-shirt stood in stark contrast with the rather opulent living room. Her foot tapped the ground impatiently, and she looked distinctly annoyed. The bags under her eyes only made her look more frustrated.

The woman across from her looked at the girl in distaste. Madam Pauline sat elegantly on the couch, dressed impeccably. It seemed like she had noticed the difference as well. “Are you sure this will work, Ms. Stillons?”


Amy Stillons stopped tapping her foot. Looking up at the rich lady, she sighed. “Look, ma’am. I’ve been doing this for a long time. Don’t you trust Sir Richards’ recommendation?”


By bringing up the billionaire’s name, a large portion of Madam Pauline’s worries calmed. But some still remained. Although the girl had a good reputation amongst wealthy people within her circle, she couldn’t help but doubt her. Dismissing her concerns for the moment, the woman opened the small ornate jewellery box lying between them.


“This was my husband’s wedding ring,” she explained, displaying her matching ring resting on the middle finger of her right hand. “He stopped wearing it a few years ago out of fear of damaging it, but always kept it on his bedside table.”


Pausing from her explanation, the lady’s cold facade began to crack from the fond recollections. Unshed tears began to well up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. “Will this be enough?”


Amy softened her demeanour, feeling pity for the mourning woman. Her husband had been found dead in their bed a few weeks ago, and her life had been turned upside down. Even now, her red-rimmed eyes and chipped nails from biting betrayed her composed appearance.


“Yes, it’s perfect,” she replied softly, giving the woman a rare smile. “An item so close to his heart will be enough to gain his attention in the afterlife.”


The teenage medium took the box into her hands, closed her eyes, and began the ritual. From Madam Pauline’s point of view, nothing special seemed to happen. Hair didn’t float, strange lights didn’t shine, and no spirits whispered from beyond the veil. But a strange energy seemed to settle in the room, an eerie feeling permeating the air. Feeling the goosebumps along her spine, she suddenly held no doubts as to the abilities of Amy Stillons.


Just as the girl’s eyes opened, the woman jumped off the couch in shock. Tears began to run down her cheeks as she brought her hands to her mouth. She was speechless.


The medium smiled at the successful job, and at the expectation of a hefty sum of money for her pay. But Madam Pauline never saw that. Her eyes were only for the translucent apparition before her, who almost seemed to be a part of her imagination. For the first time in many weeks, she heard her husband’s voice once more.


“Hello, Laura, my dear.”

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