Somewhere Between

It was supposed to be just a normal day at work, but of course, things never go as planned. It was supposed to be an easy shift, just 12pm to 4pm after my morning class. That was it. But the universe had other plans for me today.

I was driving down the interstate towards work when traffic stopped short. I slammed on the breaks and the car came to a screeching stop.

“Shit…” I hissed as my coffee splashed forward from the force. It wasn’t unusual for this highway to be crowded, but still no matter how many times I take this route I always am caught off guard. I assumed that at this hour it was more useless construction that was causing the slowness. Drumming my fingers on the steering wheel, moving my head to try and see how far this traffic went, I grew more and more impatient. At this rate, I was going to be late for my shift.

I fumbled for my phone to send a quick text to my manger that I was probably going to be late due to traffic. As I sent the text, cars started to slowly inch forward. Coming up on the next, that’s when I saw what was causing the slow down. There appeared to be a car accident upheld. Someone probably wasn’t paying attention again and hit another car. Typical. It wasn’t until I got a bit closer that I noticed an ambulance and fire trucks. It looked like they were trying to put out an another car that was on fire. I saw two people, a man and a woman, off to the side. The woman was holding a child’s pink jacket and that’s when I felt a pit in my stomach start to grow.

“Oh no..”

Driving closer I finally realized what was happening. I saw the paramedics lift the stretcher into the ambulance and watched as the parents also got in. Doors shut, they drove off, but I could tell it was already too late. Where the parents once were now stood a little girl. She couldn’t have been more than 6 years old, looking confused and trying to tug on the nearby firefighter’s arm, trying to get their attention. Anyone’s. But they just kept moving past her, walking right by as if she wasn’t even there. Her face crumpled up and soon tears began to fall from her face. With a heavy sigh I got off at the next exit and parked on the side of the road.

My boss, James, was so going to chew me out for being super late, but, this was more important. I got out of my car and walked back to the exit sign on the high way. It was close enough to the accident but far enough that no one would yell at me to get out of their way. I scanned the scene for the little girl but couldn’t see her. I hoped she hadn’t run off yet. It would be more of a pain. Just when I was about to go back to my car, I spotted her. She had run off past the guard rail and into the nearby trees. She was curled up in a little ball under one of the trees, crying.

“Hey kid…” I said as I walked towards her. She mustn’t have noticed me because she practically jumped 50 ft when I said that. She glanced at my direction before turning her head and burying it in her hands.

“It’s ok,” I tried to reassure her. “You’re going to be ok.”

“What’s going on?” She cried, “I’m scared, and why did mom and dad leave without me?” I smiled at her and sat down across from her.

“That’s…that’s hard to explain,” I stared. I was terrible with kids and with my words. I was struggling to think of how to explain this situation. But how do you explain to a child you never met, “Hey you’re dead now, so uh…sorry about that. Anyway I can help you to the after life!”

“What’s your name kid?” I asked trying to build some connection before breaking the news.

Between heavy sobs she said her name was Ashley.

“Nice to meet you Ashley, I’m Riley. Hey! I like your shirt! Purple is my favorite color!” I tried to get Ashley to calm down. I talked to her for a while just about her favorite things and what she liked about her friends, where she was heading today, etc. Ashley had been heading to visit her grandparents for a surprise party for her grandmother. It was going to be her grandmother’s 70th birthday and all her cousins were going to be there as well. She also told me it was when her mom was going to let her grandma know she would get another grandchild.

“I can’t wait to be a big sister!” Ashley exclaimed. She had all these ideas for her new baby sibling. She didn’t care if she had a brother or sister, she just was excited to have a forever play date. Her mom was even letting her help pick the name. We talked and talked until the last of the emergency services had cleared and I could see traffic starting to flow freely.

“Let’s go Riley! I can show you to mom and dad. Cause you helped me, not like the fighters who ignored me!” Ashley said jumping up and grabbing my hand. I smiled sadly at her and got on my knees so I was eye level with her.

“Hey Ashley, I would love that, but…there’s a reason you’re here and they aren’t right now.” I started to say. She looked at me and her brows furred in confusion.

“Listen…there was an accident, that’s why all those people were around before. And some accidents are minor, you aren’t really hurt and you can go back to doing what you were doing soon. Then there are accidents that are more serious, like the one you were in. Those accidents you don’t get to go back to normal.”

“So no mom and dad?” She asked

“Right…”

“But..I want to be a big sister!” She screamed at me, reaching down for a rock that was at her feet. However, as she went to grab it, the rock passed right through her fingers. She fumbled, desperately trying to get a grip on it, probably so she could throw it at me in anger. But it was no use. As a young spirit her time being able to interact with physical objects was quickly vanishing.

“There..there were things I wanted to do!” She stammered, realizing the rock was pointless she bunched her tiny hands into fists and started to push at me. For some reason, I never counted as a physical object for spirits. So no matter how faint their connection to this world grew, they could always still touch me.

“I know, I know. I’m so sorry.” I said pulling her into a hug as she hit her hands against my chest.

“You’ll be ok. I promise.” Ashley’s started to cry again, unsure of what was going to happen next.

“Hey, let’s do this,” I suggested, “tell me about your favorite memory ok? Every detail.” I sat back down on the ground and pulled her into my lap.. Closing her eyes, she started to tell me.

“I think...it was last Christmas..." Ashley said trailing off lost in her favorite memory.

I shield my eyes as a bright flash of light burst from where Ashley was lying down. Sighing I walked back to my car, knowing that I had to do what needed to be done for the girl, but my heart still sad that her life was cut so short.

I forgot I had left my phone in my car because when I got back I noticed at least 10 text messages from James. For once he was being nice and saying to not rush. He saw on the news about the accident and to just text him when I was out of traffic and on my way in.

As I got back on to the highway my mind drifted to how unfair life was. Ashley was only 6 and her life was cut short because of some idiot. Meanwhile, that idiot only had a few minor scrapes and seemed fine. It wasn’t fair. I would have happily told the idiot his life was over due to his own recklessness, instead I had to tell a child.

I drove recklessly to work, fueled by my anger with the world. I should be used to instances like this by now. After all I’ve been blessed with this gift (if you can call it a gift) since the day I was born. I can’t remember a time where I hadn’t seen either someone’s ghost or demon.

When I was younger, my parents chalked it up to me having imaginary friends and a wonderful imagination. But that “wonderful imagination” soon was more of a burden. As I got older I was told to stop lying, that it wasn’t nice to lie, or it’s a bad habit to have, but I never lied, I insisted I was telling the truth. That was a mistake young me made because from the age of 10 I’ve seen almost every shrink in the state and been on every medication they could think of. I knew my truth though, that these ghosts and demons were real. I wasn’t crazy or sick. Yet no one believed me, so I eventually found it easier to shut up about them, put on a smile and lie.

Though kids are cruel and I was never considered normal by my peers. Always being labeled as the weirdo or freak. Somehow I was always the outsider. I was never good enough to fit in.

I walked into work and punched in without saying hi to anyone. In the break room I threw on my work apron, adjusted my hair, and threw everything else in the lockers.

The uniform was a bit stupid for a cafe in New England. I’m not sure what the owner had in mind, if he was too obsessed with Anime or what, but we might as well have been a maid cafe in the middle of New Haven, CT.

I tugged at the lace around the collar, itchy as usual.

“What’s gotten in to you?” A voice said. As I slammed my locker door shut I was met by my friend, Jay.

“I am not in the mood. I just want this day to be over.” I said taking my leave. Jay just shrugged and started to change out of her uniform to go home.

I went behind the bar to start cleaning up since the cafe was empty for now. The afternoon pick me up customers had cleared and so now was the downtime before the all nighters rush. On top of looking like we’re out of a maid cafe, it’s also open till midnight. We’re very close to three major colleges so a lot of college students come here at all hours to work and eat. We also tend to extend the hours during finals and midterms since a lot of students pull all nighters. Not that I would know anything about that.

“Hey, Riley, Julie called out. Can you pick up her shift today since you were late?” James, the manager, asked with a stupid grin he always has. It makes him come off as insincere and fake but after working for him since I was 18, I’ve come to understand that’s just part of him. He’s actually very caring and has our backs when it comes to the the more difficult customers. He isn’t the type to hesitate to throw someone out if they’re being disrespectful.

The funny thing is, he doesn’t look intimidating being a 5’5” balding, middle aged man. Yet, when he means business, or you mess with his employees, it’s best to just run. There was once a customer who wouldn’t leave Jay alone. Constantly coming in during her shift, trying to ask her out, and just ruining the atmosphere of the cafe by being so entitled. Coffee just one degree to cold? He wants a new one, on the house. Finally the customer came in when James was also on the floor. I was behind the counter whipping down the espresso machine, Jay was on cashier duty, and James was managing the oven. This asshole comes in and asks Jay out, again. Jay, being the non confrontational person, tries to skirt around the question and asked what would he like to order.

Guess that man just wasn’t having it today because the next thing we knew, he started screaming at how much of a slut Jay is. Customers watched in horror as he screamed about how he always comes in here, tips her very well, and the least she could do is at least give him a chance. That she is just another slut like every other girl, and that no girls like nice guys anymore. I was about to step in to help when James comes up behind Jay and puts his hand gentle on her shoulder.

“Go on your break now.” He said to her. I ushered her to the back and out of view of the man.

“Sir I’m going to have to ask you to calm down and leave. You’re disturbing my other customers and insulted my employee.” James sternly said looking the man in the eyes.

“Whatever happened to the customer is always right?” The man spat

“Can’t be right if you’re not a customer. Now get out before I call the cops and you’re no longer welcome here. If I see you ever try to come back near this place I will call the cops on you for trespassing. Now, have a nice day.” James said shortly, and boy if looks could kill. The man was about to argue but stopped when he saw how many other patrons were watching him. He grumbled to himself as he made his exit. That day James let Jay take the rest of her shift easy by just doing orders in the back and even walked her to her car after her shift to make sure that man wasn’t waiting for her.

So of course I agreed to stay later. The rest of my shift continued on as normal. Before I knew it, it was time to close up the shop and head home for the day. The plan was to do eat some dinner, do some homework, take a shower, and play some video games before finally sleeping. Only to get up and do it all over again tomorrow.

I finished sweeping up and headed to the break room to change, glad to finally be out of the itchy lace. I knocked on Jame’s door before heading out to say good night.

“See you tomorrow!” I waved as I went out the back door to the parking lot. I held my breath as I past the dumpsters and made my way to my car. My shoes stuck a bit to the pavement as I walked by from whatever was split on the ground earlier.

On the far end of the parking lot where it meets the trees, I thought I saw a man standing there staring at me. It was hard to tell in the dim light and I prayed it wasn’t another lost spirit or demon. I don’t think I could emotionally handle another incident today. I rubbed my eyes but when I looked again, there was no one there. Strange….I thought to myself as I got into my car and locked the doors. I started the engine and just as I was about to pull out of the spot, I shuddered. It was like a blast of wind had just gone through me.

“It’s late, you had a long day, it’s nothing.” I convinced myself. Or at least I hoped it was nothing as I made my way home. I just couldn’t shake the feeling that someone or something was now watching me. The feeling got more and more intense into the drive as I made my way down the backroads home. I normally love the quiet of taking them home at night, but now I was regretting my choice. The roads were dimly lit by the sparce streetlights and were surrounded by woods on either side.

“Almost home….” I muttered to myself. I was coming up on an entrance ramp to the high way and decided to take it. Whatever this feeling was, I didn’t like it and being on a lone road late at night wasn’t helping.

Once I got home, over the day, I just went straight to my room to turn in for the night. My mom tried to call me for dinner but I was too drained to eat. Skipping my nightly routine of brushing my teeth and washing my face, I headed straight for my bed. As soon as I aw it I flopped right down and fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. Tomorrow was another day, and tomorrow would be a good day.