Tripping

The only person I want to visit is my fiancé, Lyla. My death was too much for her and I can’t allow her to be sad any longer. She has spent several years alone and even when she dated she keeps an arms-length distance. She doesn't even laugh like she used to. So, today I am making it my mission to make her laugh as I remember.

I am not ready for her to see yet so I stay in my ghost form. This morning I am admiring her as she sleeps in. The peacefulness that fills her face is what I miss the most. As she opens her eyes to wake she looks to her right at the empty bed and I can see sadness fill her eyes. She gets up and heads to the kitchen.

I ever so slightly push her causing her to walk into the door frame.

"Son of a bitch!" She wines and then is then followed by a giggle. "My god, Lyla you are a hot mess."

Walking past a vase full of flowers, she heads to the kitchen to start the coffee pot. When she turns and looks at the flowers, I bend over and blow on them making them move. She watches and a slight smile forms at the edge of her lips.

Shaking her head she picks up her phone and texts Charlie, her boyfriend. He's been on her time with moving forward in their relationship and I can appreciate that. I lean over her shoulder and place my hand on top of hers causing her to mess up her text to him.

"I can't wait to see you," his text says.

"I can't wait to suck you," she writes back. "OMG! See you!" She laughs out loud and it's music to the air. "I am so sorry!"

We watch together as the text bubbles appear then disappear a few times. Finally "Today is going to be fun. Will see you soon,"

She smiles and puts her phone down and grabs a cup of coffee. "I'm going to need this black if this is how my day starts,"

She gets ready to go to the pumpkin patch and waits for Charlie to arrive. She's putting on her knee-high boots when the door knocks. She takes a moment and looks at herself in the mirror and points, "This will do Han Solo.”

Giggling at her antics as she walks to the door.

"Hey!" He says. "So ... Sucking?"

She gives a nervous laugh and nods. She locks up and they climb in the car to head to the pumpkin patch.

They have a light talk and I'm sitting in the back seat. The radio is on and decides to push the limits of awkwardness - I lean forward causing a bit of static on the radio and make a new song play.

Mmmbop, ba duba dop

Ba du bop, ba duba dop

Ba du bop, ba duba dop

Ba du, oh yeah

"Hanson?" She chuckles. "I did not know you were a fan.”

He quickly turns it to a different channel with his face red, "I do not like Hanson!"

"It would explain a lot." She chuckles.

"What does that mean?" He starts before he looks over at her and pokes her side, "Wait a second, you know the artist TO the song!"

She giggles and teases. "Wonder if they are touring?"

They arrive at the pumpkin patch and he pays for them to get in, good guy. He holds her hand as they walk around to the different games and rides. There is a slide that goes through a mountain of dirt. He grabs a burlap sack for them both and walks up the steep hill. They each pick a slide and decide to race. When they pop out the bottom one of his shoes comes tumbling behind him.

"What happened?" She points and laughs.

"The slide won!" He shakes his head in embarrassment. "Moving on!"

They head to the barn that's filled several feet high with hay. Ropes hang from rafters and people are swinging back and forth.

"Here he says," holding a rope with a small loop at the bottom. She places her foot in and he pulls her back before pushing her like she was on a swing. I help him in pushing her forward and it goes a bit too hard and she loses her grip. She falls back with her foot being caught in the rope and it ends up dragging her in the hay. Charlie runs after she tries to catch her but both laugh hard at the failed romantic gesture.

"This is a death trap!" he says, helping her up and trying to get all the hay off of her.

"So, a serial killer?" she teases.

His eyes pop out of his head, "NO! I'm so sorry. This is a disaster!"

"No, it's been fun." She softly smiles at him.

"Let's go to the pig races," he tries to change the subject. "Nothing bad can happen there."

They walk over to the pig races and I gently guide her hand to his. They look down at their hands intertwined and don’t say a word. They take a seat toward the front. The announcer sets the count off and the handlers, and I, smack the pig's rear. You know how animals can sense the dead nearby, well this pig did. He freaks out and jumps the fence heading straight for Lyla. Charlie quickly pulls her in his arms and the pig runs past them. The handler is behind him screaming "Jimmy Dean get back here!". They look at each other and let out a hearty laugh.

"Let's get a pumpkin and go!" He laughs.

"Agreed!"

They walk to the tractor ride and it drives them to the field where rows of pumpkins are growing. When Charlie goes to step down I give his foot a slight bump and he misses a step and falls down a couple of stairs on his butt. Lyla laughs hard at him, barely able to breathe.

"I'm so sorry, are you ok?" She finally gets a sentence out.

Charlie turns and holds his hand out helping her down.

"Deathtrap!" Is all he can say.

They walk around for a bit and Charlie is a few rows up. Lyla is stepping over roots and vines. I stick my foot out tripping her causing her to fall in the dirt.

“Oof!" She lets out.

Charlie looks up and panics. He tries to run over and I lift another root causing him to trip as well. Lyla laughs so hard she snorts hard making Charlie laugh just as much.

I smile with relief watching her relax more.

They leave the pumpkin patch and head for downtown where the historic homes line the streets and all the best candy is given.

He signs them up for a small haunted tour. I walk behind them and every so often blows on Charlie's neck and he jumps asking if Lyla felt it too. The crazy look she gives is too good.

As they walk through a cemetery I see a spider web with some condensation that sparkles. I step towards Lyla, causing her to walk right into the spider's web. The freak out that ensues has me clapping. She screams and throws her hands around like a crazy person. Charlie is right there helping her pull the web off and checking her once nicely styled hair for any spiders.

"You are good sweetheart." he comforts her.

Charlie shakes his head and they leave the tour early. Back at the car Charlie pops the trunk and pulls out a bag.

"What's this?" she looks over his shoulder.

Charlie pulls out trick or treats buckets and a couple of funny masks for them.

"Trick or treat!" He smiles.

Lyla grabs a mask and a bucket and walks to the house. Charlie follows to catches up with her. They go door to door getting candy and acting like kids. One house offers hot cocoa and Charlie buys them each a cup.

He goes to blow on it and I tip his hand ever so slightly causing it to spill all over himself. "Shit"

Lyla's eyes widen and she tries to suppress a laugh but fails miserably. I move down the sidewalk a ways away to just watch.

I can no longer help myself. Everything I've done today was to make her smile. I need her to know that I want her to be happy. I step out of the shadows into her line of sight. Charlie is still trying to wipe away the stains off his shirt, oblivious to what's happening.

She looks down the path of crowded people and sees me. The way her face lights up makes me feel alive again. She takes the first step towards me. The crowd fades into the background and no one else exists. Stepping in front of me, I cup her face and bring her lips to mine. I am filled with memories of how her skin felt against mine. The soft sweet taste of her lips.

"Your skin is so cold," She smiles into my lips and I chuckle at her statement. "I miss you."

I wipe away a stray tear that escaped her eyes, "I miss you too, love."

She buries her face into my chest and I just hug her tight. There isn't much time left for me and I need to tell her.

"Lyla, I want you to be happy. Charlie is a good man, let him love you fully,"

"I'm trying." She wines.

"I know, I want you to live your life to the fullest."

She starts to sob and I can't stand to see her sad.

“Logan, you were it for me. How can I be with anyone else?"

"I can't be there for you as you need. Let Charlie take my place. Let him make you happy. I approve of him if that helps?" I beg but she shakes her head into my chest. I bring her face up to mine and look at her in the eyes. "My love, my light, I will always watch out for you but I can't be there for you like you need. Tell me you will give a better effort."

"You are unbearable." she laughs.

"Promise me, he is a good man."

I see her fighting with herself before she finally gives in.

"Fine."

I beam with pride that she will always love me. "I'll always be there even with every cup of hot cocoa that is spilled," I wink at her and she laughs hard. She hasn't laughed like THAT in years.

"It's been you all day hasn't it?"

I kiss her forehead and start to walk backward knowing my time and myself are fading.

"I need you to smile. Smile for the rest of your life,"

"Please don't go yet!" she begs.

I smile at her so she knows it's all going to be ok, "I will always love you,"

My time is over and I start to fade from existence. I can see how this hurts her but there is nothing I can do but give her the blessing to move on.

Charlie walks up from behind and gets in front of her worried.

"Lyla are you ok?" He asks, resting his hand over her cheek. She leans into his touch.

"Your skin is so warm." she closes her eyes.

"It's the hot cocoa." he jokes. She opens her eyes and for the first time, she laughs a genuine laugh. He still looks worried. "What is it?"

"My past crept up on me today," she admits.

"Understandable," Charlie says. "When my girlfriend passed away it seemed the holidays were the worst. Even Halloween."

She nods her head and smiles. "Thank you for your patience," she reaches her hand behind his neck and pulls him in for their first genuine kiss together. When she pulls away he holds the same relieved smile.

"Now, let's go back to mine and compare candy counts," he says.

"I'd like that." she takes his hand in hers and they walk down the street.

Logan and another ghost walk behind them admiring the people they once loved. Logan takes the ghost's hand in his, squeezing it. The ghost looks back toward him.

He nods and they turn down another street leaving the love birds to their new life together.