By late afternoon, the people finally finished cleaning and moving things around. They took all my belongings outside and brought theirs in. I quietly watched everything happen.Sad, isn't it? All my keepsakes… gone.
At 7 PM, the woman brought dinner to the brand-new table. I walked closer to look. The food was beautifully arranged, really appetizing.Her two children rushed to the table, sat down, and said:
— "Wow, the mustard soup is so good today! Thank you, Mom!"
Seeing them enjoy her cooking, the woman turned around and gave a soft, happy smile.
This warm atmosphere… I haven't felt it in so long. It makes me remember eating sponge cakes with my grandma…
The kids scooped full ladles of soup. The woman frowned:— "You have to eat the main dishes first, Noah, Mary!"
— "I only like the soup. I don't want the salty shrimp." Noah pouted.
Their father laughed and defended him:— "Let him eat whatever he likes. He's not in the mood for shrimp today."
Their cheerful voices filled the house with warmth and joy.And inside me… many feelings stirred.
After dinner, the woman—mother of the two kids—washed the dishes neatly in the kitchen.The father lay on the hammock reading the newspaper.The kids ran upstairs to explore the new house.
I followed them. They were playing in my old little bedroom. Mary threw a paper plane, but it hit the wall and fell.— "You're so silly! You held the plane backwards!" Noah teased.
— "Ah—sorry. I grabbed it too fast." Mary muttered.
Then Noah pulled out a wooden boat from his pocket:— "Look! Cool, right? Dad bought it for me!"
— "Nice… you're insane." Mary sighed.
They looked so happy. Yet somehow, it made me a little sad.
— "It's late, go to bed!" their mother called from downstairs.I glanced at the clock. 9 PM already. Time really flies.
The kids answered, then Mary rushed downstairs to get blankets.Looks like the parents will sleep downstairs, and the two kids will sleep here — my old room.
Mary returned with two blankets and two pillows:— "Noah, here's yours! Your pillow has a bear on it, mine has a strawberry."
— "Yeah… but it looks kinda girly."
— "It's fine. We're just sleeping for now. Don't be picky."
She dropped the pillow onto the cold floor. Noah placed his a couple meters beside it.Once he lay down, Mary switched off the lights and turned on the night lamp.Its dim glow made the room feel peaceful.
She soon got bored and started talking to Noah again.
I sat at the doorway, watching these strangers lying in the exact place where I used to sleep so soundly.How do I feel? Hard to describe.I don't know how to explain it, but I hope you understand.
Everything went dark and silent.I lay outside the room. Ghosts can't sleep, so I was bored out of my mind — counting seconds, staring at the clock, waiting for morning.
…
1… 2… 3… seconds.Huh? What time is it now?I checked again.12:05 AM.WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONGGG.
Suddenly, the door creaked open.I jolted up.
It was Noah, half-asleep. Probably needed the bathroom.
Finally, something to watch.But… why is he standing there frozen in the doorway?
I got closer.He was staring at the staircase leading downstairs — pitch black, deep, scary.His face was full of fear.
Ah… he's scared of ghosts.I know that feeling well.I used to wake Grandma up to take me at night, and even made her sing by the bathroom door so I knew she was still there.
After standing there for a while, Noah ran back into the room.I phased through the door after him.
He tried waking Mary. She looked annoyed and sleepy:— "What…? Noah…?"
Embarrassed, he muttered softly:— "I need to pee…"
Mary froze, then reluctantly took him downstairs.
I swear, it was hilarious.Walking behind them and remembering what he said, I burst out laughing.It might've been the first time in ages that I laughed that freely.