"TALES OF GHOSTS"
about Love and Death from the Land of Mists
a collection of short stories
in the “Playing Another Reality” series
"BROKEN MIRROR"
10. FAREWELL to N
Ann wandered around the park for a long time, immersed in her thoughts, while the maple leaves were beckoning her to spin with them in an autumn waltz to the melody of an old forest.
Her further stay there seemed pointless. Everything previously important instantly turned into nothing. Everything really worthwhile, as it turned out, had already been implemented. She had no ‘tails’ behind, there was nothing left to complete. Ann offered to help N as an option, but that was rejected too. Why shouldn’t she leave right then, to the melody of an old forest, joining the waltzing maple leaves?
However, Ann came to N, who still had a couple of months left on Earth, and pressed the doorbell button with difficulty.
“Hello,” N exhaled heavily, appearing on the threshold. “I have guests and no time for idle talk! Has something happened? Or is it just autumn again?”
Ann shrugged.
“Why did you come then?” N was surprised.
Ann wondered how to answer correctly, because N had somehow become the most important creature on Earth for her, and the thought of the impending farewell caused inexpressible sadness.
“If you knew you’re about to leave…”
“To leave for where?!” asked N, furrowing his brows.
“Over There,” Ann turned her gaze to the ceiling, meaning Heaven.
“What nonsense!” N chuckled.
“Anyway, do you believe in life after death?”
“Somehow I haven’t had time to think about it!” N replied and hastily added, “I can’t talk anymore, go away! We’ll talk sometime later!”
“Well, if you knew the date of your death, what would you do?”
“I have no idea! I would turn around to the fullest! What the hell are you talking about? And why do I need to know that?”
“To have enough time…”
“For what?” N asked incomprehensibly.
“To do what it’s important for you personally to do here, so as not to regret later, when you become a ghost…”
“For example?”
“To love someone. Well, if not a human, then at least a kitten… or a puppy… to shelter.”
“Ann! What are you talking about?! What the hell love, what on earth kittens and puppies?! God bless you! I have guests to entertain! One of them is too important a person among the most important persons in the very tops! This is not just another poet singing the hymn to the maple leaves dancing in the old woods! Go and enjoy life!”
“Would you come to say goodbye to someone you care about?”
“What for?” N muttered, closing the door. “Bye!”
“Goodbye,” Ann said aloud… and confessed to the already closed door, “I always dreamed of being like N, becoming N’s mirror image, the same easy and carefree, enjoying life… However, all I managed in the end was not to give away N’s deadline on Earth and not let N know that I was already a ghost…”
1988–90(?)