Above the Vaulted Sky - Page 74

'How are you here?' he says. 

'Give me a pen and paper,' I say.

'Yes sir,' she says. 'Couldn't you have done this in the first place?'

Graham watches the pen and paper float in the air with wide eyes. He looks down and swallows like he's feeling sick. 

I start to write, everything that happened to me after I died. Graham watches the writing, running hands through his hair. It looks like it hasn't been washed in a few days. 

I slide the paper across the floor and he reads it.

'So this just happens after you die,' he says. 'Everyone?'

I start to talk like we're alive in the same room together. I quickly realise this is going to be irritating. I need to find out how I can appear to him so we can talk properly.

I start writing again. 'As far as I know. I've met a few people, one's with my now, Elle. She's nice.'

'Say hi for me,' says Elle. 

Graham scratches his neck. I can see the glistening of sweat on his brow. On the screen behind us someone from across the internet is chopping his character to pieces with a chainsaw.

'Seriously, what is the appeal of that?' Elle asks. She starts walking around, examining bits of equipment on the science table, quickly crossing to the wall of comics. 

I begin to write what happened to me with the starbright man. The waves of the music, how there's still a connection between us spirits and the physical world. 

'So you think you're physical in some way, shape or form?' Graham asks, the often hidden science enthusiast fighting to escape him.

'I think we must be visible on some wavelength,' I write. 'Like how dogs can only see certain colours, we just either have to change the way you see or how I appear so our frequencies match.'

 With a flash of memory, I remember exiting the Robin Thacker museum and the dog barking at me. Maybe he could see me, or me in some form.

'This is insane,' says Graham. 'This is going to make me rich.'

'Oh charming,' I write. 

He doesn't move. He scratches the back of his neck again. 

'What's wrong?' I write. I say it too because Elle turns around. 

'What's happened?' she asks. 'Seriously, if you two lovebirds stop nattering we can get to business.'

Graham spits the words out. The come like a waterfall. 'Just I said I'd tell you if I saw you again.' He takes a breath like he was holding it.

'Tell me what?' I ask. 

Elle sits down beside me, crossing her legs. 'This is going to be juicy,' she says.

'I never thought I'd have the opportunity,' he says. 'I got away with it I guess.' He looks where he thinks I am. He's actually to the left a bit. 'I've only realised in the last year or so.' He pauses, gathering the courage to say the words. 'I love you, Easton. I've loved you for years.'