Only one way to find out.

“Uhhhh, um.” you stutter. What do you say to a ghost that you pissed off?

“Hey lust?” you query into the open air.

What are you doing? She is a pokemon like any other. They are smart. Right? Maybe you should stop while you are ahead. She is gone. Maybe she will never come back. Don’t ghosts haunt people though? You look at the steaming bowls of ramen. No, you need her right now. You need someone. Anyone. Looking at that bowl of ramen hurts. You don’t want to hurt. You don’t want her to hurt either. What do you even know about her? Her mom is nuts. Our mom? Whole other bag to unpack there. She is here. Alone. Like you. How would you feel, in a new place, with no one you knew. With a person who doesn’t seem to even want you there.

By Arceus, you are a monster.

“Lust.” Again, you address the empty air. “I am sorry for what I did before. For how I treated you.” You let those words hang in the air until they feel stale. “I... I don’t even.” You stumble out. Then restart, “I lost someone... the only person I really cared about. He is dead.” It feels weird to say it out loud, and you can feel the tears forming in your eyes. You continue before you can’t anymore, “When I went to say my goodbyes... well you know what happened. It was all so crazy!” You find yourself laughing and crying at the same time. “I hoped. I really hoped that it was all a dream. That he was gonna be down here, sitting in his chair by the window. But then you were here. In my shower. And I didn’t want you to be true.” Sobbing and no longer laughing, you point at the red welt down your front. “I deserved this. I hurt you, even though you were just trying to be there, to be present.”

The sobs stop coming and you look around. Still no sign of her. Still an empty house. You have never really wanted anything more than for her to be floating there listening to you. You wipe your face on your shirt, so much for keeping it clean.

You pick up the two bowls of ramen and set them down on opposite sides of the dining table. Then sit in your grandfather's spot.

“He isn’t here right now. He won’t ever be here again. But my grandpa was a good man. He was a man of his word. I made a promise to your mother... our mother. That I would protect you. I didn’t know that the first time I would need to protect you would be from myself. And for that. I am sorry. So, so, so, sorry.” You sigh deeply, “I … If you would let me, I would like to have another chance. I want a friend; I need a friend. I need you. I promise I will try to be better. I really don’t want to be alone... have to eat alone.”

You feel a final tear form in your left eye. It swells, growing to the size that would normally streak down your cheek. Instead, it bursts into a cascade of blue and silver smoke. It streams from your face, forming into the cheeky ghost you had just apologized to. She floats in front of you, staring at you with sorrowful eyes.

She lets out a hopeful, “Lhhust” before grinning a cheeky smile. Winking and floating quickly towards the other bowl of ramen. You can’t help but smile as you watch her float away from you, her smoke swaying like a dress. You know you have been forgiven and promise yourself that you won't waste a second chance.

You smile as you pick up your chopsticks and dig into the food.