Saying Goodbye

“That’s all?” He wasn’t sure what else to say to the ancient, wiry haired woman standing behind the counter.

She smiled a crooked grin and nodded. “That’s all Mr. McIntyre. If you do exactly as I say, she’ll appear, and you may say your goodbyes.”

“Midnight?”

“Yes. Not a minute later or the window will be closed, and Mr. McIntyre… a little faith, would be wise.”

He nodded, thanking the black eyed woman for her time before slowly walking out of the shop. It was six months after he’d laid his wife of only two months to rest. Six months after the accident that took her away from him before he was able to say goodbye.

This kind of stuff was not his thing. He didn’t believe in it, and he didn’t want to, but his roommate was adamant he try something. He’d already shot down a séance, a Spirit board, and therapy… though he’d wondered over the last couple of weeks if maybe his roommate wasn’t in need of some of the latter. This was a little overboard, but Charlie swore up and down he’d let it go if Warren tried it, so he acquiesced, and if it did work… if he got the chance to tell her he loved her one last time, well then maybe he could let her go once and for all.

That night, the moon was full and cast an eerie glow across the cemetery. He found Lori’s grave with ease and set out the piece of blessed fabric, placing it on top of her headstone that read “Lori McIntyre – Beautiful person, beautiful soul”. Warren then placed the candle on top of the fabric and checked his watch. 11:52. Three clicks of his lighter lit the wick, and he closed his eyes, gripping the candle tightly. Eight minutes to set everything up exactly the way he was told. Lighting the candle exactly five minutes before midnight, he knelt in front of the grave, whispering the small chant in repetition thirteen times. As the clock on the county courthouse struck midnight, he closed his eyes. If this was really going to happen, this was the time. His chest constricted, and his heart began to race as he opened his eyes and looked around. Breathing… blinking… if he did those things, he might miss her, miss the opportunity to say the words he’d needed to say.

He listened for any noise around him that might not belong, but there was nothing. A light breeze rustled through the trees, an occasional frog called out to the crickets singing in the darkness, but there was no Lori, not a hint of her voice in the air. He gasped for breath and his shoulders sunk a little lower. He’d been a moron for agreeing to even try this. You can’t commune with the dead, not even to tell them you loved them more than life itself. Once a person was gone, that was it. There were no goodbyes and no second chances to say the things he should’ve said to her when he could have.

He stood up, disappointed in himself. “I love you babe,” he said before walking away. “I miss the hell out of you.”

The candle flickered, but Warren was no longer paying attention. He was too busy reprimanding himself in his head for going along with this lunacy. He didn’t see her, and he didn’t hear her.

“Believe,” she whispered, standing behind her grave, just before she faded away. “All you had to do was believe.”