Chapter 14
He... could see her? Nina froze midair, staring at Julian in disbelief. Her breath caught in her throat - not that she needed to breathe But after just a few stunned seconds, Julian dropped his gaze, let go of her wrist, and turned toward Samantha. "I'm fine," he said quietly. Nina instinctively took a step back, exhaling in relief. So... he hadn't seen her after all. She studied his face. Had she imagined it? That moment when their eyes met - it felt so real. She wanted to ask, but Julian's eyes had already fluttered shut. He'd fallen asleep. anymore. Nina hovered in the hospital corridor for a while. People walked past her, their bodies phasing right through hers. She glanced down at her palm. She had felt it - Julian's warmth when she touched him. That wasn't imagined. Still dazed, she was yanked from her thoughts by a sharp, cold voice behind her. "Move." Nina turned instinctively, an apology on her lips - then froze. Someone could see her. A tall man in a long black coat stood behind her. His head was slightly lowered, the overhead lights casting shadows over his face. She didn't recognize him at all, but the moment their eyes met, she felt something shift in the air. His gaze was sharp, penetrating. Like cold steel slicing through fog - unrelenting and intrusive. "You... can see me?" Nina whispered. The man scowled in irritation, his voice low and rich like aged bourbon." So what? You gonna keep blocking the aisle?" Startled, Nina moved aside instinctively. The man brushed past her, cool and unbothered, and settled into his seat. Only once the partition blocked her view did she finally look away, heart pounding. That was the first time a stranger had seen her since she died. By the time they landed, it was raining. An old family friend, Officer David, picked them up from the airport.
Once everyone was inside the car, he asked, "Weren't you supposed to be getting married today? Why are you back so soon?" Samantha choked out a response. "We didn't go through with it." "Oh?" David glanced at her. "What happened?" She hesitated, then looked at Julian, eyes red. "Because he doesn't love me." David blinked, caught off guard by her honesty. But he didn't press further. The car grew quiet. The scent of car freshener hung thick in the air.
Julian coughed once, then again. Nina frowned. "If it bothers you, just roll the window down." Julian's lips curved faintly, the barest trace of a smile. He pressed his knuckles against his lips , still coughing as he lowered the window. Warm wind drifted in with the patter of rain . Officer David glanced at him in the rearview mirror. "When you two first told me you were getting married, I was surprised. But I figured, hey, you both seemed willing." He didn't finish.
Everyone knew Julian had once loved someone else. David cleared his throat. "So this trip... you came back to be with your girlfriend, then?" Julian's voice was quiet. "No. She's gone." David's brows lifted in surprise. "I'm sorry." Julian didn't respond. He gazed out the window, expression unreadable. "David... do you think people have souls after they die?" Nina's heart skipped. David gave a soft laugh." You doctors aren't usually the superstitious type. What's with the sudden curiosity? If souls were real, what would you do with that knowledge?" Julian smiled faintly. "I don't know. It's never really been my choice." He paused. "If someone wants to leave... no matter how hard I try, I can't make them stay. " Nina huffed. "Excuse me? You're the one who left. I waited for you in the pouring rain all night." Outside, the rain tapped gently against the windows. Suddenly , Julian leaned forward. " Stop the car. Please." David pulled over Julian stepped out.
Nina watched him from the backseat, hesitating. She didn't feel like following. But as the car pulled away, she couldn't take her eyes off the rearview mirror, couldn't stop watching his silhouette shrink into the rainy distance. Half an hour later, she floated back to find him sitting alone on a park bench near the station. His hair was soaked. His jacket was draped over the urn in his lap, shielding it from the rain. He held her ashes like something irreplaceable , his expression blank. Nina hovered beside him. " Seriously? You're going to catch pneumonia out here. What if my ashes get waterlogged?" Julian stirred. He dipped his head, letting his damp hair fall into his eyes. Nina moved around to face him , ready to scold - then froze. Julian was crying.
Silent tears slipped from the corners of his eyes, vanishing into the rain. Her heart ached. "Julian... what's wrong?" She knew he couldn't hear her. It didn't stop her from asking. Then came his whisper - barely audible. "I thought you weren't real."
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