Little did I know, the moment I thought I would finally live a normal life—
Everything started to go wrong.
I was about to open the gate when a bug suddenly flew near my left ear.
"What the heck?" I blurted out.
I waved my hand through the air until it disappeared.
When the bug was gone, I slowly reached for the doorknob again.
Then—
A cat suddenly jumped onto my foot.
I flinched.
Just looking at the cat irritated me so much it made my stomach turn. Its eyes lingered on me longer than they should have. I pushed it away impatiently.
All I wanted was to open the gate and rest.
Honestly, opening that doorknob felt like a fantasy at this point.
I didn't know something so simple could feel this impossible.
As I tried again, a car suddenly approached behind me.
"Can you move?"
I stepped aside and let it pass.
"What's wrong with today?" I muttered.
"Why can't I just open the doorknob?"
I reached for it again—
Then I heard rustling from the bushes behind me.
Not wind.
Movement.
I turned around.
A faint shadow slowly emerged from the leaves.
It was blurry.
Unclear.
Like it didn't fully exist.
Before it completely faded, it whispered—
"Florence…"
Then it vanished.
My heartbeat slammed against my ears.
That's when I remembered her.
How could I forget the girl?
A sharp sting crawled up my neck.
It burned—deep.
I reached behind my neck and felt something cold.
A needle.
Embedded in my skin.
My breath shook.
That's when it hit me—
Florence jumping onto my back earlier.
"What is this…?" I whispered.
I slowly pulled the needle out.
And the moment it left my skin—
She appeared.
Right in front of me.
Too close.
The girl grabbed my shoulders, her grip colder than the night.
"Can you see me now?!"
"I'm so sorry—" I said, trying to hug her.
But the gate opened.
"Zizy, what are you doing there alone?" Mom asked.
I jolted.
(Damn.)
"Ah—nothing, Mom."
"It's getting late. Come inside."
"Okay, Mom."
I turned back.
The girl smiled—
But this time, it felt fragile.
She pointed toward my window.
I sighed—
And smiled back.
Later, in my bedroom—
"So you mean this needle makes me forget about you little by little?"
The girl nodded.
Her silence felt heavier than words.
"And Florence was the one who did this to me!?"
She nodded again.
My chest tightened painfully.
That's when the room felt smaller.
Who is this girl?
She doesn't even have a name.
If she's a ghost, why does she feel warm?
If she's human, why does her presence make my skin crawl?
She's scary.
But also… cute.
That contradiction scared me more.
"So… does that mean Florence already knows about you?" I asked.
"No," the girl replied.
"What!?"
I slammed my hand on the floor.
The sound echoed longer than it should have.
Then—
"Actually…"
"There is someone else who can see me."
My throat dried.
"The same as you."
The air felt wrong.
"Huh?"
My thoughts went blank.
"Then who are you?" I asked.
I didn't plan to say it. My mouth moved on its own.
Her lips curved downward.
Sad.
"Zizy… I can't answer that question."
"Why?" I said desperately.
"If you can tell me everything else, I won't judge you!"
I held her hands tightly.
They trembled.
"Never mind that question," I said, forcing calm.
"Just tell me… what did this person do to make Florence do this to me?"
The girl swallowed.
"This person paid Florence."
"Florence doesn't have a family," she continued.
"She lives alone in a small apartment. To survive, she takes part-time jobs."
A chill crawled up my spine.
"That person made a huge offer to her," the girl said.
"To do this to you."
"Florence knows nothing about me."
Silence.
Not peaceful.
Heavy.
"So that's it…" I whispered.
I tightened my grip on her hands, steadying myself.
Then—
I smiled.
Not because I was brave.
But because I was scared.
"Let's help Florence."
The girl stared at me.
For a moment, her smile flickered—
Like it might disappear too.