I can see ghosts. I know, you must think I’m crazy. But I’m not.

It started a few years ago. I was in a pretty bad car accident and nearly died. I’d lost over 30% of my blood and I’d broken more than a few bones. Yet, I still pulled through. I caught a glimpse of the other side, though. I think that’s why I can see spirits. In some weird way, I’m already tied to Heaven, even though I’m not dead.

The ghosts haunt me constantly. Everywhere I go in my house, they’re there. It’s a little unnerving because I live alone, but it’s easy to ignore them. I don’t recognize them, either, but I’ve come to think of them as oddly pleasant company. Sometimes they’ll join me for dinner. One of them–a teenage boy whose name I don’t know–will watch the television with me whenever it’s on. They’re a lot less transparent than I thought, though. Everyone assumes ghosts are these translucent creatures that are barely visible to the eye. But they almost look life-like.

I’ll admit it. Even though I do enjoy the ghosts sometimes, other times they’re plain rude. I’ll be sleeping in bed and open my eyes to see a ghost lying right next to me. They make me, the alive human, go rest on the couch. Who wants to sleep next to a ghost?

But tonight, I’ve had it. This is the third night in a row one ghost has woken me up with their presence. I don’t know if they want something from me, but I am sick of it.

I throw the covers off my body and stand, a gust of chilly breeze from the open window making me shiver. The slumbering ghost’s face was as peaceful as a forest full of sleepy animals as I glower down at them. I debate grabbing a knife or my gun, but that would be stupid. Ghosts can’t be physically harmed. I know this.

I know this, but I still reach my hand out. I move at the pace of a snail because honestly, I’m scared to touch the ghost. Who knows what will happen? But maybe this will spook it enough to get out of my house.

My fingers brush the air as my hand goes through the ghost’s face. A tingling, warm sensation shoots up my arm, crawling up my neck to my face. I shudder at the sudden heat.

The ghost jerks awake, eyes wide and body shaking. They sit up and glance over at me, and their face blanches. They open their mouth to say something, but all that comes out is a startled squeak.

Why are they the scared one?

Maybe they’re scared I touched them. I look down at my hand, but…

There’s nothing there.