Rememberance (klangst ghost au) Part 3
I have been lonely before, I was lonely all my life practically. If it weren’t for my brother- who wasn’t even my real brother- I’d have absolutely no one; no parents, no siblings, no friends, no one. Is that how Lance feels? Lonely? Like he has no one? Does he grieve the day that everyone forgets him completely? Does he cry wherever he goes when disappearing? Does he cry and curse his reason for death? I sat on the bench again, but this time I knew I wasn’t alone. Even without seeing him, I could feel the overwhelming aura of sadness from him.
“Have you lived here long?” I asked, surprising both him and myself. I didn’t want to know more for his sake, but I craved the knowledge at the same time. I saw him look over from the corner of my eye, his blue eyes wide, and slightly glazed over. I wasn’t used to him being so quiet, it unsettled me.
“Yeah, my whole life.” He said, flinching towards the end, making me instantly regret asking him. He’s dead yes, but he still feels emotions. I regret speaking immediately, but I couldn’t take it back. I didn’t know how to interact with him, really. But I wanted to.
“Tell me about yourself. You’re the only person I don’t know here.” Lance spoke, wonder in his tone. I glanced over and clamped my fingers together.
“I’ll tell you about me if you tell me about you.” I spoke, watching as a grin stretched on his lips. And once more, I wanted to smile just by seeing him smile, but I forced that urge away, still not meeting his eyes. There was so much I wanted to know about him, so if he learns about me, I might as well benefit from this too.
“Great!” Lance hummed chiperly, but still, there was that small hint of sadness. It bothered me, but I don’t know why. I don’t know why I cared. I just do. “Well, the name’s Lance, Lance McClain,” I watched as he held out his hand, persuimley for a handshake I suppose, in which I returned. Surprisingly, my hand didn’t knock through his like I thought; instead, I got a steady grip on his hand, and shook it twice. His hand was soft and light, almost like what I’d imagine a cloud to feel like; like cotton candy. However, his hand wasn’t warm, but it wasn’t cold either. It felt like it didn’t have a temperature at all. Going off of the look on Lance’s face though, he didn’t care, he was just ecstatic that someone could touch him, like he was real, and there. “I’ve lived here all my life.” He stated, recapping what I already knew from the first time we talked. “I came from a big family: There was my mom, my abuela, my two brothers, Marco and Luis, my sister Veronica, and then me. I am- was- I was a middle child.”
I watched Lance correct himself, pain evident on his features. I felt sorry for him, I felt the need to comfort him, but I don’t know how to. I was never a good people person after all. Hell, I lived in a shack in the dessert by myself for years, not a single person around for company. He looked pained by what he said, and for some reason it hurt me, which is why I lightly tapped my thigh and started talking, to get his mind off of what he used to have when he was alive.
“That sounds nice,” I replied softly, staring up at the blue sky that was tainted with soft white clouds. They reminded me of his eyes. “I was an only child, or that’s what I knew.” It hurt to remember the past, but since Lance had to live in the past everyday, then I could at least dable in the memories for now.
“I thought that Shiro was your brother?” Just the name seemed to bother him. I need to know why.
“Adopted brother. I was adopted. My mother abandoned me when I was young, I can’t even remember her face now, and my father died in prison after being arrested.” My eyes narrowed as I spoke, but I knew that if I wanted to know more about him, I’d need to gain his trust, and I, I really wanted to know. “I bounced from foster home to foster home, but no one wanted me. Until the Shiroganes’ that is. They adopted me, and so Shiro became my adopted brother.” I explained, him offering a small smile in return of understanding. Lance placed a feathery hand on my shoulder as a form of comfort I could only assume. Was it for me or him? I could just barely feel it, but I leaned into the touch anyways, to give him the satisfaction of knowing that I could feel him. That he is still here, and real. In a sort I suppose.
“I’m sorry,” Lance hesitated for a moment before he pulled his hand off of my shoulder, a faint feeling lingering on the spot where he touched. It almost made me smile, “i’m sure it wasn’t your fault though; you were only a kid.” I gazed over at Lance, the two of us locking gazes. His held sympathy and kindness, along with that look of regret and immense sadness. I want to get rid of that, but how could I? Could I even help him? Is what I’m doing all for nothing? I cast my gaze over to the small pond that was a few feet away. “Louis, Marco, and Veronica. Those are my siblings.” Lance spoke, catching my attention once more. “I lived with them, my mama, abuela, nieces, and nephews. We all shared the house at the end of that road,” I looked over, following his arm, to see where he was pointing. Blue Avenue. “Well… I used to live their…” He strained painfully, laughing sadly. His arm dropped to his side and I had the urge to grab his hand and comfort him, but before he could he was gone, a faint whisper in the air: : “I miss them, I miss them so much”.
With his spot empty, and the air quiet, I pulled out my notebook once more.
Day 2: He has 2 brothers, Louis and Marco, and a sister Veronica. He lived with them, his mom, grandma, nieces, and nephews. At the last house on Blue Avenue. Shiro. Shiro is involved somehow. But how? He regrets something, what is it?
…. How did he die? Murder? Illness?
I sighed and shut the book, it dropping on my lap adding a new weight. How much longer until I can find out what I want to learn? How much longer until I start forgetting him like everyone else in this town? Biting my lip in determination I stood. I was going to confront Shiro, but not now… I want to learn the most I can from Lance.