The school bell rung, and all the kids poured out of the front door and outside. They all came in groups: the populars, the jocks, the nerds, the emos. Everyone was relieved to be let free into the cool autumn air. The leaves were crisp and the wind blew softly all around them, making the leaves swirl and dance around everyone.
Many of the kids – teenagers – didn’t start their way home yet. Instead, they went out to the field, or hung in groups to gossip and chat.
At last, at the front step of the front door, was a curious young girl. A freshman, no doubt, with a short, slim figure, pale skin, dark hair, and a black hoodie hanging over her face, creating light shadows. No one bothered to look at her, or even acknowledge her presence. She was just always there. Very few took notice anymore. And after a few years, she didn’t care anymore, either.
She was one of the last ones out of the school, but her walk was calm and with a steady pace. She glanced around at all the faces before starting down the steps. She had earphones in, but she knew they didn’t do much good when it came to the talking spirits. She heard things – things that no one else could. Not ghosts, exactly, for she didn’t believe in them. But spirits that came from other worlds. Most of the time they came to watch her, leaving the next day. Some came and helped her. And a few would whisper in her ears dark secrets and words of doubt, all of which she ignored except for the rare moments when she felt compelled to respond.
On this particular day, she had a rather annoying spirit that had followed her around the school. But she didn’t listen. She tried not to.
Walking across the side of the field, she sat down in a swing on the playground for the little kids. The playground was empty, save for the group of cheerleaders who were clustered around, giggling and watching the football players from a safe distance, instead of practicing like they were supposed to. They only spared her a moment’s glance.
The girl was waiting for someone – her friend, who met her on the swings every afternoon.
The spirit chose this moment to speak. You are alone, it whispered like the wind in her ear. Have you no place in this world? It challenged, in a sinister, mocking voice, almost like a snake, dragging out the long vowels.
The girl heard it, but like much else, she didn’t listen. It continued to try and get her attention. Who are you waiting for, silly human? Do you think you have any worth? You don’t belong here. You’re not worth anything. What do you live for everyday, stupid girl?
Finally, the girl turned her head slightly to the side, where the voice seemed to come from. In the corner of her eye, she saw her friend walking down the steps to the school, coming towards her like every day.
“Who are you?” she asked the voice.
The spirit chuckled, as if amused. I am no one. No one at all. You needn’t worry about who I am.
“Impossible,” the girl raised her head and stood up. “You can’t be nobody. Because that’s who I am.”
With that, she felt the spirit leave, forever gone, gone back to the world of spirits, never to return, like so much else.
The end
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