Content warning: death, semi-graphic descriptions of injuries

Nadia sighed. Or, she would sigh, if she had any lungs to speak of. Or a midriff. Or a mouth. As it was, she didn’t have any of those things right now. Right now, Nadia was dead. Nadia was also very, very annoyed.

“I can’t even begin to explain to you how much I hate you right now,” Nadia said from where she sat on the pavement, watching a bloody stain spread over her headscarf. Two growing puddles of blood, touching and mingling. Their peers gathered around the bodies, taking in the carnage as teachers and EMTs did what they could to salvage the teens, but Nadia took one look at her translucent hand and felt she wouldn’t be going back anytime soon.

“Nadia, please,” Carlos said, tearing his gaze away from the horrible scene in front of them.

“No! I don’t want to hear it. It was bad enough to be stuck with your damn schemes while we were alive. Now we’re both dead and I’m still stuck with you!”

It was quiet for a moment. Nadia sobbed. One of the teachers was phoning their parents.

Her parents.

They would be devastated.

“It wasn’t my idea,” Carlos mumbled. “At least, it wasn’t my idea like the roses on valentine’s day or the swapping of the secret santa tickets were.”

Nadia sent Carlos a piercing glare.

“I just thought that… if I rescued you from that truck… you’d admit you were in love with me.” Carlos rubbed his arm, or not-arm, nervously. “And maybe we could, y’know, go out?”

Nadia raised her not-eyebrow. “Another grand gesture from a grand man…” She expected the sarcasm to go over his head, but he actually looked hurt.

“You think I planned it like this?” He frowned. “A declaration of love gone wrong?” He knelt down by Nadia and gently laid a not-hand on her not-shoulder. Both surprised at the feeling of a touch in this intangible state, Carlos made gentle strokes with his thumb in hopes of calming Nadia, but really the both of them, down. “Nadia, I had nothing to do with that truck. I just wanted to save you because I love you. Life just isn’t worth living without you in it.”

“Oh, Carlos…” Nadia groaned with mild frustration. Pain and guilt gripped her not-heart and squeezed it for all its worth. She laid her hand on Carlos’ and gripped it just as hard as she tried not to cry. “I’m afraid it was all for nothing...”

“Why? You're here, aren't you?”

“Because we’re dead, Carlos! We're dead and I’m not even in love with you!”

Carlos frowned as if it was obvious or something. “Nadia, whether you love me back or not, you’re worth saving. Even if I failed.”

Nadia glanced at the girls standing around their bodies, whispering to each other, and then down at the white sheets that now covered them.

She was dead.

Those girls couldn’t hurt her anymore.

No more keeping up appearances.

No more hiding away.

Perhaps in the afterlife, now that she was here anyway, she could be her authentic self.

“Carlos, I’m gay.”

“Huh?”

“I’m a dyke. A lesbian. A girl who is exclusively attracted to girls and not attracted to boys.”

“I know what that means. I was just surprised. Why didn’t you just say so? I mean, I probably still would have done what I did today, but I wouldn’t’ve bothered you with all those romantic gestures.”

Nadia let out an exasperated sigh. “I was already being bullied for my faith and my skin color. Why would I willingly add to that list by coming out?”

Carlos turned his gaze downward and carefully took hold of Nadia’s hands. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she said. Her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s just funny,” Nadia sobbed, “that the moment I choose to no longer hide myself is the moment I've become invisible to everyone I've ever known and loved.”

“Well, just because you’re invisible doesn’t mean you can’t fight the good fight, or at least make a ruckus.”

“What do you mean?” Nadia asked, wiping her tears on her sleeve.

“I mean, we could always haunt those girls who bullied you.” Carlos shrugged his not-shoulders. “Maybe if we play our cards right, we’ll make it to Buzzfeed Unsolved.”

Nadia managed a sad chuckle and stood up. “That, Carlos Wilson, is a scheme I can get behind.”

Carlos held out his arm for her. “I believe, Nadia Dawar, that this makes us ghost buddies.”

Nadia smiled and linked her arm in his. “I think I prefer eerie allies.”

“How about phantasmal partners?”

“Maybe cadaverous compatriots. Too soon?”

“Too soon.”

“You know, I don’t think it’s going to be so bad, being stuck in Limbo with you.”