I woke much earlier than Jaime or anyone else in town. The sun was still below the horizon, shining little light on the world.

Over the next several hours, I worked on learning more about myself. Being a spirit was strange, though I was gradually becoming more adjusted to it. I wasn’t sure how, but Jaime could understand my own thoughts. I had no physical body, but shared a small portion of Jaime’s. This gave my spirit senses of its own. I could hear, see and smell all on my own and though I felt these through Jaime as well as myself, I had to rely on her for touching and taste. I could move through walls if I pushed hard enough, though I still couldn’t touch it. Instead, it felt like I was walking against a fierce wind. 

During this time, I found I could move other solid objects. It felt like trying to push against running water, but if I focused enough I could push something small. I wasn’t sure whether or not that something like this would be helpful in the future, but it was nice to know what was possible.

Out of all the things I discovered this morning, one thing intrigued me the most. In the downstairs latrine hung a small polished sheet of metal to use as a mirror. As I passed by, I caught a glimpse of myself. It was hard with the little light and how dull the reflection was, but I knew it was me in the reflection. In the mirror was a cloud of black mist with two eyes that shone in the darkness, one gold, the other purple. The rest seemed familiar to me somehow, almost normal.

The groan of the wood just above told me that the residents of the inn were waking up, which meant that morning had finally come. The door swung open as a patron came rushing in. I panicked and moved around them and out the open door. In the few minutes since morning had come, the ground floor had become flooded with guests waiting for their meal. Now was as good a time as any to eat, so Jaime should get up soon. She’ll probably be starving, especially after the dream she had last night. 

“It’s good you’re here. She isn’t responding to anything I do.”

It was the hostess speaking. She was speaking to a man dressed in a short brown cloak and plain clothes. The man had thinning brown hair and eyes of the same color.

“Please allow me to see the child.” The man said.

I followed the two of them into the backroom where Jaime had been sleeping. The hostess walked over to Jaime and lightly shook her shoulder to wake her, but she remained asleep. The hostess stepped aside as the man came forward.

Like Hamil had done the day before, this man pressed his hand against his chest as a glow flowed through his body. Only the glow was a deep green color. That green glow ignited a green, flame-like aura from his eyes.

“This child is special.” The man stated. “The spirits swarm to her like a child to its mother. They are the reason that she is unable to wake.”

“How is that possible?”

“I have heard stories of individuals that have angered the spirits. They would come while the offender was sleeping and force them into a never-ending nightmare.” The man then stroked his chin. “Though by the look on her face, I don’t think she’s having a nightmare.”

The sleeping Jaime had a goofy grin and was drooling slightly.

“Can you stop it?”

“Unfortunately, I am not a spiritualist. I can only see the spirits. I’m sorry, but I don’t know any near here. Spiritualists are very rare among humans.”

“That’s alright, thank you. At least we know what’s going on.”

“Then I will take my leave. Breakfast smells heavenly. I give my complements to the chef.”

“I’ll make sure to let Sadie know.”

The man opened the door, letting in the cheering voices of the patrons who were being fed. He bowed his head and left the hostess and Jaime. 

“Hopefully Hamil comes to visit today.” The hostess said as she brushed her hand through Jaime’s ashen hair.

I moved closer to her and felt my consciousness slip into her dream like it had the night before.

Inside the dream, underneath a towering red tree sat Jaime. Surrounding the tree was a field of tall, dry grass that bowed with the breeze. Jaime was drawing on a stone tablet with bark from the tree. If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought that this was all real. Everything looked extremely convincing.

Just beside Jaime was a small wooden platter covered in sweets. Each time she ate one, it was replaced by a tiny ball of light that transformed into whatever food she desired.

Jaime looked up from her drawing and met my eyes and smiled.

“Hi dad!” She called, waiving her arm wildly.

I looked down at myself and found that I looked exactly like I had before the war. It brought back a flood of memories, all of which were trying to convince me to stay here, away from the pains of the world.

“Hey sweetie. What’re you drawing?” I spoke as I sat down beside her.

She looked back down to her drawing and pouted.

“I’m drawing mom, but I can’t get it right.”

“What are you getting wrong?”

“I don’t know. I don’t remember what mom looks like. Can you help me?”

“Sure.”

I grabbed the tablet. I assumed it was because we were in a dream, but she had drawn amazingly with just a simple piece of bark. I knew there was no way that I could draw my Jaime, but I could help point out things that were wrong.

As I stared at the tablet trying to picture her, a realistic image of the Jaime that I had married appeared on the stone.

“Ah, I see it now!” Jaime shouted out and took back the tablet.

Watching her work with the bark felt like watching a master, and soon enough, she was done. Seeing the image of my wife again brought back even more memories. I was about to surrender to the comfort of the dream when another voice came from the other side of Jaime, startling me.

“You’ve got some good tastes, sweetie. No doubt you got that from me.”

Sitting on the ground with the tray of sweets on her lap was my Jaime, the Jaime that I had spent my life with, the Jaime that had passed away nearly ten years ago. Seeing both Jaimes sitting next to each other like this. It was like someone took my Jaime and shrunk her. They looked nearly identical in every way. Both with the same ash colored hair and enchanting blue eyes, though the younger Jaime was paler. My Jaime was even wearing a flowing purple dress the same color as Jaime’s.

“Come on, honey. Stop staring at me like that. I know I’m beautiful, but that doesn’t excuse it.” My Jaime said before shoving a pastry in her mouth.

“Mom!” Young Jamie cried out as she rushed to hug her mother.

“My aren’t you just the cutest thing?” My Jamie cried out as she squeezed back.

The two of them sat there for a moment before the younger Jaime started to cry. 

“It’s so scary! I don’t have you or dad anymore!” Young Jamie cried.

My Jamie started stroking our daughter’s hair.

“That’s not true. You might not see us, but your father and I are always there. We’re always watching over you.” My Jamie spoke softly. “If you’re ever feeling lonely or scared, you have your father’s cloak. As long as you have that, you will always have his arms around you, right.”

“But what about you, mom?”

My Jaime pulled back for a moment, reached behind her neck and removed her necklace. A small glass heart on a simple, metal chain. I had given it to her after we got engaged. She never took it off after that day. She leaned forward and put the necklace on young Jaime.

“As long as you’re wearing this necklace, our hearts will be connected.” She spoke, then whispered. “That’s what your dad said when he gave it to me.”

“I don’t want you to leave.” Young Jaime whimpered, looking to my Jaime and me.

“We aren’t leaving. We’ll always be with you, sweetie.” My Jaime comforted. “It’s time for you to wake up now.”

Young Jaime nodded her head, took a deep breath and stoop up, walking a few steps away.

My Jaime stood as well, coming over to me and extending her hand. I grasped her hand as she pulled me up, but before I could say a thing, she pulled me in and kissed me.

“I’ve worried about you for so long.” She whispered.

“I lost so much. What’s happened is a miracle.”

“Take care of her. She needs all your help.” She said, lowering her eyes. “I have to go. I’ve used up all the time I had.”

“Can I do this on my own? You were the one who raised Callum and Levi.”

Jaime raised her hand and gently stroked my cheek.

“I know you can. Take care of the kids. Don’t let them fight each other.” She said with a smirk.

“Alright. I won’t let anything happen to them.”

Her eyes turned sad as tears formed in our eyes.

“I know you won’t.”

I knew this body was fake, but the tears in our eyes definitely weren’t.

“That boy should be waking Jaime up now. Goodbye, Claude. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

The world around us faded as we said our goodbyes, the last image I saw was my Jaime smiling like she did the day that we were married.