Catalina played with her dolls in the corner of the play room as her cousins gathered near the table to play a board game. Catalina normally didn’t mind playing board games with her cousins, but right now she was playing with her friend, Victor. The pale boy wanted to reenact the story of a fairytale Rapunzel Catalina’s mother Luna had read to them the past Tuesday, and Catalina thought that sounded more fun at the moment. 

The young girl had gotten one of her favorites, a fabric doll with button eyes that was wearing a silk blue dress and had long red-brown colored yarn for hair, while Victor took out a patchwork doll that had been dirtied and was missing a button eye to play the prince, which is why Victor had made it a makeshift eye patch for his little buddy. 

“You still haven’t found a new eye for him, Victor?” Catalina asked. 

“No, but it’s ok! I think it makes him look cooler!” Victor replied. 

Catalina said nothing as she gave her friend a smile and attempted to grab a different doll to play the witch, that is until her mother, Luna Flores, matriarch of the Flores family, had made her presence known by clearing her throat to get her daughter’s attention. “Hi Mama! Why are you here? I thought you were resting.” Catalina asked, looking at her mother’s pregnant belly. 

“I was, but, uh, sweetheart, your cousin Marisol told me that you were, playing a game with. . .Victor.” her mother replied. Catalina looked over at her older cousin to see that the dark haired girl was looking at her feet, as if she didn’t want to make eye contact with her. 

“Is that true, dear?”

“I am. What’s wrong with that?”

“N-No! Victor. . .well, he was a lovely boy, but. . .”

The other cousins in the room realized what was about to transpire, so they gathered their things and left the room. Marisol’s older brother had to grab her hand to take her along with them. 

“Sweetheart. . . .you. . . .you know that he’s not here anymore, right?” Luna said. Catalina blinked in surprise at this, looking back at her friend, the pale boy just sitting on the carpeted floor playing with his toy, obviously trying not to listen to what Catalina and her mother were talking about. “Mama, Victor’s right here. He’s not-” 

“What’s going on here?” 

“!”

Catalina and her mother looked over at the door frame to see that the girl’s father, Alejandro, had arrived. The blue eyed male looked over at his wife to see she had a look of distress. “Querida, what’s wrong?” he asked, now concerned for her and the baby. “Nothing’s wrong, Alejandro, Catalina and I are just talking about a. . . .certain someone.” 

Alejandro, knowing who his wife was referring to, let out a tired sigh as he kneeled down to reach his daughter’s level. “Catalina, how many times do we have to go through this again?” he said. “My dear, Victor. . . .he died a year ago. He was sick and. . .” 

Catalina looked away from her father’s gaze, trying her best to focus on the teal wallpaper of the room. “I-I know. I was there for the funeral.” she stammered. Victor stopped playing and walked over to his friend to comfort her, his small skinny body phasing through her father’s body. Victor whispered something in Catalina’s ear, making her nod her head as she tried to leave, but her parents stopped her. “Cat, where are you going?” her mother asked. “I’m tired and I want to go to my room.” Catalina answered, and dashed out of the room as her parents called out her name. 

She ran past several maids and butlers who were stunned to see the six year old running through the halls, though none of them made an attempt to stop her as they all had an idea of what had happened. Catalina had practically slammed the door behind her and locked it. The child had dashed to her bed and after taking off her shoes, got under the covers. Victor joined her, asking his friend, “Are you ok?” “No. Not really.” Catalina said, trying her best not to tear up. 

She didn’t need to be reminded that no one else could see him, could hear him. And she absolutely hated it when others around her, including her own family, treated her as a fragile glass object when Victor had passed away. It made sense for the first few months, but when his spirit returned and Catalina’s loneliness disappeared, she thought everyone would be happy for her, but it was the opposite. 

But then again, it’s not the first time something like this has happened: before Victor got ill, his pet dog passed away and was buried in his family’s backyard. When Catalina saw the dog’s spirit roaming about in the garden, she made a comment about it to Victor, who got excited. 

Catalina was brought out of her thoughts when she heard Victor say, “You know they’re just worried about you, right?” Catalina said nothing and just gave him a nod as an answer. What parent wouldn’t be worried if their child could see the dead?