The Ghost in My House Was Me - Chapter 8: Chapter 8
You are reading The Ghost in My House Was Me, Chapter 8: Chapter 8. Read more chapters of The Ghost in My House Was Me.
A cheerful staff member in a mascot costume shoves a discount coupon into my hand before I can react.
"Hey, miss! You a student around here? We've got a special deal for students today!"
I shake my head, laughing awkwardly. "Oh, no—just a regular mom, actually."
But the coupon is already crumpled in my palm.
"Seriously? You look way too young to be a mom!"
Her voice trails off as she bounces away to the next person.
I catch my reflection in the department store window—still slight, still small. A group of students strolls past, backpacks slung over their shoulders, laughing about some inside joke.
For a second, I see myself from years ago.
Right. I'm not even thirty yet.
I buy a ticket to some fluffy high school rom-com. The theater erupts in laughter around me.
But I'm in the corner, silent, tears streaming down my face until my eyes burn.
The girl beside me keeps glancing over, concerned.
Finally, I mumble an apology. "Sorry—I didn't mean to ruin the movie for you. I'll go."
She grabs my wrist before I can stand and presses a piece of candy into my hand.
"Don't worry about it. Sometimes you just gotta cry, y'know?" She grins, playful. "I've totally been there—fighting with my boyfriend, then sobbing in the dark where no one can see. But hey, crying means you're moving on, right? Onward and upward."
Onward. The candy dissolves on my tongue, syrupy sweet.
When the credits roll, I wave goodbye to her. Outside, a guy with a backpack waits, flowers in hand. She pretends to ignore him, but her smile gives her away.
Kevin used to do stuff like that for me too.
Back when I was happy.
I turn to leave—and freeze.
Kevin stands there, holding Tommy's hand.
I don't know how long they've been watching.
He steps forward.
"Haley," he says quietly. "We need to talk."
I swallow hard.
"Okay."
"Hey, miss! You a student around here? We've got a special deal for students today!"
I shake my head, laughing awkwardly. "Oh, no—just a regular mom, actually."
But the coupon is already crumpled in my palm.
"Seriously? You look way too young to be a mom!"
Her voice trails off as she bounces away to the next person.
I catch my reflection in the department store window—still slight, still small. A group of students strolls past, backpacks slung over their shoulders, laughing about some inside joke.
For a second, I see myself from years ago.
Right. I'm not even thirty yet.
I buy a ticket to some fluffy high school rom-com. The theater erupts in laughter around me.
But I'm in the corner, silent, tears streaming down my face until my eyes burn.
The girl beside me keeps glancing over, concerned.
Finally, I mumble an apology. "Sorry—I didn't mean to ruin the movie for you. I'll go."
She grabs my wrist before I can stand and presses a piece of candy into my hand.
"Don't worry about it. Sometimes you just gotta cry, y'know?" She grins, playful. "I've totally been there—fighting with my boyfriend, then sobbing in the dark where no one can see. But hey, crying means you're moving on, right? Onward and upward."
Onward. The candy dissolves on my tongue, syrupy sweet.
When the credits roll, I wave goodbye to her. Outside, a guy with a backpack waits, flowers in hand. She pretends to ignore him, but her smile gives her away.
Kevin used to do stuff like that for me too.
Back when I was happy.
I turn to leave—and freeze.
Kevin stands there, holding Tommy's hand.
I don't know how long they've been watching.
He steps forward.
"Haley," he says quietly. "We need to talk."
I swallow hard.
"Okay."
End of The Ghost in My House Was Me Chapter 8. Continue reading Chapter 9 or return to The Ghost in My House Was Me book page.