I think I’ve been seeing a ghost.
But for the past few days…
Something’s been happening.
And right now, I’m feeling it again.
And I just can’t help myself.
Once again, I’m being drawn to the roof.
The cool night breeze touches my face.
Floating a foot off the roof…
A little girl is sitting cross-legged beneath the stars.
My heart pounds as I try to creep away.
I jolt and nearly fall off the roof.
Her little head swivels towards me.
Cornelia
I don’t want to hurt you.
Cornelia
I want to help you.
I catch my breath and try to speak.
Emily
What do you want from me?
The little girl starts to giggle.
Cornelia
The question is…
Cornelia
What do you want from me?
All the muscles in my body tense.
Emily
How do you know my name?
Emily
Are you real? What’s happening?!
Cornelia
I know how you feel.
Emily
What are you talking about?
Cornelia
Like you don’t belong here.
Cornelia
Like there must be more.
My eyes widen in disbelief.
How on earth could she know that?
A strange smile creeps across her ghostly face.
A door slams from inside the house.
My head snaps toward the sound.
I hear my mother call out my name.
And then, when I look back…
I tuck myself back into bed.
My mom cracks my bedroom door.
Mom
Are you alright, sweetie?
Mom
I thought I heard you talking to someone.
Emily
I just had a bad dream.
She kisses me on the head.
All night long I think about that girl…
I go over to my boyfriend’s house.
I give him a big hug when he opens the door.
Grant
Is everything alright?
I hold back tears in my eyes.
He pulls away, looking at me.
He always knows when I’m holding back.
Emily
I need to talk to you.
We go up to his room and sit on his bed.
Emily
Something has been happening these past few nights.
Emily
This is going to sound ridiculous…
Emily
But you have to believe me.
Grant
Of course I’ll believe you.
Emily
I’ve been seeing a…
Emily
I’ve been talking to a ghost.
Grant’s face contorts into a smile.
Then he starts to chuckle.
Grant
You’re probably just having nightmares.
Emily
You’re the only person in the world who understands me.
Emily
I can’t be honest with anyone else.
Emily
If you don’t believe me…
Grant
What do you want me to say?
Grant
I don’t believe in ghosts.
I look down at the floor.
Emily
If you don’t believe me…
Emily
Come over tonight at midnight.
Grant
You want me to sneak out at midnight?
Emily
Yes. I need you to understand.
He takes a deep breath and furrows his brow.
Grant
Fine, I’ll see you tonight.
My mom keeps prodding me about my behavior.
Mom
You seem off, sweetie.
Mom
You’ve been moping around.
Mom
Tell me what’s wrong.
I change the conversation.
Emily
Mom, who lived here before we did?
She looks up from her plate.
Mom
They sold the house to us.
Mom
They left town in a hurry.
My mom puts her fork down.
Mom
They had a daughter, okay?
Mom
She was about your age…
Mom
She disappeared one day.
Mom
And the parents couldn’t stand living here anymore.
Mom
They put the house up for sale, and we bought it.
My water glass drops from my hand.
It shatters into pieces on the floor.
Mom
Emily! What’s wrong with you!
Emily
Stop yelling at me!
Mom
Don’t you talk back to me!
I throw my plate onto the ground…
I lock my door behind me…
And I can’t help wondering…
If I had the ability to disappear completely…
When midnight finally comes…
Grant climbs up the drainpipe.
We sit together on the edge of the roof.
Emily
Thank you so much for coming.
I feel the sensation again.
Emily
You feel that, right?
Grant
I think you’re just making this up.
And then, right behind Grant…
Cornelia steps shyly into view.
I get a shiver down my spine.
Emily
There! There she is!
Grant
What are you talking about?!
Grant
There’s no one here.
I stand up on the roof and start screaming.
Emily
Right in front of you!
Emily
The little girl who disappeared years ago!
Grant
You’re going crazy!
Cornelia slowly raises a finger to her lips.
Cornelia
He doesn’t understand.
Tears stream down my face.
Grant
Okay, I’m getting your mom!
He runs inside the house.
Cornelia
We don’t need him.
I nod, with tears in my eyes.
The little girl reaches out her hand…
Grant and my mom crawl out onto the roof.
Mom
Emily! What are you doing?
But I’m not listening to them.
Cornelia leads me forward.
Cornelia
Now I want you to make a wish.
Cornelia
Repeat after me.
I raise my bare foot into the air.
And then Cornelia turns back and looks at me.
She can see my mom and Grant…
A sad, sweet expression comes over her face.
Cornelia
Go back to them.
Cornelia
I got in a fight with my parents…
Cornelia
And I made a wish that I could disappear.
Cornelia
But then I couldn’t undo it.
Cornelia
I got so lonely.
Cornelia
You’re the only one who’s ever been able to see me.
Cornelia
I wanted you to be with me forever.
Cornelia
But now I can see…
Cornelia
That that wouldn’t be fair to you.
Cornelia
I promise I won’t bother you again.
Cornelia
Enjoy the rest of your life, Emily…
Cornelia
And don’t EVER wish you could disappear.
I can feel my mom and Grant pulling me backward.
I turn and fall into my mother’s embrace.
I look across the roof to where Cornelia was.
And I know that this time…
