[ WP ] You possess the rare gift to see and talk to dead people , and have kept this hidden from everyone your entire life , including your spouse . Now your spouse dies and is quite surprised .

As I was sleeping in late on a Saturday, I tried my best to pretend I did n't know my husband, Sam, was sitting in the chair across the room. He had died several days ago from some complications of being old, and then he found his way back home eventually from the hospital where he passed. He always sat in that chair in the corner of our room to read the newspaper or relax. I could n't bring myself to tell him that I could see ghosts. Not yet. All I could do was listen to him occasionally say something that was on his mind, while doing my best not to give a reaction to anything he does. 
 
 This morning, so far he has only sighed several times and told me how much he loved me. He did n't make any noise, as if he was afraid to wake me up, even though he was a ghost and probably could n't be hear by the living at all. I did my best to resist telling him that I loved him as well. That would just give up my secret. 
 
 I got up and got breakfast finally, but it was more around lunch time. 
 
 Sam followed me, probably with a smile on his face as he said, `` You always sleep in so late that you miss breakfast. You rubbed that off on me you know?'' Observing what I was getting from the kitchen, he tried to guess what I was making, `` Butter... bread... Oh you're just making toast. Your typical lazy breakfast.'' 
 
 I grabbed the honey also. 
 
 He laughed at himself, `` Close enough. I was right.'' 
 
 Ghost tend to have very clear memories when they die because they leave their limited or weak minds and bodies in the physical world and only take memories... so while I was making my toast, Sam began to talk about the things that he remembered and the things that were on his mind. He talked about the first time we met, and how he thought I was very pretty but strange. Then the topic eventually moved to how he remembered our honeymoon. Iceland. Together in front of a fire, while it snowed a little outside. Bliss. 
 
 I was doing a great job of enjoying this one sided conversation. Listening to all the things he has completely forgotten about or had gotten wrong when he was alive. However, all it took was just one name, to put a chink in my armor. 
 
 Sam sighed, `` Michael...'' 
 
 A small facial expression on my face must have twitched, or perhaps my eyes fluttered too quickly. Somehow, the slight falter must have reflected on myself because Sam squinted at me, as he thought he might have seen something wrong. 
 
 Trying his best to dismiss whatever he thought he saw, he continued to speak. `` Are my eyes still bad after dying? Geez... Anyway...'' Watching me drink more tea, he leaned back in the chair a little, `` I wonder how he is doing. I really want to see him finally.'' 
 
 My heart was slowly breaking. I set my tea down and took in a deep breath to try to calm down. 
 
 Sam definitely could tell something was wrong now. He gasped, `` Oh no... please do n't cry... `` Feeling helpless, he got up and knelt by my side saying, `` We already talked about me dying soon. The last thing I was is for you to cry when you think of me.'' He placed a phantom hand on my knee, `` I love you. I want you to be happy even when I am - `` He froze because I was finally looking directly at him, not through him. 
 
 I had given up my acting. 
 
 `` Darla?... Are you... looking at me right now?'' Sam's mouth was wide open. 
 
 I nodded. Small whimpers and sobs broke through between my words, `` I'm s-sorry that I h-have n't told you. I can actually see ghosts. Ever since I could remember.'' I took a napkin off the table and put it up to my running nose. 
 
 Sam shook his head, quickly saying, `` W-wait, why did n't you tell me? Why did you ignore me?'' He looked hurt and sad. 
 
 `` I wanted to spare you the pain.'' Tears kept falling down my cheeks, `` I would've wanted you t-to not know a-about...'' 
 
 Sam scanned my face imagining the worse and jumping to conclusions, `` You thought I would n't love you any more or something!?! That is ridiculous because I - `` 
 
 `` No, Sam.'' I interrupted him. `` About Michael.'' 
 
 For a moment his face looked confused. 
 
 I explained, `` Michael. Our only child... Our precious little boy... when he died in that car accident, I was n't about to see him at all. I never found out where he went. He never came home.'' 
 
 Sam's face was sullen. `` That is why... everyday you visited that street corner instead of his grave?'' 
 
 I nodded. 
 
 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - 
 
 Years passed. Luckily, I was n't alone even when I was moved into an elderly home because I had Sam to keep me company. It was strange because it still felt like he was alive and with me, like normal. He would complain about the food I got, and would wish he could bother a nurse. Then I would calm his down and tell him the food was n't too bad. 
 
 Finally I felt it. It was finally my time. 
 
 Sam could also sense it. `` Are you ready, my love?'' 
 
 I managed to say, ``... As I will ever be, love.'' 
 
 I closed my eyes for the last time. It was quiet and dark. My eternal sleep. 
. 
. 
. 
 Then, finally, I felt a warm, big hand grab my left hand. Sam. I could finally feel his touch and warmth once again. 
 
 To my surprise, a smaller hand had taken my right hand. I instantly knew who that was. My precious, Michael. 
 

