[ WP ] Every morning she puts on her sweats , laces her shoes , downs some coffee , and goes running with a dead man .


 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; We had a very odd relationship. I could admit that to myself. I was a young twenty something woman who recently graduated college, and had a decent paying job. I started every morning with a jog. 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; He was, near as she could tell, either 27 or 192, depending on how you count the years. He was once heir to a railroad magnate, decently, dressed nicely but his clothing was quite dated. He was also dead. 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; Yes, I lived, and I use the term loosely, with a ghost. His name was Clarence. If he were living, we'd probably date. He was a nice guy. But as it was, he was a dead, and a ghost. Being incorporeal would have interfered with our sex life, I'd admit. 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; As it was, he was my best friend. He always went with me on our jogs, and despite being a ghost even saved my life once... 
 
 *** 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; It was early. The sun was barely up. The air was cool, crisp, the smell of petrichor in the air, the sound leaves on the sidewalk crushing softly with every step I took in my job. The city still dozing in the early morning sun, and Clarence floated along with me, barely visible in the faint dawn light. 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; I took a turn down my normal alley only to be confronted by a reedy fellow in a balaclava with a large knife. `` Wallet! Now!'' He barked out. 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; Clarence right beside me, but barely visible. Before I could think of doing anything, he did something I'd never seen him do before. He shined, brighter than the light of daybreak and declared, in a great and terrible voice, 
 
 # **'' Leave her. `` ** 
 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; The would-be mugger complied, tossing his knife away in a panic and running past away as fast as he could. 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; I leaned against the nearby wall and nearly started hyperventilating. I never expected anything like this to happen. `` You're my guardian angel, Clarence.'' 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; His glow faded a bit, and an odd expression took his face. Some combination of wistful and melancholy. `` No, no. Just a dead friend who could n't leave well enough alone.'' 
 & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp;'' Either way, thank you.''
