“I think that it is possible. I definitely think that it is possible. And I will make it happen! You know, if it can happen, and if so I will be sure to make it happen. I mean, you can hear me now and you weren’t able to before. Maybe I become more real the more you believe in me?

“No, of course that can’t be the case Noah, don’t be stupid. But what if it is? Or maybe I become more solid and ‘real’ the closer our relationship become? Or the more of a desire I have to be real?”

“Noah, hey! I think you are spiraling. That’s okay but how about you spiral in a little bit? I really want to tell you about the idea that I came up with, although to be fair it is a bit embarrassing.” I say and look down at my hands.

A little embarrassing, no it was a lot embarrassing. But I really think that it has the potential to be a lot of fun as well. I feel myself begin to tremble, just a bit. I don’t think that it is noticeable though, right?

“Oh, sorry about that. I don’t often have others to talk to, so I sort of got used to talking out loud to myself. Now, what were you saying about an idea that you have?”

“Well.” I say and draw out the word. “What if we re-enact some of our favorite scenes from those games? You know, some of the really cute ones, or ones that are so sweet it is like licking a sugar cube, oh! Or the ones that make your heart pound.”

I feel very shy about having brought up the idea. I know that I was the one who brought it up, but this was unlike anything that I had ever done before. My parents had been very strict about dating, and once leaving the house I was altogether too busy to be able to date. It did help that after this year I would never see or hear from Noah again, so we can be as cringy as we want.

“What do you think?” I attempted a calm tone while mentally berating myself, dumb, dumb, why would I say that? Go, run and hide… my feet really should be moving.

“You? With me? Do what? I… I… Noah cannot compute. I repeat, Noah cannot compute. System reboot…”

I laugh a little bit, and hope that I hadn’t broken his brain. Noah seemed really fun to be around. I haven’t known him for very long at all, but sometimes that doesn’t matter. Connections can be made quickly and still be strong and meaningful. As though my laughter had broken him out of his trance I hear him softly say.

“Are you sure? And are you sure you are asking the right person, I mean ghost?”

“Yes, I am very sure. Do you think that sounds like fun?”

“Yes!” he says a little loud, then “yes” at a much more normal speaking volume.

“Great! But first we need to figure out how you can be solid.”

We talk a bit more about this and that and soon enough we head inside. I walk in and see Luke wearing pants, but not a shirt. Well, he got it half right, at this rate he should be fully clothed by dinner. So I decide I am not going to complain.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“Hey Little Rawr. Look! I put on pants. A bit less sexy now but I thought that you would appreciate the gesture.”

“You are right, I do.” I nod. “What are you up to?”

“I’m not actually sure what I want to do. So far since coming here I have done some exploring, set up some of my equipment in different rooms and watched a few movies. Hey, I know! Do you want to go for a short walk with me and see if we can find any of the edible plants nearby?”

“Sure, why not. But only if it is really nearby, I have already been walking around for a while and the amount of physical activity I can handle has been reduced lately.”

“The day just started, how can you be tired already?”

“I am not. I am saving my energy to make attempts at dancing later, thus I have less to spare for foraging.”

“Attempts? I thought that dancing is what you wanted to do with your life. How come it is only attempts?”

“Just because that’s where I am at right now. A little nosy today?”

“You can say today because we just met today. Soon enough you will know that I am always nosy. All of the time. I am never not nosy. It is after all an important tool for any chef.”

I lift an eyebrow at him.

“What can I say? I am a curious fella! I like to sniff out the truth.”

I shrug my shoulders at him. I really had no idea what to say to that. How do you respond to that. “As long as you understand that turn around is fair play. It’s fine to be nosy, but you gotta give as much as you get. You get me?”

“That is a lot of saying the word ‘get’.”

“Yes. Yes it is. You go get on a shirt and shoes. I need to run upstairs and get some sturdy shoes and a sweater.” Before he can respond I turn and make my way up the stairs.

Once in my room I begin to methodically go through my clothing. For some reason I hadn’t organized it. Why hadn’t I organized it?! I sigh. Nothing I can do about it right now.

I have been cleaning the rest of the cabin so well that I have neglected my own room. That thought triggered a conversation that I had with someone I went to school with. I would like to think of them as a friend, but we never stayed in touch. Historically that is what my friends did, so I think it is safe to call her one.

“You take care of others too much. Who is going to take care of you?”

“No one. Now let’s go.”

“No one? Don’t you think that is unfair.”

“If I wanted life to be fair I would go to a carnival. As soon as someone actually wants to take care of me, I will consider letting them.”

I shake my head rapidly back and forth. No, not right now. I did not want to get lost in my head right now. I had already agreed to go walking with Luke and it is already taking too long to try and find a sweater.

“Ugh!” I moan to myself.

“Anubis help. What find?” asks Anubis. Wait, where did he come from?

“Thank you Anubis. I am looking for a sweater.” I say and point to the clothes that are still in two bags.

“I am sweeter” he raises his paw to his face “found?”

“Ohhh” I scoop him up and place a kiss on his little nose. “Yes ,you are sweet, but we are looking for a sweater.” I pronounce it slowly for the little bean.

“Bastet keep Luke company with loud purrs. Anubis help find sweater!”

He rubs against me a few times and then jumps into the bag and paws through some clothes. “What is sweater?”

I describe a sweater when I find a few grouped together. I pull them out and throw them onto my bed. “Dinosaur or cat?”

“Cats are best meow!” Anubis says, hops on the bed, and makes a few biscuits on the hoodie, trying to make sure that his opinion was taken.

“When you are right, you’re right.” I say, scoop Anubis off of the sweater and put it on.

It was a black pull over sweater, with white cat ears on the hood, and white paws at the hands. On the sweater itself there was a white cat curled up on a book. I pull it on over my head.

“At least I have my shoes out and organized.” I say and point to the closet. There were a few pairs: heals, flats, running and sturdy. Those were my classifications of course. I grab the sturdy ones and put them on and make my way down the stairs.

“I don’t shoes.”