by Geoffrey A. Hamell
(Originally published in "The Eagle Hill Sentinel" Issue 1, June 1985)
"Hello, David."
The old man opened his eyes, surprised. His bedroom was quiet in the afternoon sun - too quiet, too still, as it so often was now. The phone sat unringing, the dust motes floated lazily before the window; everything was oppressively normal. Except -
"I said Hello, David." Sarah's wide blue eyes stared expectantly from the foot of the bed.
It took a moment to believe she was really there. "Sarah," he breathed. "I - I can't believe it's really you."
"Don't I look the same?" she asked, puzzled.
He nodded wordlessly. She did look the same - the dress, the bonnet, the auburn braids - exactly as she had looked the last time he saw her. How long ago - ?
"It's been so many years," he murmured. "I didn't think you'd ever come back."
"I've been around," she said ingenuously. "People don't always notice me."
"I've missed you," David said simply.
"I've missed you, too. That's why I came to visit you. I wanted to play with you again."
Laughter rattled harshly in his dry throat. "I can't do much playing any more, Sarah. I can't even get out of bed. I haven't in years."
"You could," she said, "if you really wanted to."
David shut his eyes tiredly. "You don't understand."
"You don't understand," Sarah insisted. "You could if you really wanted to. All you have to do is hold my hand. And then neither of us will have to be alone ever again."
"I'm afraid David is dead," Dr. Stokes said sadly. "In his sleep he must have forgotten his condition, and tried to force himself into an upright position." She paused. "If it's any comfort, death came on him almost instantly."
"How do you feel, David?"
"I feel great! I haven't felt like this in a long time!"
"I bet you can't race me all the way to the swing!"
"I bet I can!"
The two children ran out of the house, unseen, and dashed across the lawn laughing.
