don't get too H I G H;

She doesn’t assume he’s much for the overly polite name. –She thinks, in fact, she will associate it with his father, and she’s almost sure she isn’t wrong. It’s not uncommon, children and parents in that way. Mrs. Bloom was her mama, for example.

“Just Josh,” She agrees, the canines simmering after their moment of exuberance. All those wagging tails and happy paws and cheerful barks. She thinks they’re good for him, as well. Considers suggesting a pet to him. She knows it’s certainly helped her. But she stands aside, and the dogs fall back, flood into the house, “Come on in. I’m not dragging you to a frozen lake until you eat something. There are blueberry pancakes in the kitchen.”

(She’s a little mom-ish, sometimes, that much is very true.)

Pancakes. The last time he had pancakes was years ago, his father stationed by the stove with a flipper in hand, his mother sorting pancakes out onto plates as he and his sisters sat at the counter. It was a warm family memory. Nothing like that happened anymore. “Sounds delicious.” He hummed, voice sounding as cheery as his smile portrayed him to be. 

Josh followed the pack of dogs that led with wagging tails through the comfortable home. “Your home is beautiful.” Homes he’d lived in had feel filled with art and design to be as pleasing to the eye as possible, but nothing beat the genuine comfort of a home that was just that, a home. It even had the smell that practically screamed comfort.”Mine if I help myself?”

{ ♛ } – Melinda let out a quiet sigh. Sure, him not sleeping last night may have been true, but why? She knew very well that the medications could be the actual reason behind his lack of sleep– that or he was just lying to her about the sleep thing all together. Either way, he was holding something back from her, and it worried her. She wanted to help him as much as she could, but as he got older, Melinda felt like he was telling her less and less. It could be a blessing in disguise though…  He would have to one day live and get by on his own after all…

She placed the plate of breakfast on the table in front of him before sitting down in one of the other chairs. She picked up her half-empty mug of coffee as she said, “Is there something bothering you then? School? Friends? You just seem a little… off the past few days.”

His attention went to the plate of food, a welcome distraction from his thoughts. Of course, it wasn’t like his mother to simply drop a subject. It was clear to him she only wanted to help, to understand how he was feeling. When it came to bringing his mood back up, she always had a knack for it. “There’s just a lot happening all at once. Big school project, new medicine. I don’t think there will ever be friend problems, unless Chris starts dating someone and forgets I’m his best friend.” Josh could never see that happening, the two boys were too close. 

❛ you’re — you’re her friend, right? i just  thought she might be here… sorry – i didn’t  mean to bother you. i – i’ll go. ❜

   There was a twinkle of concern in her smile as she gently    touched his head. well as best as she could without the    ability to touch. 

     “You should get an ice pack. And yes, I’m here       but also not. I’m a ghost.”

 “That.... this is crazy. i’m crazy. I’m going crazy, right?”

  He leaned back against the bottom of the couch, wiping his   face before his hand came to rest over his eyes.

  “A ghost. Ghosts aren’t real.”