THE TALE OF LONELY GHOSTS

She is.a ghost. You have all seen her. You just never bothered to give her a second look. You stare right through her as she passes though those halls without making a sound. Her stare is haunting, filled with unseen worries and missed opportunities. Her voice is but a whisper in a passing wind. She is not dead, yet sometimes, I wonder if she is truly one of the living.

Every day, I pass her as I go to my classes. I try to smile. Sometimes, I even say hello. You see, I know that there is more to her then meets the eye.

Beneath her humble façade hides an amazingly beautiful soul. She cares little for the flashy, pretentious things that most people can't live without. Instead, she pursues her hopes and dreams with enthusiasm and dedication. How many people can honestly say that?

Yet sometimes, I wonder if the dream is enough if it leaves no room for reality. As beautiful as our dreams can be, they are nothing but the phantoms of the real world. And on the long run, the happiness they give is nothing but a mirage. And the soul truly becomes a desert.

But if one only takes time to water your soul with real beauty, it will spring to life, bringing fruits that will keep people amazed till the end of time.

The ghost seldom stops to enjoy reality. Perhaps she doesn't see the point. But I believe, and I shall always believe, that she deserves nothing less then a truly happy life. A soul this beautiful should never have to suffer.

You see, I was once a ghost, too. I still hadn't quite shed its haunting veil. But a few years ago, I met an angel who showed me that there is more to this world then mirages. Ever since then, I fought to find a way to live again.

There are thousands of ghosts out there. Some found themselves haunting the world because of things they could not control. Some don't know any better. For others, the exile is purely self-imposed. And unless they find the true beauty, the mirages will be sucking their souls dry for the rest of their lives.

Sometimes, I wonder if I presume too much. I mean, what right do I have to assume that I know what's really best for her? I admit, I am a long way from truly getting to know her. And yet, every time I see her smile, every time her laugh fills the room, something unbelievably beautiful touches my soul. And I can't help but feel that perhaps I am on to something after all.

Someday, I hope to discard my veil and truly rejoin the world of the living. Until then, one ghost inspires me to get there. I had an angel show me a way out of the desert. But who is going to show the way to a lonely ghost?