She had only arrived at her Grandma's house the day before. A small, innocent girl. Foolish enough to get herself into situations, yet smart enough to get herself out of them. She had just turned eight and had convinced herself that she wasn't scared of anything. Fearless she was.

But, what children convince themselves they are, is usually far from the truth.

She was treated well that first night. Grandma fawning over her and making her ice cream sundaes by the dozen. Lemonade to wash it all down. Then a movie. The movie she begged to watch whenever she came. Grandma gave in and slipped the tape into the VHS player.

"The Exorcist."

The girl sat there throughout the entire movie. Scared, but not about to show it. Right as the first credit rolled, she stood up.

She told her Grandma she was tired, and was going to go to bed. Grandma stood with her and took her hand in hers, as they walked down the hall to the bedroom.

"I'm not scared Grandma."

Silence where a response should have been. Then a soft, "Don't lie to me Honey. I know you're scared."

And she was. Grandma could see right through her.

When they reached the doorway, something floated out. A girl. A ghost girl with a ghost head. The granddaughter jumped out of the way, her fear showing now. Correction, terror.

The girl's body was standard, cloaked in a long blue dress, but her features were like nothing Granddaughter had seen before. Beautiful. She had never seen truly beautiful. The girl had long brown hair down to the small of her back, with large, blue eyes that had unidentifiable things dancing in them.

She was mysterious. She was also a ghost. Ghosts are dead.

"Pumpkin? What's wrong?"

Grandma didn't see it. The Girl. She couldn't.

"Nothing. I'm just tired."

Grandma tucked in her granddaughter and kissed her goodnight, and all the while, Granddaughter was staring over Grandma's shoulder at the Girl. She was there. Smiling. Then she was gone.

The small girl wanted more of the other one. She wanted only to stare at her beauty all day. A simple wish. She thought of it as she drifted off to sleep.

Granddaughter woke up in the middle of the night. She rolled over in her bed, only to feel a cold so intense. Startled, she opened her eyes and saw Girl there.

"Hello. I know you think I'm pretty, but you're the pretty one. Come with me?"

Entranced by Girl's beauty, Granddaughter followed her down the hall. Down the hall, out the door. Onto the porch. Girl sat on the porch swing and gestured for Granddaughter to do the same. She did.

"Who are you?"

"Is that really important?"

"No," Granddaughter said, trying not to stare.

"It's okay to stare. I know you want to."

They just sat there, Granddaughter staring, and Girl letting her.

"I have to go now, but meet me out here tomorrow."

And just like that, Girl was gone.

They met up every night after that. Until the night before Granddaughter was to go home.

"I have to go back home tomorrow."

"There's a way for you to stay you know."

"How?"

"You just have to go for a little swim. This way."

Girl led her out by the small lake they had near the house.

"All you have to do, is walk into the water, and let it take you away. Then we can be together forever. I promise."

As good as Granddaughter was at getting herself out of situations, this wasn't a situation to her. This was a commitment. And so, she honored it. Letting the water rush over her head, and squeezing her eyes shut. Girl was imprinted into them.

She saw her always after that, even when she wasn't there.