Prologue

"Liam!" I called out.

The pale boy sitting across from me didn't answer.

"Liam," I said again softer.

"Liam," I walked over to where he was sitting, "Liam answer me!"

I set my hand on his shoulder. He shuddered as if a wave of cold went through him, but said nothing.

"Liam," I almost whispered.

For the first time in the ten years I had known him, Liam started to cry.

I felt my heart drop. I couldn't stand to see him like this; to see him so upset. I wanted to wipe away the tears streaming from his emerald eyes. I wanted to hold him and tell him everything couldn't be as bad as it seemed. I wanted to kiss his beautiful mouth.

I sat beside him, placing my hand on his knee. He shuddered again but didn't acknowledge I was there.

I felt so stupid. I couldn't explain why, I just did. I was stupid and helpless. I had known Liam since we were seven years old. He was my best friend for years, until he kissed me when we were fifteen, and we became much more than friends. I could usually tell what was wrong immediately; so why couldn't I now?

I grabbed his hand and intertwined my fingers around his. Leaning over I pressed my lips against his. The spark I usually felt when I kissed him wasn't there. In fact I couldn't feel anything. I looked over to Liam to see if he noticed the absence of passion. Liam was sitting there staring at our hands like he was crazy.

"Danielle," he whispered while crying harder.

"I'm here love," I answered with concern.

Suddenly Liam's sorrow converted into anger. Ripping his hand from mine he flew out of his seat, knocking over the lamp in the process. He grabbed the vase of roses−my favourite flower−off the coffee table and threw it at the wall.

"Dammit Danielle! I need you. Why did you have to leave me?"

It was only then it all came back to me; the ice on the road I hit that forced the car to slide into the on-coming traffic; the flashing lights of the ambulance; the beeping of the hospital machines; my family standing all around me while Liam held my hand and told me he loved me; and my eyes closing while I took my final breath.

That's why Liam was upset, why I felt nothing when I touched him, why he couldn't see or hear me; because I was dead.

I was only a memory. I was a ghost. A goddamned wandering spirit.

I was nothing.