Chapter 1 - A Year After Visit

“It’s finally the time.” I muttered as I looked at the calendar beside my bed. One of the dates in the calendar was circled with a red marker, marking the first death anniversary of Shade.

Shade was someone even I was confused about. I’m torn between thinking he was just someone and not important, but I think my heart says otherwise, believing he was important to me.

As confusing as it might sound, I never actually talked to him. So why does it even matter to me if Shade died or not? I know. I thought the same too, but I don’t think it’s as simple as that.

It might seem creepy, but in the days and months that he was still alive, I always found myself staring at him from afar. I always thought that there was something strange about this guy who was always alone for some reason.

But, I was able to feel happiness even in a short period, just by looking at him.

I told myself It wasn’t that serious. In my mind it was supposed to be like that, that it wasn’t serious, but deep down I knew my cowardice only led me to a more unfavorable future.

I have so many regrets, so many that I wasn’t able to feel at peace this whole year that he was gone… It was that serious.

I’m still hurt. But I’m trying my best to forget about it, even though I see no sign of improvement.

“…” I clenched my fist as I was looking at the red circle, feeling a bit emotional early in the Saturday morning. “I don’t want to feel like this anymore.” I said, as if I was pleading, hoping someone could hear my thoughts.

But I was weak. I don’t know what am I supposed to do that he is now gone. They said that time heals all wounds, but it’s been a year already, is it still not enough?

As I picked up my wallet, I headed out of my room.

Where should I buy the flowers? I thought as I head down, wondering if there were flower shops around the town.

I could ask mom where— I shook my head, stopping myself.

No, it’s not a good idea. She would probably immediately knew what I was going to do with the flowers, and I don’t want that to happen. But…

I paused at the middle of the stairs, thinking about how can I find the shop.

Maybe the shops around here knew a shop or a two.

But in truth, in my whole life in this town I wasn’t able to find a single flower shop, simply because I was clueless of such place. I have zero idea where I can find such shop.

“Don’t worry Shade. I’ll be visiting you soon.” I whispered, determined to find the flower shop.

As I head down, I called out my mom. “Mom! I’m going to head out!” I said, shouting loud enough for her to hear me well.

“You haven’t had your breakfast yet!” she responded with a loud voice. “Where are you going this early?”

“I’m going to hang out with my friends!”

She approached me, coming from the kitchen, “This early?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I’m going to buy a food along the way.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Are you going back before lunch or not?”

I shook my head. “Might be a little to over afternoon.”

Still not softening her expression she said, “Okay. Be sure to come home before night.”

I smiled and nodded, “Thanks Mom!” I said as I headed out to the door.

Phewww… That’s one problem done! And now that leads to the main problem, where am I supposed to find the flower shop? I sighed, standing in front of the house.

I have no idea… I paused and glanced side to side wondering where could I find it.

Maybe the shops around here knew where to find the flower shop.

With no lead of where the flower shop could be, my only thought was to ask the shops around the town if they knew a flower shop. That’s the simplest plan I could think of as of now, and I’m going with it now.

As I approached each shop I knew, I asked them if they knew a flower shop nearby. All of them shook their head, saying they don’t think there’s a flower shop in this town.

Although it might seem odd, they might be right about that. It is because I was able to fully walk almost every shop in the town and not a single shop owner knew if there’s a flower shop in this town.

I don’t know what to say… This is disappointing… I thought as I walked past multiple store already, not seeing a single flower shop nearby. I sighed, noticing that I am getting close to the cemetery where Shade resides.

“Can’t believe I’ve arrived here with no flowers in hand” I murmured as I looked at the cemetery.

“I can’t believe there are no flowers in here.” I whispered as I neared in front of the cemetery gate. “I hope Shade wouldn’t hate me for it.” I said, as if Shade would care.

It’s not like he knew me. Whether I brought a flower or not, it doesn’t change the fact that Shade knew nothing about me. With an incredibly negative thought on my mind I entered the cemetery.

It was not my first time in here. I came to visit him multiple times in the past, leading to my mom scolding me for visiting the same grave multiple times a week.

She said it was unhealthy.

Visiting someone who I never knew personally multiple times a week wasn’t normal. And I knew that, but I wasn’t able to stop myself from doing it. I did it multiple times before I got tired, or more specifically, before my mother got tired of me.

I continued walking towards the sea of gravestones scattered on the grass. “Cemetery really does have this kind of calm feeling.” I muttered, feeling peaceful at the sight and the environment of the cemetery.

I still remember where his gravestone is supposed to me, which lead me to it in no time. “I’m here.” I said, looking at the grave.

As I looked at the grave, I immediately noticed the flowers behind the gravestone. “Is this from his family?” I muttered, grabbing a piece of the flower bouquet.

I wonder where they were able to buy this bouquet… Because I wanted it too!

As I was admiring the flower at the front of the gravestone, I immediately noticed something odd about it. “What’s this?” I muttered, seeing the grass looked like it had been dug recently.

I tried feeling the ground, noticing the changes between this ground to the ground beside it. It was totally different, as if they dug out Shade and transferred him.

“No.” I shook my head. “That can’t be.”

Despite thinking it was probably nothing, I still find it a bit odd for the ground to be like that.

A chill ran down my spine as I thought of something chilling. Now the cemetery felt a bit more eerie than calm after feeling scared about the recently dug ground. “I hope it was n-nothing…” I muttered.

Sitting in front of the graveyard, I stared at his name engraved on the stone. “I wonder where you are now.” I whispered.

But he didn’t respond to me. Being in front of his grave doesn’t mean he is able to respond to me, and as expected, no one answered me. “Hah…” I sighed deeply, feeling lonely.

Lonely? It’s not like we’ve been together or what!!! I thought, fighting myself for no reason.

But then as I was having my moment, a sudden figure stood behind me. “Hello?” a voice suddenly appeared behind me.

My body tensed. There was a voice behind me.

“Huh…?” Startled, I slowly turned around…

…only to froze immediately at the sight of the owner of the voice. “!!!”

What—?

“Hello, can you hear me?” it added, smiling at her with its head slightly tilted.

I-is that… a t-talking skeleton!!!!!??? I screamed in my thoughts, frozen as I stared at the completely naked skeleton standing in front of me with its teeth facing at me.