"Ghosts definitely live here." I say.

For those of you not in the know, Stolen Lines is an idea suggested by Grace, who has the very best ideas ever.

“Ghosts definitely live here.” I say. My companion nods and smiles. “This ju-ju is so strong, the ju-ju has ju-ju,” I joke. “No shit.” says the girl.

“When did you start swearing?’ I ask, a little amazed and amused.

“It’s never too late to start.” she grins.

“Guess not.” I laugh.

It’s dark. As dark as it ever has been. I can barely see her outline. She’s just a slip, a blink of white and pink in that well of blackness.

“When do we get there?” she asks, not in rushed way, but in that maddeningly serene way she says and does everything.

“Dunno.” I reply. “I’ve never been this far. Never had to go this far.”

She looks up at me and I finally glimpse her face. So small. So earnest and young. Her eyes do not blink. I remember that the most about her. Those eyes. Nearly all black, with just a little ring of green. I see those eyes whenever I am in the dark. When I am asleep and when I am awake.

She smiles a little smile. She doesn’t ask me anything else.

We somehow continue through that ink of a night until we are almost there.

“Ghosts definitely live here.” I say. She stiffens a little, like she knows how close we are. Almost there. She reaches for my hand and then she remembers.

“Don’t forget me.” she says.

“I’ll always love you.” I murmur.

“I wish I wasn’t going.” she says.

“It’s too late now.” I remark, then regret the way it sounds.

She steps forward without me. She takes another step. Then another. She’s harder to see now.

“Ghosts definitely live here.” she states wisely.

“I wish I wasn’t going.” she half says, half sobs.

I whisper to the blackness around me. “You’ve already gone”.

All the way back, all the time.

“Ghosts definitely live here.” I say.