Dear, Please Don't Cry For Me

I had been a ghost for centuries, stuck inside a necklace because of some ancient seal. For as long as I could remember, I had been tied to whoever owned this necklace, unable to wander more than a few miles from them.

This time, I was bound to a fragile woman, so weak she could barely stand. Her time was almost up, which was probably why I was able to appear before her and actually talk.

But here was the kicker—when she saw me, she didn’t freak out. Instead, she just asked how I’ve been holding up all these years. And when she finally passed away, just like I knew she would, she didn’t leave me empty-handed. She gave me her body.

The real shocker came after that, though. Her husband—the same guy who treated her like a ghost while she was alive, couldn’t even bother to look at her when she was dying—completely lost it. His eyes were wild, and he looked like he was teetering on the edge of madness as he pleaded, “Please, give her back to me!”

1

I had been a ghost bound to this necklace for what felt like forever, and I had seen all kinds of people. But I had never met anyone like Luna Anderson—so soft-spoken, so easy to push around. I thought that the identity of her husband’s legit wife would earn her some respect, but in that big, fancy mansion, everyone seemed to have it out for her.

Luna, with her delicate features and that pale, fragile look, seemed so weak that I couldn’t help but wave a hand in front of her face. “Come on, Luna, show some backbone!” I urged.

Since the day she put on the necklace, I had been stuck with her. Six months ago, I could only hang out inside the necklace, so I spent most of my time in a deep sleep. But every time I woke up, I’d catch the maids whispering nasty things about Luna. She was supposed to be the lady of the house, but just because her husband was always away, they had the nerve to spread rumors, even calling her a slut behind her back. They had no problem spending her money while they dragged her name through the mud.

Luna knew what they were saying, but she never let it get to her. She just went about her days slowly, speaking softly, like nothing really mattered. Then, six months ago, something changed, and I found myself able to step out of the necklace. I used a few tricks to scare the maids into behaving, but lately, they’ve only gotten worse.

Even though I’ve been around for centuries, Luna had no clue I existed. I couldn’t stand watching her get pushed around, so I finally decided to speak up, fully expecting her not to hear me, like always. But to my surprise, Luna, who had been resting her chin on her hand, suddenly opened her eyes. She blinked in disbelief and asked in a soft voice, “Who are you?”

2

I took my time explaining my story to Luna. Even though I was not alive anymore, I still felt that familiar dryness in my throat from talking too much. I had no idea why she could suddenly see me, but I was definitely glad she could. After all, it had been ages since I last had a conversation with anyone—I couldn’t even remember the last time I spoke with someone.

Luna just sat there quietly, listening to me. Now that she was awake, she didn’t look as sickly. Instead, she resembled a fairy from a painting, so ethereal and delicate. I couldn’t help but sigh to myself. It was probably because Luna was so sweet that the maids found her easy to pick on.

She looked at me and asked, “Why can I suddenly see you?”

I didn’t know either, so I made up something about how maybe someone out there didn’t like seeing her getting bullied and decided to let us talk.

“I’ll protect you from now on,” I told her, clenching my fist with determination.

Luna’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “But you look like a little girl who needs more protection than me.”

I explained that I died when I was just a teenager. Luna’s smile faded instantly, and she reached out to pat my head in apology, even though her hand passed right through my spirit.

I’ve long since made peace with my death, and I can’t even remember why I didn’t move on to the afterlife. So it doesn’t bother me, but Luna seemed genuinely upset.

She asked how I had spent these past centuries, and I vaguely replied, “Mostly sleeping, sometimes wandering around. That’s how I saw you getting picked on.”

The truth is, as a ghost, I couldn’t leave the necklace before, and I spent a lot of time hiding inside it, crying. I would let myself sleep for decades at a time. But now that I have Luna, things feel different.

She sensed the loneliness I’d carried for a hundred years and started talking to me often, taking me out to see all sorts of new things. I might not have even seen so much when I was alive. The market was full of temptations that made my mouth water, and Luna even tried to give me some of the food, but I couldn’t eat it. So I had her eat it for me. But she couldn’t manage more than a couple of bites before feeling full, so I stopped insisting.

Ever since Luna first saw me, I hadn’t seen her husband around and couldn’t help but ask why he was never there when she was being mistreated or slandered. Luna, who usually had such a calm demeanor, suddenly looked pale and unsteady. I quickly changed the subject, not wanting to upset her further.

But one day, while we were out at the market, we ran into Luna’s husband, Herbert Jones. His arm was wrapped around another woman, Dora, who was clinging to him, her voice sweet and playful. She had this peculiar scent and looked all warm and inviting, like someone you’d naturally gravitate toward. Herbert’s eyes were full of affection for her, and they looked like the most perfect couple you’d ever see.

Herbert noticed Luna first, his gaze lingering on her for just a moment too long, which made Dora curious.

Luna clutched the hem of her dress as if trying to gather her courage.

Dora asked, “Herbert, do you know her?”

Herbert replied, “No, I don’t.”

“Then why are you staring at her? Is she that pretty?” Dora took a quick look at Luna’s face and pouted. “She’s not all that special.”

“No, she’s not as beautiful as you,” Herbert said.

Dora’s face lit up with an innocent smile, and Herbert, eager to keep her happy, led her off to buy some fancy necklace.

3

I waved my hand in front of Luna’s face a few times before she finally snapped out of her daze.

“If you keep ignoring me like that, no one else in this world will pay attention to me,” I grumbled, feeling the urge to cling to Luna all the time just to make sure she noticed me.

Luna apologized softly, and I forgave her right away. But she still seemed distracted, so I asked, “Who was that guy?”

Luna smiled, but I could see the bitterness behind it.

I quickly understood why. “That’s my husband,” she said.

“Then why did he pretend not to know you?” I asked.

“Everyone has their secrets,” she replied.

I got that, but seeing how his appearance had turned Luna’s smile into something so bitter really bothered me.

“I’ll go teach him a lesson,” I offered.

After all these years as a ghost, I hadn’t exactly been idle. But Luna had never really noticed my abilities.

Luna shook her head. “Ashe, let me tell you a story.”

Ashe—that’s my name, the only thing that connects me to my past.

I nodded, and Luna found a nearby café where she began to tell her story.

4

My name was Luna Anderson. I lost my parents when I was just five years old.

They left me a sizable inheritance, and my grandmother cared for me until I turned nine. Tragically, she died after a fall on her way home from church.

I only learned about all this much later, from my aunt. At that time, my uncle took me in. While he was rummaging through my mother’s dowry, he carelessly tossed this old necklace aside, saying, “Only your mother ever thought this piece of junk was worth anything.”

When he tossed the necklace to the ground, I picked it up with great care. He didn’t want it, but it was the only thing my parents had left me, so I kept it.

We moved to Ravenwood with my uncle—a charming place I’d heard about often while living in Silverbrook. I didn’t expect my uncle and aunt to roll out the red carpet for me, but their treatment was downright harsh.

At first, their children were respectful. My aunt had set me up in a small, quiet wing of the mansion. It was a bit isolated, but I was fine with that.

Over time, though, things changed. The wing seemed to get smaller, and their children stopped calling me “sister,” opting instead to use my name and making a mess of my room. When I told my aunt, she told me to be more understanding.

Summoning my courage, I went to my uncle, but he was too preoccupied with his work to pay me any attention. I overheard him telling my aunt, “Don’t go too far.”

It turned out he knew what was happening but was just turning a blind eye to my aunt’s behavior.

Feeling helpless and wanting to make them care about me, I decided to run away. After three days on my own, I never saw any sign of them looking for me. The last thing I heard was them spreading rumors about me running off with some man—saying, “We couldn’t stop her; she sneaked away in the dead of night.”

They had always seen me as a burden.

So, I made my way back to Silverbrook alone, where everyone mistook me for a beggar. Only Herbert saw me for who I really was. He wrapped me in a coat, gave me some food, and helped me find a place to stay at a nearby inn.

5

“Is this when you first met him?” I asked Luna.

She nodded and replied, “Back then, I was in a rough spot, so I would often talk to you.”

That explains why I was constantly disturbed in my dreams. I felt a pang of guilt, wishing I had been awake to help Luna sooner. “Luna, I’m sorry.”

Luna offered a small smile. “Why are you apologizing?”

“If only I hadn’t been asleep, I could have stood up for you,” I said.

“It’s okay. That’s all behind us. Having you with me now is more than enough,” she reassured me.

As a ghost, I can’t touch anything, so I couldn’t hold Luna even if I wanted to. I felt a deep frustration, wishing I could at least give her a hug.

Trying to shift the focus, I asked, “You knew him when you were young. Why has he become so distant and cold after you married?”

Just then, someone sat down beside us. I noticed Luna’s expression darken and turned to see—it was Herbert and Dora.

Dora had nothing in her hands, but Herbert was carrying a bunch of snacks, a silver necklace, and a little lamp—all items that belonged to Dora.

They sat close together, with Dora leaning on Herbert.

“Herbert, I’m so tired. I’m glad you’re here with me, bringing me here to sit,” Dora said.

Herbert didn’t say anything but gently patted Dora’s head.

Dora picked up the lamp and smiled. “This is the lamp you won for me during that game. I want to keep it myself.”

Herbert said, “Of course, as long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”

Luna suddenly recalled Herbert saying similar things to her in the past. Her face went pale, and she coughed up blood. I watched in growing concern, reaching out to help but feeling powerless.

“Luna, what’s wrong?” I asked, alarmed.

“I’m fine,” Luna said, though she looked anything but.

Dora noticed Luna bleeding in the café and scrunched up her nose. “Herbert, that person is bleeding. It’s so creepy.”

Seeing Dora, who looked so innocent, speak so cruelly made me seethe with anger. “Luna, she’s awful. I want her to regret this.”

Luna looked at me with a resigned expression, agreeing with me but not supporting my idea of scaring Dora. “What if someone catches you?”

I scoffed, “How would she even know?”

“She comes from a powerful family. They might have people who can deal with you,” Luna warned. Her words made me uneasy, but I couldn’t let it go.

Luna sighed and said, “Let’s just leave. If we don’t see her, we won’t get upset.”

Reluctantly, I followed Luna out.

As we passed their table, Herbert was soothing Dora. She was nestled in his arms, and he shot a sympathetic glance at Luna when Dora wasn’t looking. Luna turned away from his gaze.

Once outside the café, it hit me with frustration that Herbert was the worst part of this. He seemed more interested in charming another woman right in front of his own wife.

I turned to go back inside, but Luna stopped me with a smile.

“You’re still smiling? Your husband is being affectionate with another woman right in front of you!” I snapped.

Just then, Herbert appeared in front of us. “Please, wait.”

Luna asked, “What’s going on?”

“I’m here to apologize on behalf of Dora. She spoke inappropriately,” Herbert said, handing over a large amount of cash. “This money is for your medical expenses—our way of making amends.”

Luna didn’t take the money. “Why didn’t you apologize earlier?”

Herbert looked surprised, clearly not expecting Luna to ask that. He explained, “If I had apologized in front of Dora, it would have upset her.”

Luna’s expression grew even more somber as she said, “So that’s how it is. Dora doesn’t really feel sorry. I don’t want your apology or your money.”

“I...” Herbert hesitated.

Watching Luna struggle to assert herself made me feel exasperated. “Luna, you should confront him! Yell at him!”

Luna ignored me.

I thought of a way to help—gestured, and in the next moment, I possessed Luna’s body.