Ghost Story: Honey, I'm alright!
by Jerod Blake Lasater
(Azle,TX)
It was 3:30 in the morning. I lay awake in my bed with only the sound of the ceiling fan to keep me company. Ever since my husband enlisted, I've suffered from depression. I just wanted to have him next to me and for him to comfort me. "Jared Blane Lancaster, I hope you stay safe", I prayed. I closed my eyes and tried to go to sleep. Then it began.
I began to hear his voice. At first, I thought it was my imagination, but it grew more intense. I brushed it off and dozed off. I was awakened by a whisper in my ear. I sprung up and looked around and saw only darkness. I laid back down and went to sleep again. I then felt a strong sensation of great relief and comfort beginning to flow through my body. I got up and saw a bright, blinding white light. "What is that?". I asked myself. Then the figure of my husband began to appear. "JARED?" I shouted with astonishment. He sat down on the bed and put his hand around me.
"Catherine, I'm alright". I just stared at his glowing face.
"I'm sorry but I must leave you for a while".
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I mean I won't be returning to this home".
I burst into tears of sadness and joy. "But don't worry Catherine, we will see each other one day". Then I began to sob as I watched his figure slowly fade away and I never will forget the smile. I went to sleep and awoke the next morning.
"It was only a dream" I told myself.
I was watching the morning news when I heard a knock on the door. I answered it and it was a man about sixty five years of age dressed in a black suit and tie holding an American flag in his hand. "Mrs. Lancaster?", he said with a sad look on his face. "Your husband, Jared and his team we're ambushed during a patrol and Jared was caught off guard and he was fatally wounded".
I fell to my knees and began to cry uncontrollably. It wasn't a dream at all. Jared had come to wish me his final farewell before he went to heaven. I looked into the blue sky and thought I could see his smiling face...
