Whispers From the Past

I was 18 years old when I moved out of home and went to university. My parents had a hard time letting me go, as I was their baby girl and a couple of tragedies had occurred in my high school life.

Anyway the day I arrived in my uni dorm, I was unpacking my boxes when the in-room phone rang. That's funny I though to myself as I didn't remember connecting the phone. I picked it up and said "Hello, it's Isabelle."

The voice on the other end replied with "Hello sweetheart did you miss me?" followed by a laugh.

I threw the phone away from myself and closed my eyes. I recognized the voice. It was the voice of my dead boyfriend. I shook my head and forced myself to believe I was imagining things.

The phone rang again but this time I didn't answer it. I let it go to the message bank.
"Hello sweetheart did you miss me" and laughter floated up through the answering machine.
I gave a small yelp and disconnected  the phone.
"It's just a prank" I told myself, "a stupid prank"

I held the disconnected phone in my hand and it rung again. I decided to throw caution to the wind.
"Hello" I answered my voice shaky
"Hello sweetheart did you miss me" the voice asked followed by the laughter yet again
"Paul?" I asked trying to suppress the tears.
"Of course it's me sweetheart" he replied.

I put my hand over my mouth to stop myself from crying out. Paul was my boyfriend and he had died two years ago in a car crash. How could he be calling me now?

"Well sweetheart did you miss me?" Paul asked.
"Of course I did" I replied my voice cracking.
"I've missed you too sweetheart" Paul replied "I wish I could see you again"
"But Paul you're dead" I cried.
"Sweetheart, how can you say that to me don't you love me?" Paul sounded angry.
"I did" I replied tears leaking out of my eyes.

Paul was silent for a moment and then he laughed.
"What's so funny" I asked
"You said you'd love me for ever" Paul replied
"But you're dead" I repeated.
"Forever means forever sweetheart" Paul whispered.
"But Paul I have to move on" I said trying to be reasonable.
"FOREVER MEANS FOREVER" Paul shouted, his voice sounding almost demonic.

I closed my eyes and opened them again, this wasn't my imagination, it wasn't a prank and it wasn't a dream. was it possible that Paul was contacting me from 'the other side'

"I'm sorry Paul" I said. "I do still love you"
"I forgive you sweetheart" he whispered huskily
"You shouldn't, I'm the reason you're dead. I was the one driving the car. I got you killed. I"m so bloody sorry Paul" I screeched.

Paul laughed, "Oh sweetheart I forgive you for that too"
"Don't forgive me Paul" I said "I don't deserve forgiveness"
"No you don't sweetheart, but I do love you, and love means never having to say you're sorry" Paul replied

I stayed silent for a few minutes. Paul had said the exact same thing to me once upon a time, after our first big fight.

"Anyway sweetheart I should go" Paul said breaking the silence.
"Paul wait, how are you calling me?" I asked my voice taking on hints of desperation.
"Good bye sweetheart, will you miss me?" Paul laughed then hung up.

I put the phone down and sighed.Somehow Paul had called to tell me he forgave for getting him killed. Till this day I never understood how he did it.

Sent in by The Dark Angel