I don’t know if it’s the sight of
the ghost’s hand that wakes me
or the metal bowl hitting my foot
popcorn is everywhere
my heart churns faster than
the propeller on a speedboat
I gasp for breath
Evie faces me
eyes like two of the evil Queen’s
Magic Mirrors in Snow White
big and empty with scariness
carved into the edges
“What’s wrong with you?”
she says in a funny way
like popcorn is stuck in her throat
“Remember I asked the ghost
if he could be in my dreams? And he said yes?”
I wipe sweat from my lip
Evie’s head bobs
her eyebrows reach for each other
filling in the space above her nose
“I fell asleep and really saw him. It wasn’t a feeling.
I saw his hand. And I know it’s him.”
Evie sips her iced tea
eyebrows relax to their normal positions:
“I’m starting to believe you.”
points to the floor:
“You better clean that up before Mom sees it.”
she punches the volume button higher
scoop the popcorn into my bowl
sweep the rest under the couch
wander into the kitchen
the letter in my dream
so close
if I could only read it.