Dominic left the antique shop with no answers.

Of course, Mr. Goldman didn't recognize the bracelet nor remember who he had sold it to, an unsurprising outcome given his old age.

Similarly, Key's fragmented memories offered no help either.

Dominic muttered about their wasted efforts as he opened his van door.

"I wish I could remember more," Key's voice rang with regret.

Before Dominic could respond, Crystal's urgent voice pierced through the antique shop's door, calling out as she hastily sprinted toward him.

"I know this is sudden but Drew is having this party at his house tonight. He invited me so I was wondering-"

"No," Dominic interrupted her quickly.

He was already overwhelmed with his current situation. He had no appetite for fraternizing with old schoolmates about things that didn't even matter anymore.

"If you don't say yes to that girl right now!" Key exclaimed from the passenger seat.

Celia, with a twinkle of excitement, chimed in, "I would absolutely love to go to a party! It's been forever."

Caught in the hopeful gaze of his friends, Dominic found it difficult to resist. He hesitated, and as Crystal followed his gaze to the van, worry etched across her features.

"I'll think about it," he finally conceded, sliding into the driver's seat.

"I'll take it!" Crystal said brightly, shutting the door for him.

As Dominic glanced in his rearview mirror while pulling away from the street corner, a flicker of uncertainty crossed his face as he thought he caught sight of his grandfather's truck a few cars behind him.

———————————————————————————

Dominic watched as Celia and Key rummaged through his drawers in search of an outfit for the party.

Lying across his bed, his gaze remained fixed on the ceiling. Outfit after outfit cascaded onto him as the two deliberated over his collection.

Though he remained disinterested, still contemplating whether or not to attend, Celia and Key had already decided for him.

Amidst the grief he felt over losing his parents, a suffocating sense of guilt gripped Dominic at the mere thought of attending a party instead of mourning.
The idea of betraying his parents' memories loomed heavily in his mind, making the idea of seeking enjoyment so soon after their passing rather unsettling.

What would they think of him? What would everyone think of him?

In just a fortnight, his life had careened into the realms of insanity. He had somehow allowed himself to be swayed by the counsel of two complete strangers—one of whom had even claimed to be a ghost.  This marked a departure from the once orderly fabric of his existence, a descent into madness he could never have anticipated.

Celia's sharp call jolted him back to reality. "Are you listening?" she demanded. "I said this is perfect!"

Emerging from the heap of clothes that had engulfed him, he examined the denim jacket and matching pants she held.

"With this underneath," Key added, displaying a baby blue t-shirt.

"What about shoes?" Dominic ventured, as though the omission of footwear might shield him from going.

"Already on it!" Celia declared, striding towards the closet to retrieve a pair of white sneakers he scarcely recalled owning.

"I don't want to go, guys," Dominic admitted, his face contorting as he struggled to hold back tears. "I'm not supposed to be having fun. My mom and dad wouldn't-" his voice faltered.

Instantly, Celia was at his side, her previous activity forgotten as the clothes she had been sorting dropped to the floor.

He shuddered as her chilling hands cupped his face, their eyes locking in a moment of understanding.

"It's okay, Dominic. Really, it is. If you're not up for going out, we won't go. Isn't that right, Key?" She looked towards him for confirmation.

"Absolutely, man. It's alright," he responded, settling himself next to Dominic to offer his support.

"I just don't want it to seem like I'm moving on too quickly," Dominic told them. "I don't want them to think I'm forgetting them."

He watched her sigh, her hands dropping to her sides before she tenderly clasped his within hers. A myriad of emotions rippled in her eyes in that moment and he was once again dazed by her beauty.

"I didn't know your parents, but I can see how much you loved them. They must have been wonderful people, so I'll say this— they would never want you to live your life in misery. They would never want to see you hurting like this. Don't feel guilty about feeling better. Don't feel bad about being alive. Feeling joy and embracing life could never betray their memory. In fact, I believe your happiness would have been their very comfort," She squeezed his palm gently, her voice steady and reassuring.

Their eyes locked for a moment, a silent understanding passing between them. Then, his gaze shifted towards Key, who offered a supportive smile and a nod, silently echoing Celia's sentiments.

"So, denim on denim, huh?" Dominic quirked an eyebrow.

Celia let out a delighted shriek as she sprang to her feet, swiftly retrieving the clothes from the scattered pile on the floor.

———————————————————————————

Dominic was already familiar with Drew's house; such was the nature of life in Greenville, a place where everyone knew everyone.

Celia had gone home to change, and despite Dominic's persistent offer to give her a ride, she insisted on walking. This left Dominic to journey to Drew's with only Key for company.

Key's excitement was palpable, a stream of chatter filling his car with anticipation for dirty dancing, clandestine underage drinking, and of course, girls. Dominic couldn't help but wonder whether a ghost could even drink beer.

He was still a mystery to him. The laws of reality seemed to twist and warp around his existence. Dominic found himself pondering over how Key might have died and how he of all people had the misfortune of being one of the only persons able to see him.

Parking a bit down the street to avoid the congestion near the house, Dominic opted to walk the remaining distance. The chilly night air greeted them, prompting both guys to instinctively wrap their arms around themselves.

How interesting that ghosts, often described as chilling could experience the sensation of being cold.

"How's my hair?" Key ran a hand over his buzz cut.

"What does it matter? No one can see you," Dominic remarked.

His disappointment was not lost on Dominic as he responded with a nod.

"But if you really want to know, your hair looks great," Dominic added with a smile as they approached the door.

The music's bass reverberated through the door, its pulsations palpable even before Dominic had the chance to announce his arrival.

Before Dominic could knock, the door swung open, revealing a drunken stranger. His grip was loose around a red plastic cup, while his other arm was draped casually over the shoulders of the girl beside him.

Dominic and Key stepped aside, watching the guy nearly tripping over his own feet as he descended the stairs. The girl let out a series of giggles that ended up lost within the music coming from inside and he shook his head in dubiety.

"I'm beginning to question why I even used to attend these during school," Dominic mused aloud, immersing himself in the lively uproar of the party.

Drew's house was a chaotic assortment of LED lights, empty beer bottles, and paper cups. The air was thick with the distinct aroma of pot, as guests meandered throughout the space. In the living room, several couples were deeply engrossed in passionate kissing, some sparking up in concealed corners. Meanwhile, a group of enthusiastic jocks rallied around a spirited game of beer pong in the kitchen.

"I don't remember parties ever being quite this... intense," Key surveyed the chaos.

"You hardly recall anything at all," Dominic retorted, his nose scrunching at the overwhelming mix of scents in the air.

Key shouted something about grabbing some beers as they threaded through the weaving crowd before being halted by a voice unmistakably familiar to Dominic.

"Nic Grey? Is that you?" Drew squinted at him, struggling to focus.

Drew, Dominic's old school mate seemed almost unrecognizable tonight, clearly intoxicated with a drink in one hand and a girl clinging to the other.

"You ssseem... haunted," Drew slurred.

Dominic smiled wryly, the irony not being lost on him. "You have no idea."

"I know you're not talking about me," Key interjected from beside him.

Drew's speech was slurred, his thoughts seemingly tangled as he tried to articulate his next words. "I haven't seen you sssince... since..."

"Since the funeral," Dominic supplied the words for him, a tight sensation forming in his stomach at the memory.

"I haven't seen you since your parents' funeral!" Drew exclaimed, his voice louder than intended.

A heavy silence descended, and the room hushed around them. Dominic's eyes darkened while he struggled to maintain his composure.

In his inebriated state, Drew lacked the clarity of mind. Nonetheless, uttering such words with such insensitivity in a crowded setting was far from appropriate.

"Okay, Nic. I don't like this guy," Key said, growing angry.

"Right! That was so sad. How'd they die again? Was it something crazy?" Drew asked loudly, oblivious to the discomfort he was causing.

The music seemed to soften and the room hushed around them as people turned to eavesdrop. Dominic felt the heat rising in his cheeks, a blend of embarrassment and anger intertwining. He parted his lips to respond but found no words.

The sound of Key's escalating anger seemed to fade into the background as the persistent thoughts of lingering sadness threatened to engulf Dominic again.

It was the unexpected sound of Crystal's voice that provided a reprieve, cutting through the thick air that brought him back to sanity.

"Drew, you remember that time Principal Golding caught you with the girls' basketball team's underwear in your locker?"

Drew's expression transformed into one of shock as he frantically scanned the area for the incriminating voice.

"W-what? That never..." his voice trailed off, the girl beside him shoving his arm off of her shoulder in disgust.

"Sure it did! You almost got expelled for it. Or was it because of the porn you downloaded to school's laptops. I don't really remember you see," Crystal's voice boomed louder as she came into view, her eyes ablaze with anger.

The crowd erupted into laughter, and Drew, now thoroughly embarrassed, stammered for a response.

"C-come on, Crys. Let's not do this here. You're ruining the vibe," he pleaded, attempting to salvage some semblance of composure.

"The only thing ruined is your perception of sensitivity, compassion, and etiquette. Go drink some water and sober the hell up," she scolded.

Embarrassed, Drew staggered off to the kitchen, his face flushed with humiliation.

"Are you alright?" she inquired, but Dominic was already consumed by a wave of melancholy, causing him to bolt past her as he made for the door.

"Wait!" he heard her call out, but he was already descending the stairs and heading back to his van.

"Nic! Please wait!" Crystal yelled, finally catching up to him and placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Somewhere along his exit, Key had vanished, but Dominic didn't dwell on it. All he wanted was to go home. The notion of attending this party now seemed foolish, regret looming over him for allowing those two to persuade him into coming.

It was inevitable that people would bring up his parents. The wounds were still fresh. Dominic wasn't prepared for such an outing— for everyone to talk about it, or to face the pitying eyes that would inescapably follow.

"I am so sorry," Crystal said, attempting to catch her breath. "Drew's a drunken ass. You didn't deserve that."

Drew's behavior wasn't her fault but her words were filled with genuine remorse.

Dominic's expression remained stoic as he responded, telling her it was okay. He turned to leave once more but she reached out to stop him again.

"Wait, okay? Take my number."

With a mix of surprise and embarrassment, Dominic felt the heat rise in his cheeks as Crystal deftly retrieved his phone from his front pocket. He stood still, watching intently as she entered her number before handing the phone back to him.

"I'll make it up to you, alright?" Her eyes brimmed with sincerity, offering a glimmer of solace. "Drive safe. Give me a call once you're home."

He muttered a response, still slightly unsettled by her audacious move and his own faltering courage as he left her on the sidewalk.

The familiar rumble of an engine awakening pulled Dominic from his thoughts, and he peered across the street.

His grandfather's truck swiftly pulled out, accelerating past him before vanishing in the distance.

Dominic frowned as he approached his own car, staring at the memory of Joel's truck.

If he didn't know any better, he would have entertained the notion that his grandfather was following him.

He caught sight of Crystal dashing across the lawn, hurrying back to the house party. A faint smile graced his lips as her hair bounced with each step.

Settling into the driver's seat, his train of thought was abruptly cut off by the familiar voices of Key and Celia from the back seat.

"That was Joel!" Key exclaimed.

"Sorry I missed it," Celia chimed in.

Startled, Dominic turned to them and asked, "Are you trying to kill me?"

"Sorry," they apologized in unison, and he started the engine with a sense of urgency.

Celia emerged from the backseat, her uniform skirt lightly grazing Dominic's cheek. A flush of warmth spread across his cheeks, leaving him to ponder how many more times he'd find himself embarrassed that night.

"Y-you didn't change?" Dominic managed, attempting to dispel the awkward moment.

"No, I couldn't. M-My parents went out to play bingo, and I realized I forgot my keys," she explained, her gaze fixed on something outside.

"Anyway, I did my best to make it here on time but failed. I ran into Key by your car and he filled me in on what happened. Are you alright?" She directed her full attention to him with concern.

Dominic was tempted to lie, but the truth was inescapable. The anxiety of merely being there, coupled with the unfolding events, had undeniably taken a toll on him.

Silence lingered until she spoke again.

"Let's go somewhere," Celia suggested, guiding him to make a turn.

Her instructions eventually led Dominic through unfamiliar streets until he parked alongside a sidewalk in an unknown neighborhood.

The trio found themselves trekking through a well-manicured lawn of an unknown residence, stealthily passing the shadowy contours of the house and into a secluded backyard.

Dominic began to question whose property they were trespassing on but his inquiry was quickly silenced by a stern "shh" from Celia.

Continuing their cautious advance, a sprawling greenhouse emerged into view, its silhouette standing out against the night's darkness as a collection of colors was made visible through the translucent glass walls.

Entering the enclosure, Dominic found himself captivated by the spectacle before him.

Vivid wildflowers, as brilliant and startling as those that used to adorn his parents' graves, erupted in a riot of color from every corner. The moonlight, piercing through the mesh ceiling, bathed each petal in a silvery glow, transforming the space into a scene of ethereal beauty.

"I used to live here," Celia murmured, her gaze lingering on the quaint house behind them. "My parents moved away. This greenhouse was my mother's sanctuary. It seems the new owners have taken care of it still. It's exactly as I remember."

Dominic turned to observe her more closely. Her eyes shimmered with a complex mix of sadness and fondness as she delicately cradled a flower in her hand, her gaze drifting upwards to the moonlit sky thereafter. The moment was poignant, capturing a blend of nostalgia and admiration that seemed to envelop her entirely.

Standing beside her, Dominic couldn't help but wonder about the chapters of her life— the untold stories etched in her eyes.

Thoughts of his old family home resurfaced. His parents had sold it before their untimely departure. They had harbored dreams of buying a new house, dreams that were tragically cut short.

"You like flowers?" Dominic inquired, breaking the silence.

She smiled, the veil of sadness hard to disguise. "I did."

Dominic could sense the deep connection she had with the greenhouse and the wildflowers within. This unspoken bond seemed to stir a protective instinct in him, prompting him to offer her the same comfort gave to him. He reached for her hand, which rested by her side, and enveloped it with a gentle squeeze.

"You guys do know I'm still here right?" Key interrupted the moment.

Dominic responded with a light-hearted jab, "Even if we tried, missing you would be impossible," which managed to draw Celia's laughter.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Key shot back.

Dominic and Celia's joint laughter was cut short by a sudden wave of dizziness, compelling him to lean on them for support.

The vision that haunted him in the cemetery surged back—beeping sounds, dense woods, flowers, and distant screams.

"Everything alright?" Key asked.

"Just a bit tired," Dominic responded, masking the truth.

Key's expression showed concern, yet he nodded, offering a reassuring pat on Dominic's shoulder.

"Let's get you home."

———————————————————————————