“Hey Logan, I’ve just spoken with Taylor. She’s fine. She’s coming back home at the end of the month.”

  He tapped “Send”, stood up then slid his phone back into his pocket. His hand lingered inside, seeking to borrow warmth to replace what was lost to the winter air. Time to go back inside.

  Just as he turned to leave, he became aware of a silvery, diaphanous figure at the other corner of the courtyard. The first step Ever took towards him gently crushed the frosted lawn. The second step he took ended up with him treading a ghostly shoe an inch over the grass.

  “Hello,” Ever greeted, tucking the scythe against his body. “I’m Ever, Death’s apprentice.”

  “Tucker,” Ever could feel the soul’s grizzled voice more than he could hear it. He float-walked over, joining Ever in the center of the courtyard. “and I’ve known who you were since you came by to reap the girl months ago.”

  Ever smiled faintly. “So you know what it is I do then?”

  “You betcha.”

  “Are you ready to go?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  “Great.” Tucker floated back, eyeing Ever as he slowly swung the scythe out. “What can I help you experience one last time?”

  The ghost stared at the scythe. His mouth hung slightly open, words missing. “You know what, on s-second thought…”

  Ever nodded. “No hurry. I’m going to be at the hospital for... probably the next several days.” He turned to leave.

  “Wait.” Ever halted, still facing away from the ghost. “I want to confess my love to you.”

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  He turned back. “To me?”

  “Yes, to you,” Tucker said, heavily emphasizing the last word, “but not for you.”

  Even as Ever wrestled with the slippery grammar, the scythe blade comprehended, coming alight.

  SENSES

  Hearing

  Smell

  Touch

  Sight

  Taste

  Ever selected “Hearing”. A string of spherical light motes streamed from the scythe into the air, spreading out in a wide halo over Ever before absorbing themselves into his own ghostly ears. Immediately, Tucker’s voice came through much sharper.

  “I want to confess my love for someone else to you.” Tucker said. He looked up, searching for something and saw only clouds. “It has to be you, no one else can pass it onto him.”

  Ever sighed. All he wanted was to be by Zoe’s side. Is this what humans call a conflict of interest? No: he was here to do a job. The souls came first.

  “This person is still alive then?”

  "Yep. He works in this hospital as a security guard."

  Ever paused. “Did you ever get a chance to tell them yourself?”

  Tucker’s shoulders dropped, overcome with a weight that had followed him from the corporeal to the ethereal world. “I had heaps. I… was just too scared to tell him.”

  “Now’s your chance,” Ever said, standing square to Tucker. “I’m all ears.”

  “OK.” Tucker’s long shaky exhale physically did nothing, but it still seemed to steady him. “Vish, you’ve been there for me since I joined the gym. We got strong together. I know you chose Puja because your family wanted you to, but just know that…”

  Tucker looked into Ever’s eyes, but saw Vish.

  “I love you.”