"Are You Ready To Talk Yet?"

“Are you ready to talk yet?” The spirit asked Haley, a prickly grimace across its face. Wide black plains stretched out around them both and only the light of a dying fire illuminated the pair.

   “I...I think so,’ She replied, looking up to her partner sitting on the boulder beside her own with a look of shame. “Alright then, what happened?” His form was black and misshapen, outside of his eyes and mouth, no specific features could be distinguished. No kindness or empathy was seen, but it was heard. “He just, he just left. He took the money and left.” Tears welled into Haley’s eyes and she focused on the fire, tossing a few branches on it so they weren’t immersed in the dark of the prairie. “The bastard,” mumbled the spirit. “No he’s not,” she protested, shaking her head and flinging tears which now poured down her cheeks. “He’s-” She tried to say but couldn’t contain her sobs, holding her arms tight around herself and rocking. The spirit leaned forward and placed a charred hand on her shoulder, “I know it hurts.” Her sobs silenced the crickets and a haunting stillness seemed to stop time for a moment. 

   A silent bond, only sobs and quiet cracklings of the fire to fill the space. Two lonely souls, so little in common on an infinite sea of dark grass. So very alone together.