Colin stood at his front door and the early morning sun shone brightly, forcing him to shade his eyes. Despite the glorious glare of the sun, it was not too difficult for Colin to see the many spirits who had gathered and stood either in his garden or who lined the street he lived on. Of course, they had their own glow too, something separate to anything the sun could create.

The sound of their collective voices projected and echoed to the point where it felt as if those voices were in his own head. Ordinarily he'd be the only one he is aware of capable of hearing and seeing any of this though he, only moment prior to this one, parted company with a young girl who appears to be just as capable as he is.

'Help us, please help us.'

Those words echoed out again collectively before some individual voices would also echo out all asking for the same thing.

'Help me, help me.'

'I can't. I just can't ... I'm sorry ...' spoke Colin loudly.

Being overwhelmed by a wave of emotion which was also being projected upon and directed toward him, Colin's eyes welled and with the lack of options available to him, he simply turned back into his home, closing the door as he did so. He got together what he needed for the day ahead while also doing his utmost to avoid contact with the spirits who had made their way into his home.

It was not long before he made his way back outside. The multitudes of ghosts who had stood outside moments earlier had, for the most part, gone away. Colin locked his front door and walked down the garden path then turned to his left. A woman who looked to be in her early fifties was walking down the street towards Colin, not towards him directly but in his general direction.

A little more buxom than she may have been once upon a time, and a little more weathered too, perhaps unfairly so, she moves in a manner both smart and determined. She has lived, loved and lost, not that Colin can be too aware of sure, and strives forwards the best she can. This is life, however, it is what it is though this lady had a certain air about her as if her history won't be allowed to completely define her.

This lady ... she had no business with Colin, so she was aware at least, nor did she know him in any way, shape of form. He to her, is a stranger as she is to him. Her own day had her coming in this direction at this particular time. Colin felt as if there were something adding an other-worldly influence onto this moment and this influence would soon show itself.

A man who appeared to be in his early twenties soon came to be bouncing around and circling this lady, with an abundance of energy of which he may have an unending supply. The lady did not seem to be aware of the young man's presence.

'Stop this woman please. Stop this lady ... I have a message for her' spoke the young man addressing Colin, still moving around as if he was powered by a certain kind of battery.

The woman passed Colin by and once again the young man begged Colin to stop her.

'Excuse me, Madam, so sorry to bother you ...'

The lady stopped and turned as Colin moved up to where she had come to a halt.

'... You wouldn't happen to have a pen and paper I could use for a moment, would you?'

'Sure' replied the lady while not being sure how to react to this moment.

There is a certain amazement within herself as to why she was entertaining this moment rather than just refusing the request and proceeding along her way. She reached into her handbag and pulled out a pen and a notepad.

Colin wrote what the young man instructed him to write which was the name and address of a bank along with an account number, and details by which it can be accessed. The young man also seemed to age at least thirty-five years in a matter of moments as he gave those instructions to Colin. Guess his energy levels can with certain criteria, and altered accordingly with his change in appearance.

'Oh, what a relief ...' he says to himself before turning to the lady. 'I never meant to leave you my love but leave you I have, and I must do so once again. You were and always will be the light of my life.'

Even though he had already spoken of his relief, he looked like as if more of a weight was also being lifted off from him.

'I think your husband intended for you to have this information.'

Colin handed the note pad and pen back to the lady.

'How do you ...?' she began to ask as Colin just smiled.

'Thank you' spoke the other man. The gratitude emanating from his eyes was so sincere that the verbal thank you had not been necessary. He looked at the lady, said 'goodbye, my love' and placed a kiss on her right cheek before vanishing.

The lady placed her right hand on her cheek. Such a strange sensation had hit her with such overwhelming emotion that she couldn't help but shed a tear down along that very cheek. It took her to such a degree that it stumped her as to why she allowed herself to react in such a way in front of someone she didn't know.

Understanding in a way in which only he could, Colin nodded a good morning and moved on, ensuring the lady had a moment to herself where she could consider what had just happened without feeling any kind of anxiety or embarrassment, and gather herself before continuing on with her day.

The following morning, not long after waking, Colin made his way downstairs and was about to turn to make his way into the kitchen when his attention was distracted by what lay on his front porch. The porch area is more an extension of the hallway with nothing blocking its view from the inside hallway, so it was clear to see, as he did come down the stairs, what was there waiting for him.

A dark red envelope sat in plain view as the morning sun shone in through the frosted panes of glass as if a spotlight was highlighting from beyond the door to his home, this delivery which had come his way. It was far too early for the morning post to have arrived and when Colin picked up what he saw, well, he noticed there was no name, address or stamp on it, only the words 'THANK YOU' written in large capital letters.

Colin opened the envelope to find a note inside, along with a check for an amount that would easily take him a month or so to earn. The note read 'Thank you so much for the information you gave to me yesterday. I won't even ask how you came by such a thing or even how you knew to give this information to me, just know I am grateful and please accept this token of my appreciation.'

The initial reaction Colin had was to take the check and rip it up. This gift that he has, the curse that has played such a big part in his life, was never something he would ever want to try to benefit from, whether that be financially or in any other kind of way. Just as he was about to rip the check in half, Colin stopped himself and took a moment to think.

For so many times in his life, Colin had been put out. He has lost jobs, had many sleepless nights, and still ended up going out of his way, sometimes unwillingly, to help out strangers, and sometimes it really got to him that these strangers were not even alive. This ability also was the cause of the one loss Colin may never recover from.

The reasons for disdain and hatred are there. Still, hatred felt wrong, it shouldn't but does live within him. And at that, there had been a certain satisfaction of late so ... technically, in a way, he has already benefitted from the presence of this gift, in more ways than one in recent times.

He never thought of it that way prior to now. Those few 'feel good' moments, well, they were nice, more than nice, good memories to move in alongside the bad. So, why should he refuse this check? It is not like he asked for it. His conscience can remain clear. If only he received more gifts like this one, he may just be able to spend more time concentrating on his ability and maybe possibly even begin to enjoy it too.

Maybe it really isn't all so bad. Things from here on could be on the up, if only he were to allow it. Still, any good that may come surely will come at a price, isn't this the way of the world? ... not necessarily, but then again.

Having gone about his business for the day, Colin returned home and sat on his couch in silence, contemplating what the future may bring. The evening darkness was beginning to set in, and Colin had yet to turn on any lighting when a female voice, coming from a little way off to his left, clearly spoke his name. Colin moved slightly to his right and turned his head to the left and saw nothing. The voice he heard unsettled him, and it was one he did not recognize. It had been so clear that it sounded as if it came from no more than two feet away.

Colin lives alone so there should be no one else here, no one living at least.

A de ja vu feeling hit him and hit him hard. That feeling passed after a few minutes but was followed by a strong claustrophobic feeling. This was the kind of feeling which Colin had ever felt before and besides, his living room is quite a spacious room, and at this moment, it never felt so small. This room also has double doors that lead into the kitchen, and these doors were open at this particular moment.

While sinking further into the abyss that is his living room closing in on him, a whisper called out his name, pulling him back ever so slightly. This voice was male, and it called 'Colin' three times, each spaced out from the other by a couple of seconds. Unlike the female voice which previously spoke loud and clear as if it was spoken a couple of feet to Colin's left, this whisper sounded as if it was coming from the kitchen.

Feeling dizzy and lightheaded, Colin stood and took a few seconds to ensure a stable balance. The struggle to breathe, the closeness of each and every wall. Never before had he experienced anything which could compare to this right here. He looked toward the kitchen and instead of making his way there to investigate the voice he heard, he made his way out into the hallway, opened the front door, and went outside.

He vomited in his garden almost as soon as he got outside. The dizzy, claustrophobic feeling soon left him. What the hell was all that about? He couldn't even begin to comprehend it. Damn it all and the lack of any kind of guidebook that could offer him answers. Internet information can only go so far, and nothing there can be proved definitive.

In an attempt to completely clear the cobwebs, Colin grabbed his jacket and keys and went for a walk. Never mind what he could or could not know, this all seemed to him as if someone or something was having its way with him. He hoped that by the time he got back, whatever this presence was, that it would have moved on and vacated the area all on its own accord. If there is a want or need to be required of him, then it should make it at least somewhat specific.

The thoughts of using his gift as some kind of profession at this moment no longer seemed in any way appealing. It seems to be reverting back more towards being a curse again than moving on to feeling more like a gift.

That walk of his did not go on all so far, nor did it come with anything untoward. Colin did not want to be too far from home or in any kind of odd place if he were to feel ill again anytime soon. Things had settled, for now at least.

Morning came once again, and Colin had his radio on while he readied himself for the day ahead. The news reported that the family of a young local man feared the worst, with it being four days since he had been reported missing. This, oddly enough, hit Colin with another moment of de ja vu; this time it passed much quicker than the feeling he had had the night before. Fearing what might come next, Colin left for work much earlier than he normally would.

Is there a connection here between how he had been feeling and the content of that news report? Such could go so far in explaining what was happening. In all good time, he supposed, it would come.

With it being such a nice morning, weather wise, and having so much time in hand, Colin decided to walk to work. The previous evening's walk had done its job so maybe that could happen again, and Colin might get to fully compose himself along the way. It may just be a forty-five-minute walk to work though on other mornings he would usually take a bus.

If the de ja vu moment he had had a few minutes earlier was to be followed by a feeling of claustrophobia like the evening before then the last place he wanted to experience this feeling would be on a packed bus, especially if the claustrophobic feeling would also make him feel sick as it had that first time.

As he waited to cross a street, a young man with blond curly hair who so happened to be standing on the far side of the street, caught Colin's attention. He was staring directly right back at Colin, and this in itself is somewhat unnerving. A nearby flyer showed a picture of the missing local man. The man in the photo and the man across the street were one and the same, no wonder it was unnerving.

Yeah, it is connected as he had suspected. A bus moved between them and when it passed, the curly haired man who had been standing on that far side of the street, was gone.

'Oh boy,' Colin said to himself.

Colin turned around quite quickly and in doing so, he almost fell over, the sudden arrival of spirits seemed to have that effect on him quite a bit, especially in recent times. Catching his balance, Colin would clearly see that the young blond curly haired man was standing right there, right by him, and only just inches away.

'Do you know who I am?' asked the man.

'From the news reports I've heard and from those flyers of you, I know your name is Phillip Evans and that you have been missing for the last few days. It is also obvious to me that you are no longer alive.'

'That would be correct, and since you know all this then you may also know that my family are offering an award for any information relating to my whereabouts. I can help you out if you can help them out.'

'I do not use my ability of being able to see and hear spirits like you for financial gain.'

'Not yet you don't, but you have been thinking about it recently, right?'

'How did you ...? You didn't happen to visit me at my home last night, did you?' Colin may just have his answer as to why he had been feeling the way he had.

'That doesn't really matter right now. Do you want to make some money or not?'

Dead or not, Colin most definitely did not like Phillip's attitude.

'Look, if you want me to help you then I will do it when I am ready, and not before that. Money is not motivation enough to help you out. Believe me, if I could make you go away by turning off my ability then I would, but unfortunately for me that is not how things work. I've got a job to get to right now.'

In annoyance, Phillip disappeared, and Colin decided to go ahead and take a bus to work after all rather than to continue on walking, though he did take a flyer of Phillip with him.

During his day, and from making a call to a phone number which was on the flyer, Colin set up a meeting with Phillip's parents and when his workday was done, he made his way to the address he had been given. He introduced himself and shook hands with them both as he was invited to enter the house.

'First of all, Mister and Missus Evans, I am not here looking for any sort of reward. I have seen that one is being offered on the flyer and that is of no motivation to me. I have this thing, a sort of ability so to speak, most don't understand it, at times I don't even understand it myself. I can connect with those who have, let's say, moved on.'

'What are you trying to say?' asked Phillip's father. 'What do you know about my son?'

'I hate to have to be the one to do this and I have yet to know what exactly has happened, but news regarding your son is not good.'

Mister Evans initially reacted to this with anger but soon went to console his wife who was becoming quite emotional with what Colin had to say.

'How do you know this?' she struggled to ask.

'He came to me this morning, and forgive me for saying so, but he had a bit of an attitude, wanting me to come to you there and then, when I was in a position where I was unable to.'

'That would be Phillip, forever impatient and wanting things his way.'

'Where is he? What happened to him?' asked Phillip's mother trying to slow her tears.

'I am sorry, madam, but he left me this morning without giving any details and he has yet to return.'

At this particular moment, two police officers arrive to the Evan's family home. This arrival would confirm what Colin had told Phillip's parents. To the police, it seemed that there had been a case of mistaken identity. Phillip had been taken, beaten, and buried. It had been thought that Phillip had not been the intended victim. It's thought, the perpetrators knew no difference, believing they had the guy they were after when in actuality, they hadn't, and Phillip had passed hours before police found him. They vowed that the case would remain open and the search for Phillip's killer or killers would continue.

'He is here' speaks Colin.

'Phillip?' asked his mother.

'Yes,' replied Colin.

The police officers initially were weary, suspecting a scam of sorts may be in progress, however, one of the officers had heard of a guy through a certain detective and considered that this Colin fellow might just be that guy. Soon, this would seem to be more than likely.

Through Colin, Phillip gave detailed descriptions of two attackers, right down to tattoos and voice descriptions which confirmed some suspicions. The officers felt confident and comfortable enough to follow up on the information provided. Also, through Colin, Phillip could speak to his parents one last time. Upon leaving, Colin was very reluctant to take anything though Phillip's father would be quite persuasive. He had at first struggled to take Colin seriously though his first reactions had certainly been challenged.

An odd situation for all involved, a stranger coming to a family home, with news of the death of the son minutes before police arrive with confirmation or with what should be the delivery of unfortunate news. Stranger declares the presence of a gift that can only be anything but deniable given what he knows. For Colin, he expected much more pushback than what he received.

The things told and the manner in which they were told, there was no other reason than that Phillip must be in the vicinity, such a thing was as clear and obvious as it could be. All's well that ends well is a saying that can apply to many a situation but not so much here. The loss of a loved one is never easy though this moment moved as smoothly as it could.

As the next moment comes to be, Colin has received two financial rewards in just a couple of days. Despite saying that he did not want a reward of any sort, the flyer indeed did offer one all the same, and Phillip's father did stick to handing out that offer, for what Colin provided went quite the way aiding with bringing closure and justice to all involved.

Colin went home and sat alone back in a silent darkness. The night had come quickly as it had done so many times before. A female voice once again spoke his name clearly. It came from his left. Colin looked and could not see anything or anyone. As before he was hit with a feeling of de-ja vu.

Just when he thought he had found a moment of peace, it had been taken away from him. No male voice spoke like it had in a previous moment like this one and Colin is sure he knows why this is so. That female voice, however, ...

A positive note soon was to come a few days after the events that were, ... in the form of another news report. Phillip's killers had been found, arrested and charged; exact details as how this came to be, were not made public though of course, Colin knew better and as for Phillip himself, Colin's actions aided another soul to move on ...and it felt ... good.