There was something undeniably bittersweet about witnessing Oliver watch himself being buried.

He'd been an inconsolable mess all morning, conflicted with himself over whether he should attend the small service for him or not.

"Kind of sadistic, don't you think?" he'd said. "Watching them bury my body."

Ultimately he'd decided to attend with me, but it wasn't for himself.

"I'll move on any minute now." Oliver had reminded. "I don't want to miss a second with you guys."

Only, Axel hadn't spoken a word since I'd helped him with his tie this morning. The boy's mother and father had shown, but neither made any attempt to talk to their son or offer condolences. Axel, however, sent daggers through both until they walked off into the parking lot after the burial. I knew deep down it'd be in our best interest for me to get Axel on his feet and usher him to the parking lot, but I couldn't. Not when he was still sitting beside Oliver's unmarked grave and staring at it with misty eyes.

"You should comfort him." Oliver whispered now, bringing me back to reality. He had perched himself on top another headstone to the left of his and was watching his brother with a sad expression. "He needs you, Ophelia."

"I don't know how." I breathed. "I'm afraid he'll ice me out if I try."

Oliver frowned but didn't deny the comment. Axel, having heard only my side of the conversation, slowly lifted his head and looked up at me. "He's here?"

I pointed at the stone. "Right there."

Axel rose shakily and I edged closer and leaned into his side, more for his support than my own. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and hugged me against his side.

"Oliver?" Axel's voice was hoarse, but Oliver didn't hesitate to hop of the stone and joined us, slowing to a stop a few feet in front of his older brother. "Hey, man, I don't know if you can hear me, but I just want you to know I miss you. You were an annoying pain in my ass, but I'd give anything to have you steal my car or drive up my fucking credit card bill right now."

Oliver grinned. "I love you too, man."

I touched my palm to Axel's chest. "He said he loves you too."

"I'm not surprised you went out the way you did, but I'm pissed. I'm angry and bitter but I'm still not sure if it's toward you or the piece of shit who shot you, accidental or not."

Oliver stepped forward and extended an arm to touch his brother's shoulder. Unfortunately, it fell right through. "You have got to let it go, Ax. Holding on to the hatred isn't going to hurt anyone other than yourself."

I relayed the response and watched Axel's expression crumble further. "What happens now?"

Oliver stepped to the right and reached out to grab a hold of my arm. I stared in awe when it remained in the air. It must have been a crazy sight from where Axel stood.

"You better not make my sacrifice for nothing, Coleman." he joked with a grin. "Take care of yourself, alright? And my brother."

I nodded, blinking to keep tears from falling. I had to keep it together for Axel's sake.

"It was a pleasure getting to know you, Ophelia Colemen. Thank you for all you've done. Thank you for your help."

I nodded and closed the distance between us, surprised but not appalled when my arms didn't fall straight through. It wasn't Oliver's tightening grasp or my quiet, choked sob, but Axel's horrified, "Oliver?" that broke us from our daze.

I spun, eyes widening when I saw that Axel was, in fact, staring at where Oliver stood, frozen with his arms still in the air.

"Ax?" he gasped, starting forward. "You can see me?"

"Yeah." he laughed hysterically. "What the hell,"

I looked between the two boys, then slowly started to sink to my knees. "It's time?"

Oliver didn't tear his eyes form his brother hearing my question but nodded curtly. "I think so."

"I'll see you on the other side, man." Axel whispered. "Save me a seat."

Oliver looked at him and smiled. "Always. Take care of our girl."

Axel looked to me with the saddest smile and hardly audible, whispered, "Always."

I knew the moment I woke to find Oliver at the end of my bed a month and a half ago when the time came for Oliver to move on it'd be different. This entire experience had been something incomprehensible, and that was coming from someone who'd been seeing dead people since she was seven.

I couldn't have ever imagined warmth filling every part of my body when Oliver stepped through me. I still collapsed, but I wasn't filled with the agonizing pain that ravaged me inside out for days after a ghost moved on through me, but a loving embrace. It wholeheartedly felt as though Oliver had wrapped his arms around me and was holding me with every memory that flashed before my eyes. When I blinked, I wasn't in the cemetery anymore, but in a grassy field with Oliver standing in front of me. He reached out and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"I'll see you around, Ophelia."

Something about the way he said it with such certainty had me nodding my head.

"Goodbye, Oliver."

He leaned forward and wrapped his hand around my own.

He didn't answer me verbally this time, but saluted me with two fingers and backed away until he faded into a blinding white light and I was back in the dark, overcast cemetery. Axel had knelt to hold me sometime during Oliver's walk-through, but he didn't say anything as he pressed me into his chest and held me there. I didn't have a doubt in my mind he was terrified of the thought of letting go.

*

By some miracle I'd convinced Axel to get some rest in my bedroom. Dad was at work, the rain was coming down in sheets, and I had no desire to be alone. Surprisingly, my father hadn't been too strict. Maybe that had to do with Oliver's funeral, maybe it was because of the respect Axel showed my dad.

Once he'd dozed, I slid from underneath his arm and pulled the blanket to his chin, careful not to stir him, before I slipped out of my room and down my stairs to the kitchen. As soon as I rounded the corner I nearly collapsed.

My mother stood in the dining room, staring adoringly at the photos hung with magnets across the refrigerator. I thought for a moment I may be imagining her there. With my sleep deprivation the last couple weeks and lack of eating, I wouldn't be surprised. But she slowly turned my way and smiled, opening her arms. I hesitated then shot across the kitchen at lightning speed and soaked in her embrace.

I'd never met her, so this time around her lack of scent and ashen skin wasn't as terrifying as it'd been on Oliver and Nan.

"Mom." I sobbed into her chest. "Mom, what are you doing here?"

She pulled away and brushed her hands along the side of my face, and like Oliver, my hair moved and I felt the warmth of the touch.

"A friend told me I might find you here."

I laughed hysterically. "I've waited. . . I never thought I'd meet you."

"You weren't ready." she said, still staring at me with a grin. "Look at you! You're a gorgeous woman now."

I shook my head. "I wish you were here. Dad, he—"

"Your father is fine." she assured. "Don't worry about him. As long as you're safe, that's all that matters. To both of us."

The question that'd floated in my mind my entire life escaped before I could stop it. "Could you do it too? See them? Ghosts?"

"Yes." she cocked her head to the left. "Though I was never as in touch with my own body as you are. They visited me often."

"Are they why you. . . you. . ."

I trailed off, but she picked up on what I was trying to ask and smiled sadly.

"As easy as it'd be to blame them, no. I have my body failing me to thank for that."

"Fai?" Axel's voice sounded from the top of the stairs and my mom looked, a smirk playing on her chapped, pale lips. "Ophelia, are you okay?"

Mom stepped forward and eyed Axel as he started down the stairs. "Ooh, he's a looker."

"Mom!" I groaned but couldn't fight the smile that formed.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll keep Oliver company." she extended an arm again and touched my cheek once more. "Just know we're always here, alright? And one day we'll be able to hold you again. The right way. I love you, Ophelia Faith."

I touched my hand to the top of hers. "I love you too, Mom."

She smiled and slowly dissipated until all that was left was the gentle touch of her fingers against my cheek. I felt Axel approach from behind, but he didn't say anything. Something told me he'd been eavesdropping.

"You okay?"

I turned and rested my hand against his chest. My fingers remained on the spot my mother's had been seconds prior, and I slowly tilted my head back to meet his eyes. For the first time in a long time, I answered with honesty.

"Yes."