"YES!"

Tom almost dropped his book when he heard her scream from the living room. Then she squealed- too loud for his liking. He groaned and went to the living room.

"Y/N, I was trying to read."

Tom put his hands on his waist and looked sternly at Y/N, who was smiling from ear to ear. She ran towards him and threw her arms around him. He was surprised but hugged her back.

"Okay, let me guess. Is it because of your book, Y/N?"

She nodded violently and laughed. Her laughs was music to his ears. The fantastic sound sent warm feelings inside of him.

"It's almost done, Tom. Just a little bit and I'm gonna submit it to every book publisher that I know so they could consider my book!"

She was giggling like a school girl and it brought a grin on his face. He congratulated her and knew that she could so much more in her life. She was a great person, he thought.

"We should celebrate, then."

He said, but she shook her head with a soft smile.

"Not yet, mister. We'll celebrate when I get an offer to publish my book!"

She stated happily while jumping on her feet. He laughed at her adorableness. But then her laughter stopped and her face fell.

"Even if it means so many years from now on-"

"Hey, stop it, Y/N. Stop thinking badly about your future."

Tom scolded. She just shrugged and bit her lips.

"I'm sure they will love your book. You're such an amazing author. Who wouldn't love your book?"

He cheered her up. She nodded forcefully and thanked him. He smiled genuinely at her. He wished he could be here forever so he could see her achievements.

But he could be here forever, but did he really want to?

~•♥•~

Tom sat by himself in the living room. His eyes were glued on the television screen which was playing Sherlock. He didn't like it much, but after Y/N suggested it to him, he was addicted.

Y/N was out again, with Sebastian obviously. Tom has forgot to ask whether she and Sebastian got a special relationship now; or maybe he was just afraid to ask. He was afraid to hear the answer.

The sound of the door opened and closed, quickly alerted him that Y/N was home. He could smell her perfect scent as soon as she stepped in the living room.

"Hey, Tom."

She sat next to him, sighing afterwards. He smiled at her, expecting his best friend to tell him about her date. She always did that.

But tonight was different. She didn't even bother to tell him about how her date was going. She just sat there, stared blankly right into the tv screen. Tom knew that her mind wasn't there.
Tom shut the television off and yet she still didn't look away. Tom pulled her body to towards him, making she back in the reality.

"What happened, darling?"

She winced slightly- loved and hated when he called her that.

"Nothing. It was just.. I was thinking about my condition when you first passed away."

She bit her lips and her eyes was looking everywhere but Tom. He frowned and shook his head.

"I don't understand. Why out of all sudden? I thought you met Seb."

She smiled sadly at him.

"I did. But on my way back, I stumbled into my aunt; Nancy."

She told him. Tom nodded slowly and tried to remember her aunt. Nancy was the only family that she got after her parents passed away. But she weren't that close with her aunt, only on a special occasion that they will meet.

"You met Nancy. And?"

She chuckled slightly and Tom swore that he saw tears formed in her eyes.

"When I met her, it reminded me about three years ago. She was there when I was a mess."

She opened up to him. But she stopped, afraid if he might didn't want to hear it. Tom just nodded for her to continue.

Y/N sat on the kitchen stool patiently while waiting for the cupcakes cooked in the oven. She hummed her favourite song and laughed when Tom made a few jokes.

"That's so lame, Tom."

She scoffed, but still let out laughs out of her mouth. Tom raised his eyebrows.

"But I still make you laugh."

He stated proudly. She just shrugged and rolled her eyes.

"That's because I pity you."

"Ouch, that's harsh!"

Tom put a hand on his chest and winced. Then they both bursted into a fit of laughter in the kitchen. The noise that they made attracted Nancy who just walked into the house. She quickly walked towards the kitchen.

"Y/N?"

Nancy called out, making Y/N looked at her and gave her a big smile.

"Oh hi, Nancy! You came."

She grinned. Nancy walked towards her with a smile on her face. Nancy put a hand on her niece shoulder and looked around.

"I heard that you were laughing. What was so funny?"

She asked, her smile was still on her face. Y/N pointed at Tom, but Nancy frowned.

"Tom made some lame jokes again."

Y/N told her aunt. But the elder woman looked at her with sympathy. Her eyes filled with tears as she wrapped her arms around her niece.

"What's wrong, Nancy? Hey, why are you sad? Look, we've made some cupcakes and it'll be done soon. I hope cupcakes can cure your sadness."

Y/N tried to cheer her up. Nancy shook her head and looked around the kitchen. There was no one else except they both.

"Tom, can you please help Nancy? I think she needs some of your jokes."

Y/N talked to Tom and laughed. Nancy licked her now dry lips and pulled her niece to look at her.

"Y/N, this is not good for yourself."

Nancy started, a clear sympathy in her eyes for Y/N. The girl shook her head, not understanding what her aunt was going to say.

"Tom is gone, dear. He's not here."

The truth was painful, but she had to tell her. This was not the first time. In seven months, Y/N still didn't recover from her illusions.

"What the hell are you talking about? Tom is here, with me!"

She was getting mad. But Nancy knew better what to do. She hushed her and she quickly listened.

"It's just your illusion, Y/N. He's in your head. You can't touch him, you can't hold him, right?"

Nancy asked her. Y/N was trying to talk back but then her mouth was shut. She realized what her aunt said was right. They talked, but they have never touched.

"He's- Tom is dead?"

She asked her aunt, tears already ran down her face. Nancy nodded weakly and let her cried in her arms. She hushed her niece and wished that things will get better in time.

"A year, Tom. I've been missing you like crazy for that long. I'm lucky that I still have Nancy."

She didn't realize when she cried but she knew it as Tom wiped her tears away with his thumb. His touch made she felt safe again.

"I was crazy, to be honest. She made everything in her power to help me. I met too many doctors that year so I could smile like a normal person again. And so that your illusion disappeared from my sight."

She sighed. Tom took her hands in his. He never thought that her condition was that bad when he was gone.

"Then it's gone. I've survived two more years without you and your illusions. But then you came."

She stated with a sad smile.

"I thought I was going to get mad again, Tom. But when I could touch you, I could feel you- It felt so real."

Another tear rolled down her cheek freely. Only God knows how much it hurts Tom to see her like this. She was broken.

"I'm a ghost, Y/N. I wish I'm not."

He stated sadly. Y/N smiled and looked him in the eyes.

"As long as you're here then I'm happy."

She chuckled, making he smiled as well. They spent the night watching movies and snuggling into each other.
It was perfect, but it wasn't an illusion.