CHAPTER NINETEEN
"Betty?" Angus asked.
"Yes?" Betty's voice was so soft and gentle.
"You still holding me together?"
Betty laughed. "Yep. Got a tight hold on you. I'm not letting go until I'm sure you'll stay with us. You okay?"
"I think I'm starting to see things. It's hard to explain. I know I'm not opening my eyes, but I see a form in my mind. Shadows moving. Is that you?"
"It could be. I fade in and out from time to time.
I'm not always visible. Don't let that freak you out.
Even if you can't feel or see me, I'm here.
I won't leave you. Tell me what you're seeing.
I should be fully visible to you now if you are strong enough to see me.
Focus on those shadows and see if they take form. "
Angus did, somehow focusing on the center of his forehead where the vision seemed to come from.
He expanded that feeling and focused on the faint shadow he saw.
Slowly, it seemed to brighten with a faint glow.
The image faded in and out and he could almost feel it like a tether in his mind, floating back and forth to him.
The shadow faded as colors appeared. Gray hair, pale skin, and blue eyes that seemed to stare into his soul.
"Is that you?" He wanted to reach out and touch the hair but wasn't sure how to.
He was still so tired and for some reason, even thinking made him feel as if he were wearing himself out.
"I don't know. What are you seeing?"
"Gray hair, blue eyes."
Betty laughed. "That would be me. At least it's the image that I wear when I'm around you guys. I age as Lizzy does. Changing my appearance to match her and Martin's age. I was much younger when I died, but I don't want to remind Lizzy of how old she has gotten."
Angus found that funny but wasn't sure how to express it. He wasn't sure how to laugh. It felt as if that might take too much energy. He wasn't tired like he was used to. This was more of an emotional fatigue. Not something sleep would help. "Ghosts don't sleep, right?"
"No, we drain our energy and have to rest to build it up again, but we don't sleep. Why?"
"I feel tired, but not sleepy. Like I'm mentally tired maybe. It's hard to explain."
"I understand. That's your spiritual energy. You used a lot fighting me to release your spirit. It will take time to regain it."
"I fought you to die?"
"In a sense. Your spirit knew it was time to disconnect from the physical and in its own way fought me.
Again, this is all new to me and I don't understand how it all works.
I just know that I held on to your cord despite your struggles, and it seemed to work.
You eventually relaxed and quieted. Now your spirit is resting and will rebuild energy as you heal.
You'll slowly become more aware of things like seeing me. "
Angus hated not understanding everything going on, but he trusted Betty. He was sure she would take care of him. "I heard voices."
"Probably Lance and the others who come to see you. Lance talks to you a lot. Franks and Amy came by earlier. They're trying to find out who caused the explosion that caused your injury. Cel and Isaac came by. And, of course, Bethany and Ray have been here."
"Mom and Dad?"
"They've come by as well," Betty told him. "They come twice a day to see you. Lance hasn't left for more than a few minutes. They make him run down and get food or coffee. He sleeps in a big chair beside your bed from what I hear."
"I'm going to marry him," Angus told her, and he meant it. He was done waiting for the right time. Done thinking it was too soon. He wasn't going to risk something like this accident happening again without knowing that he was married to Lance.
"We all know that you two will wed. Now we just need to get you healed so it can happen."
"Bets, do you think I'll be able to talk, swallow, and all that when I heal?"
"I don't know anything for sure, my sweet boy, but I've heard them talking and everyone thinks you'll make a full recovery.
Of course, until you're awake and they can see what you can do, we won't know for sure.
I'm no nurse. I don't know how the neck works.
I'm not the one to give you answers. I can only tell you what I hear.
I do know that no matter what happens once you wake, Lance, your parents, and I love you.
We'll stand by no matter what happens. You're alive and that is honestly all that matters.
Don't go worrying about things you have no control over right now.
That can come later. Right now, just relax and let your physical body heal.
As for your spiritual one, it will get stronger the more you pay attention to it.
Just speaking to me through spiritual means takes energy. "
Angus was stunned. "I didn't even realize we are talking but I'm not speaking like normal. Telepathy?"
Betty laughed. "Yes, or something like it.
Again, just a gift I got once I was dead.
Spirits can communicate with each other without speaking words.
I don't know the hows or whys. I think perhaps that information is given to us once we go into the light.
We only speak out loud so Lance and others can hear us.
And I think in some ways, we enjoy doing things like we used to when we were alive. "
"Tell me about what you were like when you were alive?" Angus was tired of talking, but he wanted to hear Betty. Know she was close.
"Where should I start?" Betty asked.
"What's your first memory?"
"That was a long time ago. I was about five…"
Angus let Betty's soft voice comfort him as she talked about her life and gave him insight to a part of her he'd never really thought about.
He hoped he could remember it all when he woke up, because he didn't want to lose this new connection he had with her.
As badly as he hated being injured, this time with Betty was a gift he'd forever cherish.