Love After Death

 

Ezra felt a want, a need to go to the cemetery today. Which was weird, because there was no actual reason to go anymore. He used to go every night for years on end, but ever since Sam, his lover, had passed on to the afterlife there really wasn't any reason to visit anymore. Sure, Kenny was still there, but it wasn't the same.

He grabbed his bike and was off to the cemetery, the road so familiar that it felt oddly comforting. The cold night air whizzed past him, carrying the scent of ozone after a day of heavy rain. This time it felt odd though. There was something different in the air, something he couldn't quite put a finger on.

Maybe it was just because he had a long day. People at work were annoying and his coffee had run out, so he probably had to visit the supermarket soon. One can't live without coffee for too long.

Ezra's hand reached for his necklace, an old silver key, which felt heavy around his neck tonight. Sam had given it to him as a token of their love and he had promised to never take it off. The necklace had always been a pleasant presence and this night was no different.

Once he arrived at the cemetery, he disposed his bike against the metal gate, which made a satisfying *clank* as he fastened it with a chained lock. That sound had always sparked joy in him, knowing he’d be with Sam soon, but now he was just filled with bittersweet memories.

He automatically made his way past the gravestones, all different shapes and sizes. Some were relatively new, but most were cracked with age and some had even fully crumbled away. They all looked pale in the moonlight and cast long shadows over the grass.

"Hey mate, welcome back! Started missing old Kenny after all haven't you?"

I turned round to see the faintly green glowing figure of Kenny, hanging back against a tree with some of his ghostly friends.

"Of course I've missed you," Ezra grinned "been crying myself to sleep every night because I missed you so much."

"I do tend to have that effect on people."

Kenny floated closer and pulled him in for one of his tight hugs.

"Are you trying to make a ghost of me too?" Ezra managed as he felt Kenny crushing his lungs.

"Sorry mate, old habit. You humans are so fragile"

He saw Kenny grin, which made him realize he really had missed this stupid ghost. It had been him, Sam and Kenny for so long, so he had been afraid that seeing Kenny would be painful. But it felt the opposite.

From the tree Nancy's voice grew impatient. "I do say Kenny, let's make a move on. These humans only have a couple hours of sleep left before they wake up for a new boring day and that'll be another night having been non-terrorized by me." She crossed her arms. "We simply can't have that."

"Right, I'll leave you to it then," Ezra waved vaguely in Nancy's direction, "can't have a poltergeist being mad at me, can I." Nancy gave him a mischievous smile. "You did pick one of the best haunting nights to come here, so it's hardly my fault."

Ezra knew better than to disagree with Nancy, so he wished them all a lovely night and headed deeper into the cemetery. Hearing Kenny and Nancy's banter fade away in the distance.

He always had fun with Kenny. He had actually met Sam through him. They were best friends, so when he and Sam started dating, Kenny kind of came along as a package deal. Ezra being the only human of the group had sometimes been hard, since he was the only one who needed sleep and had a job, which often made him feel left out. There were positive sides to it though, as having ghosts for company meant you didn't have to share your food or drinks. So whenever Ezra brought pizza and energy drinks he knew no one would nick it. Except for some slices from time to time, but Sam had said that after dying it never tasted the same. He missed Sam so much, his favourite human -well, ghost- in the entire world. Their time together had been the happiest years of his life.

Ezra had been so deep in thought that he didn't see the path morphing into stairs, until he tumbled down them like a used rag doll.

He came to a stop in a dark hallway, completely covered in dust and cobwebs. Looking into the darkness he noticed, he'd never been here before? Which was strange, since he and Sam used to be all over this place. He had assumed he'd know the cemetery like the back of his hand.

Although, could this be? He'd never seen Sam's tomb before. They had agreed it'd be weird when he asked about it, so Ezra had never tried to find it, not even after Sam had moved on to the afterlife.

This had to be it though.

As Ezra made his way through the hallway, averting cobwebs here and there, he found a heavy door. He tried opening it but it was locked. Well damn. Just as he thought he might finally see this place, it was locked. Might as well. Maybe this meant he wasn't supposed to be snooping around and respect Sam's wishes, even while in the afterlife.

But then he remembered.

Might it be?

He reached for his necklace, took it off and held the key in his hand. This finally made sense now.

His fingers trembled as he reached for the lock. His heart was beating so loud and soon it was the only thing he could hear in this dark hallway. He turned the key in the lock and with a *click* the door cracked open. Dust started flying everywhere as Ezra pushed the door open further and stepped into the tomb.

It was different from what he expected, yet also felt oddly familiar. It was a round chamber, with pale pillars standing in a circle along the wall. Right in the middle stood a stone coffin, with intricate details lining the edges. A mysterious looking bottle stood atop of the coffin, glowing faintly green and seemed to beckon Ezra towards it.

Before he knew it he was already holding the green lit bottle and noticed a handwritten note had been laying next to it. He picked it up and read.

"My dearest Ezra,

If you're reading this, that means you've found my tomb. It's pretty cool, isn't it? It also means you've figured out what the key was for.

Do you remember the night I gave it to you? I had told you that once you find it's purpose you'll be able to decide your own.

This bottle holds a potion that will send you straight to the afterlife once you drink it. So should you wish to come to me, this is the way. I know you have a life and everything and you definitely don't need to use it, just think of it as a shortcut of some sorts.

You've been the most special thing in my life, well, death? I just want you to know that you're so loved. I miss you so dearly. Every day I longed for the moment I could finally hold your hand again and that longing has never stopped, as it never will.

I look forward to the day I'll see you again, if that's tomorrow or a thousand years from now.

I'll be waiting for you.

Love, Sam"

And without thinking twice, Ezra drank the potion.