Isaac could feel Camden's eyes on him. He could hear him breath slowly, in the back of the room, hidden in the shadows that filled the empty spaces. He took a deep breath and decided to stop running away. He didn't pray for his brother's shadow to disappear, he didn't cry bitter tears hoping they could exorcise his spirit. He just sat on the bed and looked at him, staring until the sunlight started to penetrate the curtains. He smiled sadly and his heart skipped a beat when Camden smiled back at him, eyes fixed on the dog tags he was wearing. His brother's ghost had responded for the very first time.

Right at that moment, like always, the room lit up and Camden vanished, leaving Isaac with an icy feeling in his bones that pretty much felt like a hug.

It was his birthday. He was about to turn 18 and all he wanted was for his wish to be granted.

He thought about the cake and his stomach roared in response. He got off the bed and walked barefoot to the window, stubbornly hoping for Scott's bike to appear. Feeling discouraged as usual, he turned around and entered the bathroom to brush his teeth and freshen up a bit. Some toothpaste ended up on his white and blue dotted pajamas.

He changed quickly and ran down to the dining hall, eager to taste the cake that the cooks had baked for him. As soon as he opened the glass door, dozens of balloons and a storm of confetti enveloped him. He smiled like a fool and burst into a laugh, without even paying attention to all the glitter that ended up in his hair. He looked over at the banner that read "Happy Birthday", the same one the staff used for every birthday, and he felt like he couldn't contain the joy in his heart. He hugged all the nurses and all the patients that had participated - at least the sanest ones.

The cake was finally brought over. Someone broke out into the usual, embarrassingly cheesy birthday song and everybody happily joined in. Isaac blew the candles, making the only wish he could think of.

The presents included a colorful photo frame, a crochet book, wool gloves and some sweets.

Not wanting to leave them on a random table, he excused himself out of the dining hall and headed over to his room. The door was already open. He looked around suspiciously and spotted a gift box on the floor, just beside the bed. He picked it up and shook it, trying to guess the content, then ripped the wrapping off. It was a midnight blue scarf. He wore it immediately, inhaling the sweet scent. There was a card attached to the box.

Happy 18th birthday! I hope you like the gift. Sorry I haven't been able to visit you these days, I just had to set a couple of things straight.

Scott xoxo

He put the card on the nightsand. Did Scott really buy him a present and write those things or was it just Melissa being sympathetic?

He didn't care. That soft scarf with its cute plaited ends was his favourite gift and he would proudly show it to his mother on his next visit to the cemetery.

Denying the obvious was no use: he missed Scott to death. He felt like the hole inside of him was getting bigger and slowly eating him up. The more he thought about it, the more the discomfort increased. Ten minutes with him would have been just enough for one last hug or at least to properly say goodbye.

Everything was so unfair. His life was unfair. He deserved a speck of happiness after all the grief and despair he went through. Isaac was alive. He felt alive.

He also felt lonely, and everybody knows that loneliness is misery.

"You should be partying with the others."

Melissa smiled at him from the doorway.

"Scott brought me a gift and I didn't even manage to thank him…"

The young boy's voice was full of sadness and regret.

"I have a gift for you as well, Isaac."

Melissa stepped aside and her son appeared from behind her. Isaac's face was instantly transfigured by a thousand different emotions, simultaneousy exploding inside his stomach like fireworks.

He dropped the box, wrapped his arms around Scott and hid his face on his shoulder.

Some tears fell from his eyes but he didn't give a damn.

Scott slowly ran his fingers through the boy's curls, still holding him tight.

Isaac began sobbing. When he raised his head to meet Scott's glance, Camden's transparent figure caught his eyes. He saw him smile and lift both of his thumbs up, then become one with the air.

"I missed you, Isaac."

"I missed you too, Scott."

That was the last time he ever saw his brother's ghost.

May was rose month. Flower shops would display lots of glistening bouquets and colorful compositions, but Isaac always went for the red rose posy. His mom loved red roses.

The air smelled like fresh cut grass and rays of light shimmered on the tombstones.

The keeper adjusted his hat, greeting the young man with the usual friendly nod.

Isaac had cut his curls and renewed his wardrobe. He had grown at least two inches taller, reaching the towering height of six feet two. His jawbone had become sharp as glass and his eyes turned a lighter shade of blue.

Isaac had developed into an adult. He was 27 years old and he felt the will to live of a child.

He sat on the ground and started wiping his parents' marble tombstone with a cloth.

"Hi mom, hi dad. Are you ok?"

He put the cloth back inside the plastic bag.

"I brought chrysanthemums for Camden. Is he there with you?"

Pause.

"Thanks for everything. I mean it."

He twisted a blade of grass between his fingers, hearing a bike roar in the distance.

He got up and fixed his coat. The biker was standing beside the cemetery gates.

"I must go now. He's waiting for me."

He turned around one last time before leaving but there were no ghosts near the stone. There was nothing. Emptiness.

"I'm fine, mom. I'm fine."

Isaac smiled as Scott took his hand, kissing its back like in the old days.

Isaac was finally fine.