‘The legend says that if you were not allowed to live out your life here in this realm with your first true love, your essence could somehow attach itself after death to a family member who bears the most similar resemblance and traits to you. For me, that was you; for Jan, it was Ellie.’ I felt a prickling sensation on the back of my neck as thunder boomed outside the window, followed by a streak of lightning brightening up the dreary sky.
‘Jan attached to Ellie after her death. I myself have no idea how it works, but I know that it does. If you’ve not yet met Jessica and Garrett, you should. They were the first that the experiment worked on and the ones to convince me that it was real.
When old lady Horton first told me about it, I didn’t think it was true, of course, but seeing them and hearing about their experience convinced me that it could happen. Jan and I jumped at the chance, and though I didn’t want to leave you here alone, I must admit to wanting to see my Jan again and wanting to be with her the way I never could.
I didn’t do anything to hasten my demise; if that’s what you’re thinking, it just worked out this way. I’d planned to live a bit longer, see you and Ellie married even. I was wonderfully surprised when you two fell in love with each other at first sight. Watching you two together reminded me so much of her aunt and me. It was like reliving that summer all over again.
If you made it home before my passing or not long after, within six months, I think it is; then I too would have attached to you. Do you see where this is going?’ Not really, no, it sounds bonkers to me. What the hell is attachment? What does it all mean?
‘It’s the spirit that attaches, and since we’re so much alike, it makes it easier. I couldn’t tell you about it beforehand, that’s not how it works, but we had to tell Ellie, who was here at the time when Horton visited us with the idea. Thankfully she was on board. I’d talked you up to her so much I think the poor girl was halfway in love with you before she even met you.
I used to show her your pictures and share your tales of adventure with her. Anyway, once Jan and I decided to try, we had to tell Ellie since she was already here while Jan was fading and we didn’t want her to leave, that might’ve broken the spell. I knew you wouldn’t believe a word of it even if I had told you, and your disbelief would’ve made it near impossible for it to work, so it was best to leave you in the dark until after I was gone.
Don’t go researching spirit attachment because the stories you’d find there will all be negative and dark; this is nothing like that. Though Jan and I will be using your bodies from time to time, we mean you no harm; it’s just a way for us to live out our love and lives together the way we weren’t given a chance to while we were alive in physical form.
The last time you were here, the attachment had just started between Ellie and Jan. That is why we seemed so close, she needed help dealing with it, and sometimes it happened at odd hours. There was never anything physical between us, not even when Jan manifested; it was never about that, not until after my physical body was gone anyway.
I couldn’t explain to you then since it was all new, and we had no idea if it would work or not, but it seems it has if you’re together, which I’m hoping you are since you’re reading this. Talk to Mrs. Horton; she can explain way better than I can. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I’m even more sorry for my selfishness, forgive me?’
I read the rest of what he said, which was mostly about his legacy, the legacy he’d left me, and about the house and how he hoped I’d stay since this was the only way for the attachment to work anyway. If I left now, she would spend the rest of her life alone, just as her aunt had.
There was nothing in there about the sex or sleepwalking, though, but if I used my imagination, I guess I could come to the right conclusion. I saw a shadow move into the room, and for a second, I thought grandpa had come back to pay me a visit, but when I looked up, there was an elderly woman standing there that I don’t remember ever seeing before.