The Eternal Tenant-part 12-Final part

We stood there for a minute, taking everything in. I turned to Eveline, and she turned to me. She still seemed to be ashamed and was trying to avoid eye contact with me, switching her eyes down to the wooden floor, then back to me. I grabbed her arms softly and said, "I now understand why! Even though I wish you would have told me about everything before sending me into the veil, I understand.". She dropped her gaze to the ground again, and a tear fell right off her face to the floor. I hugged her without saying anything; she hugged me back and cried quietly. When she finally calmed down, we went and sat on the couch.

"These past few days have been the longest of my entire life. It could never have crossed my mind that this was going to be part of my life. Yet I am relieved that it is all over now, not only for me, but also for you and... Henry..." I said to Eveline. She replied, "I cannot thank you enough for what you did... I know that I overstepped my boundaries and risked your life, and for that, I could never forgive myself! I too wish I had told you the whole plan before holding the ritual. I didn't know how you would react, so I... took it upon myself to make the final decision, I..." I interrupted her and said, "Eveline, it is over, and I saw with my own eyes the impact of my sacrifice. I am happy that I was able to be part of something grand, and for that, I will forgive you!" A gentle smile slowly sat on her lips. She looked down again, but this time I put my hand on her shoulder, silently telling her with a look that it's all right.

"With Henry gone, I have so many questions. It all happened too fast for me to process," I said while feeling confused. "I wonder, when I first saw Henry, we were sitting at a café, and people were looking at me like I was crazy. Now I understand why, as they couldn't see him. But how come I could, before I... projected out of my body?" Eveline looked at me quietly with a smile for a second, seeming like she knew the answer, then said, "My dear, this is the beauty of the power that you have. You were able to see Henry because you're special. People with powers like you can see and communicate with the dead, if the dead want them to. Henry was here long enough that he had forgotten about his own death. You could see him as I could, as we both possess the power to see the dead. It happened to my nana too. If I hadn't buried her myself, I would've believed that she was alive. But though present, she was... lost. She lived with me for enough time that she had forgotten that she had passed, but the longer she stayed, the less she belonged. At first, I was glad that I had her close to me, but every day she became farther and farther away from me. That is why I grasped the only opportunity to save her..." She sighed.

I asked her again, "But how come we didn't know they were ghosts? Shouldn't we be able to know?" Eveline replied with a bit of uncertainty, "We should have, but I believe that this was because of Morgana's curse. I do not fully know how, but a dark curse like that could change the fabric of reality."

I let out a sigh of relief. I didn't need more answers, though I knew more mysteries were to be discovered on my path. I sat still for a moment, letting my eyes drift over the ceilings, the walls, the floors, as if absorbing every detail into my mind—this was my home now. Somehow, the feeling of joy from owning my own place was washing away all the bitter memories, at least for the moment.

Eveline slowly pushed herself up from the couch. I looked at her. She said, "It has been a long day, my dear. I must go home now and let you rest. I..." she hesitated a bit, "I do not know if our destinies are tied in the future, but I sure would love to see you again!" Then she reached for my hands, holding them as I stood up. I smiled and replied, "Considering everything that happened, I'm glad that I found you. I could've been stuck out of my body for longer than one could imagine. Thank you!" We hugged, and then she left.

Once again, I was alone, but this time I didn't feel lonely. The last few days were so long that it felt like time had been stretching overtime, not to pass for years. I learned so much about myself and everything around me in such a short time. I was an out-of-body projector, I was connected to some ancient magic, my landlord was a dead guy, and I got to spend time with a girl from 300 years ago. It was all like a fever dream.

I went to the kitchen, made myself some tea, and watched the leaves falling from the tall trees from the window—of my house! I was no longer just a tenant, and neither were the others, bound as The Eternal Tenants of this place. The weight of the past had lifted. I smiled from the corner of my lips while the warmth of the teacup tingled my hands, savouring the moment. For the first time in what felt like forever, I was home.