Part 2Dear, Please Don't Cry For Me

I took my time explaining my story to Luna. Even though I was not alive anymore, I still felt that familiar dryness in my throat from talking too much. I had no idea why she could suddenly see me, but I was definitely glad she could. After all, it had been ages since I last had a conversation with anyone—I couldn’t even remember the last time I spoke with someone.

Luna just sat there quietly, listening to me. Now that she was awake, she didn’t look as sickly. Instead, she resembled a fairy from a painting, so ethereal and delicate. I couldn’t help but sigh to myself. It was probably because Luna was so sweet that the maids found her easy to pick on.

She looked at me and asked, “Why can I suddenly see you?”

I didn’t know either, so I made up something about how maybe someone out there didn’t like seeing her getting bullied and decided to let us talk.

“I’ll protect you from now on,” I told her, clenching my fist with determination.

Luna’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “But you look like a little girl who needs more protection than me.”

I explained that I died when I was just a teenager. Luna’s smile faded instantly, and she reached out to pat my head in apology, even though her hand passed right through my spirit.

I’ve long since made peace with my death, and I can’t even remember why I didn’t move on to the afterlife. So it doesn’t bother me, but Luna seemed genuinely upset.

She asked how I had spent these past centuries, and I vaguely replied, “Mostly sleeping, sometimes wandering around. That’s how I saw you getting picked on.”

The truth is, as a ghost, I couldn’t leave the necklace before, and I spent a lot of time hiding inside it, crying. I would let myself sleep for decades at a time. But now that I have Luna, things feel different.

She sensed the loneliness I’d carried for a hundred years and started talking to me often, taking me out to see all sorts of new things. I might not have even seen so much when I was alive. The market was full of temptations that made my mouth water, and Luna even tried to give me some of the food, but I couldn’t eat it. So I had her eat it for me. But she couldn’t manage more than a couple of bites before feeling full, so I stopped insisting.

Ever since Luna first saw me, I hadn’t seen her husband around and couldn’t help but ask why he was never there when she was being mistreated or slandered. Luna, who usually had such a calm demeanor, suddenly looked pale and unsteady. I quickly changed the subject, not wanting to upset her further.

But one day, while we were out at the market, we ran into Luna’s husband, Herbert Jones. His arm was wrapped around another woman, Dora, who was clinging to him, her voice sweet and playful. She had this peculiar scent and looked all warm and inviting, like someone you’d naturally gravitate toward. Herbert’s eyes were full of affection for her, and they looked like the most perfect couple you’d ever see.

Herbert noticed Luna first, his gaze lingering on her for just a moment too long, which made Dora curious.

Luna clutched the hem of her dress as if trying to gather her courage.

Dora asked, “Herbert, do you know her?”

Herbert replied, “No, I don’t.”

“Then why are you staring at her? Is she that pretty?” Dora took a quick look at Luna’s face and pouted. “She’s not all that special.”

“No, she’s not as beautiful as you,” Herbert said.

Dora’s face lit up with an innocent smile, and Herbert, eager to keep her happy, led her off to buy some fancy necklace.