How I Met Your Monster #24

Aldon

Profile:

Aldon, 25 at age of death

Ghost

Liked: Gaming, movies, playing guitar

Disliked: Dying

Bio:

It kind of sucks being dead, but at least there's a community these days. Some of the older ghosts just stick to haunting whatever creepy old house they died at. I'm up for anything, just help me entertain myself.

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Got to say, I'm a bit glad that when I die, I'll travel the river Styx and end up in the Asphodel Meadows. Much better than being trapped and tied to the earth forever, ceaselessly wandering and wishing someone would pay attention to me. Especially since I don't think I'll be able to turn people to stone as a ghost. So what's the point? Anyway . . .

Aldon wanted to meet on some back country road. He said in our messages back and forth that it's where he lost his life. He told me that it anytime he wanted to manifest, he would have to start there. Seems like a pain, but there's no use complaining. Also, I liked walked as a date. Really forces you to talk or be awkwardly silent.

He looked like a normal every day guy. About six feet (give or take some inches because he was floating). Shaggy hair, jeans and a ripped up tshirt. Aside from all of that, he was translucent, and there wasn't really any color to him.

"Hey, Aldon. How are you today?"

"Not tooooooo bad." He coughed, "Sorry. I forget that I have to focus on words to not be all booooooo. Not too bad."

"Is it a pain manifesting aside from that?"

"It feels weird," he said. "Not really painful or good. Just odd. No real way to explain it. Like a vacuum but more of a pop. After that, it's all focus."

I looked at him weird, "What happens if you don't focus?"

"Let's start walking. I hate this place." We started walking away from the makeshift cross with his name on it- the only real reminder that he had his accident there.

He continued, "I can ride in a car and pick stuff up and use it, if I focus. If I don't concentrate or make myself believe that I'm solid, I won't be. So, take the car example. If I'm sitting there and remember that I'm a ghost, I'll fall through. On the other side of it, if I don't focus enough on remaining in the seat and allowing myself to be taken by it, I'll stay in place."

"Sounds like a pain in the ass balancing act."

He nodded, "It definitely is. I went to a fair to have some fun, and it was constantly me being left behind by roller coasters." We laughed at that.

"So, there aren't too many ghosts around. Did you have to do something to become one?"

"Not really. I think it has to do with unfinished business and all of that. Maybe even the soul taking on too much trauma. Most ghosts went through a lot of crap in those last few moments of life. Though there are some that are just still around because they didn't have the will to move on. They weren't ready. That's where unfinished business comes in."

"What's yours?"

"I wanted to make sure my family would be alright. I've been watching them, making sure they're able to pull through. I especially want my sister to achieve her dreams. She's only a few weeks away from graduating and getting her dream career."

"So, you probably won't be around too much longer then?" He shook his head.

"Probably not. I visit them, which I think helps. A lot of the ghosts are against that. Says it doesn't help the grieving process. But we've always been honest with each other. I told them that I won't be around for long, and I think it's helped them cope better. Plus most of those ghosts were from around when monsters weren't everywhere. I think my family would have been pissed to find out I still haunted them and didn't visit for lunch."

"Yeah, I have some people that would be like that in my life."

We walked to a nearby diner and sat down. I ordered some food, but Aldon declined. The waitress took our menus and walked off.

"Can't you eat?"

"I can, but it doesn't go anywhere. I can put in a lot of focus so it sort of dissipates, but then I would be a lousy date. So it would just end up in the booth, and I can't do that to Julie."

"So, you're on the site for entertainment. How's that gone?"

"Not too bad, actually. I've gotten to meet some really cool people. There was this werewolf girl who took me to a mixed martial arts competition and proceeded to kick her opponent's ass. Then we watched everyone else and she told me where all their weaknesses are."

"Marie?" He nodded. "She's a friend of mine. She's super active like that. Are you just trying to be entertained every day until you're ready to move on?"

"Pretty much. There's a lot of stuff to experience in life. I only got twenty five years, and as much as I thought I did a whole lot during that time, it turns out I didn't really do too much. So, why waste the time I have left as a ghost not learning and doing new things, you know?"

I felt myself nodding along with him, "Yeah, that's why I joined Silas on this little adventure. Even as a monster, I haven't gotten to meet too many other than day to day stuff. I haven't done too many of these interviews yet, but it's honestly been a blast."

"That's good, Vexys. Enjoy life while you can. Anything can happen. Whether that means death or anything else. Experience what the world, what people, have to offer. Life isn't meant to be explored passively."

I agreed and thanked him. His words rang true and still do now hours later as I write this. It's something Marie has been telling me in her own way. She wants me to experience the world to pull me out of my shell. Aldon told me to because I don't want to be in Asphodel wishing I had done something more.

I guess that's why Silas started this project, and why you guys tune in to it. A lot of you are humans who want an inner look at our lives, hungry to get a chance to do what Silas has gotten to. A lot of you are like me, waiting to see if it's worth it to allow humans into what we've so far considered our safe zone.

But we can't keep watching from behind a screen. We need to find that confidence within ourselves, go out, and experience life for ourselves. I have a lot to think about.

-Vexys