How To Prove That You Are Not Dead

Benja sat down on Norin’s bed.

“If it is true what you say and what I think and if it’s false what everybody else believes, then how do we prove that you are not dead?”

“Firstly: you did just hug me, did you not? Can you hug a ghost? No! Secondly:”

She stood up and walked into the wall.

“Ouch! I think ghosts walk through walls. And thirdly: my nose hurts now, I don’t think ghosts can feel pain.”

She rubbed her nose. Norin laughed.

“You haven’t changed one bit.”

“Why would I change? And when should I have changed? We saw each other only last week. Not much time to change.”

Norin leaned back. He wished he could look at Benja, but it was too dark.

“Speaking of which: What have you been doing last week? You must have vanished entirely for them to think that you are dead.”

“Oh, I was just out and about,” Benja said airily. “Change of scenery, fresh air, something like that.”

Norin said nothing.

“Please don’t be mad,” Benja said. “I didn’t mean to just vanish out off your life.”

Norin could feel tears running down his face again.

“I nearly believed them, you know. I thought you had left me without telling me. We promised we wouldn’t do something like that.” He wiped his nose with his sleeve.

“I would never leave you without an explanation. I promised then, and I still stand by that.” Benja’s voice sounded strong and firm again. It was almost as if her week-long absence had magically cured her of whatever had troubled her before.