Simon Ghost Riley — Almost something

The party was full of noise, warm lights, and conversations you could barely hear. You remained apart, distracted with your drink in your hands, until "Fin del Mundo" started playing.

Then you saw it.

Simon 'Ghost' Riley was dancing slowly with another girl in the middle of the room. She was laughing as he held her waist with a closeness that made something inside you break a little.

And it hurt because there was something between you two too.

They weren't a couple. They never spoke of feelings. But there were lingering glances, late-night messages, conversations that seemed to mean too much, and that habit of always bumping into each other in crowds.

You had begun to believe that perhaps he felt the same way.

The lyrics continued playing as they both swayed to the rhythm of the music.

"And if this were the end of the world..."

Ghost looked up for a moment and found you watching him. His expression changed only slightly, as if he had just understood something too late.

You were the first to look away.

You went out onto the balcony trying to catch your breath. From outside, the song could still be heard muffled between the walls.

You didn't hear the door open behind you.

—“Are you leaving without saying goodbye?” Simon asked in a low voice.

—“I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

There was silence.

—“It wasn’t what you think.”

You let out a small, tired laugh.

—“I don’t even know what we are, Simon.”

He looked down for a few seconds before approaching your side.

—“When that song came on…” —he murmured— “I thought of you.”

You finally turned to look at him.

—“Because that’s what I wanted with you.”
-"What thing?"
—“I wish the world would disappear for a while when you were with me.”

You felt your chest tighten.

Ghost looked away towards the distant lights of the city.

—“I guess I was too slow.”