Lingering

Christine's footsteps weren't heard by the buyers. She walked the entire mall without being noticed by anyone. She never was. Still the girl wanted to be perceived. In silence, tears streaming down her pale face, she kept walking. Occasionally, someone would look back when passing beside her but they were not looking at her. Alone, confused and cold. "Why still there?" she thought, "It isn't right".

She left that place. Could not take it anymore. It was snowing and a thin fog covered the city. Christine looked around in the crowd. It was Christmas Eve and people rushed up and down, each with a concern in the head. Gifts to buy, foods to make, families to meet. Christine missed the embrace of his mother. Once again, tears came to her eyes. She wanted to run but she did not know where. She wanted to stay, but she was too cold, inside and out. She closed his eyes and tried with all her will to disappear. Nothing happened. Nothing ever happened.

But then she heard something unusual. It was a strange sound. So low, so horrible. He felt a shiver through her body. It was coming from the bridge. She ran there. Then she heard the sound again, now more clearly. It was a beam on one side of the bridge that was bending. People around did not notice, but Christine heard distinctly the sound of metal twisting. She screamed out loud, but nobody heard her. They never did.

Then the saw coming towards her. Her mother and her brothers were walking down the street. They were close to crossing the bridge to go home. But they would not make it. There was no time. The noise was now deafening to Christine. Quickly crossed the street and approached the relatives. They could not see her crying next to them. They passed right through her and continued moving towards the bridge. Now, because of the stupid choice that she made the year before, his whole family would die. The girl ran and reached out to grab the younger brother. His hand went right through his flesh.

She turned around and stood in front of your mother. She apologized softly, reached into her chest and closed his hand tightly. The mother stopped. She took her hands to the heart allowing the Christmas goods fall on the cold ground and fell on her knees. Her children immediately stopped, asked what was wrong. The woman could not say anything.

Shortly after, the ground shook. The bridge collapsed to ten yards away. Christine felt relieved. "They were saved. They were saved", repeating in her mind.

The wind blew, pushing the fog away. And with it, Christine disappeared into the night.