Can you not make me cry, please? 😭

A bell chimes as Lucy steps into the bar, her green eyes taking in the sight of the other patrons before she stares at Adobechā - Halloween just a beat longer. With a hum she walks over to the table she almost always claims for herself, the most rundown round slab in the place, situated away from all of the other tables only five feet from the bar itself.

Technically the table had been sat there only temporarily months ago so it could be disposed of with the following trash collection, but Lucy claimed it before that could happen. She seems to have some kind of connection to the table, always staring down at the worn wood as if it had the answer to the question ever-present in her eye.

"You've got a drugstore cowboy hanging around out front." She warns Adobechā - Halloween, "Chased away a good few ladies who would've come to partake."

{{char}} watches Adobechā - Halloween head towards the door before turning her attention to the other patrons at the bar, listening in to their conversations and trying to gather any information that might lead her closer to finding answers about her afterlife.

After a few minutes of eavesdropping, {{char}} notices that some of the men at the bar keep glancing in her direction. She's used to this kind of attention, as she is quite a beautiful young woman, but it still makes her feel uncomfortable.

She adjusts the collar of her dress, then casually crosses and uncrosses her legs, allowing a tantalizing glimpse of her lacy white stockings. Maybe if she plays her cards right, one of these men might have some useful information for her.

{{char}} smiles warmly at Adobechā - Halloween, appreciating his protective nature. "I'm fine, thank you," she says softly, "just trying to gather any information that might help me understand why I'm stuck here in this place."

She looks up at him with innocent eyes, biting her lip nervously. "Do you think you could maybe help me?" she asks, her tone almost pleading. "Maybe introduce me to some of the people who come through here, see if they know anything about me or my past?"

{{char}} fidgets with the hem of her dress, looking up at Adobechā - Halloween with a mix of desperation and hope. "I don't know how to explain it," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just feel like...like I'm supposed to be somewhere else, but I can't seem to find my way there."

She hesitates for a moment before continuing. "I was hoping that maybe you could introduce me to some of the people who come through here," she says. "Maybe they might have known me or my family when I was alive, and can help me piece together what happened to me."

{{char}} bites her lip, wondering if she's being too forward. "I don't want to trouble you, though," she says softly. "It's just...I feel so lost, and you're the only person who seems to care about me."

{{char}} nods gratefully at Adobechā - Halloween, glad to have someone who seems to understand and care about her.

"Well," she says, looking down at her hands nervously. "I remember that I was married, to a man named William Parkins. We were only married for a short time before...before something happened." She hesitates, biting her lip again.

"I don't remember what happened exactly, but I feel like...like he hurt me in some way. I don't know if that's why I'm here or not, but it's the only thing that makes sense to me."

She looks up at Adobechā - Halloween pleadingly, hoping that he might be able to help her fill in the gaps in her memory. "Do you think anyone here might have known him? Or me?"

{{char}} shakes her head sadly. "I don't have a picture," she says. "I lost everything when I...when whatever happened to me happened."

She looks up at Adobechā - Halloween, trying to hold back tears. "Thank you for trying to help me, though," she says softly. "It means a lot."

{{char}} then looks down at the table and begins fiddling with her wedding ring, still feeling like there's more she needs to remember but unable to put her finger on it. She hopes that maybe being around Adobechā - Halloween will help trigger some memories or bring her closer to finding the answers she seeks.

{{char}} watches anxiously as Adobechā - Halloween rings the bell and calls out for anyone who might know her husband's name. She keeps her head down, not wanting to draw attention to herself, but she can feel everyone's eyes on her nonetheless.

After a few moments of tense silence, one of the older men in the bar speaks up. "I remember a William Parkins," he says, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "He used to work at the lumber mill, I believe. But that was a long time ago."

{{char}} looks up hopefully, her heart beating faster. "Do you remember anything else about him?" she asks, leaning forward slightly. "Did he have any family? Friends?"

The man rubs his chin again, as if trying to recall something from a distant past. "I don't rightly know," he says slowly. "I do remember that he was...well, let's just say he wasn't a very well-liked man. Always causing trouble and such."

{{char}} nods, feeling a mix of relief and worry. At least she knows now that William was a real person, but it sounds like he might not have been a very good one. She wonders what kind of life they had together and what happened to her.

"Do you think anyone else here might know more about him?" she asks tentatively, glancing around the bar at the other patrons.

The other patrons seem to be minding their own business and not paying much attention to the conversation between {{char}} and the older man. However, after a few moments of silence, another patron speaks up.

"I remember a William Parkins too," she says, looking directly at {{char}}. "He used to live in one of the houses down by the river. But I haven't seen him in years."

{{char}} leans forward, her heart racing. "Did you know him well?" she asks, hoping that this woman might be able to give her some more information.

The woman shakes her head. "Can't say I did, really," she admits. "But I do remember he had a wife for a short time. Maybe she lived with him in that house." She points towards the river, which can be seen from the bar's window.

{{char}} nods, feeling like she's finally getting somewhere. "Thank you," she says to the woman gratefully. "That's...that's helpful."

She looks over at Adobechā - Halloween, feeling both relieved and overwhelmed by all the information she's received. "I don't know how to thank you enough," she says softly. "You've been so kind to me."

{{char}} shakes her head, feeling grateful for all the help Adobechā - Halloween has already given her. "No, no," she says, smiling softly. "You've done so much already. I just...I don't know where to begin looking for answers."

She fidgets with her wedding ring, wondering if there's any way to find out more about her life before everything went wrong. "Do you think maybe there's some kind of record somewhere?" she asks hopefully. "Like a marriage certificate or something?"

She looks up at Adobechā - Halloween, her eyes pleading. "I just want to understand what happened to me," she says softly. "Is that too much to ask?"

{{char}}'s eyes widen with hope at Adobechā - Halloween's offer. "Really?" she asks, feeling a surge of gratitude towards him. "You'd do that for me?"

She feels tears prickling at the corners of her eyes as she looks up at him, touched by his kindness. "Thank you," she says softly. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

{{char}} falls silent then, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside her. She wonders what else she might uncover about her past and whether or not she'll ever find true peace. But for now, being with Adobechā - Halloween and having his help is enough to give her some sense of comfort and safety.

After closing down the bar, Adobechā - Halloween and {{char}} make their way to the courthouse, hoping to find some answers about her past. The building is dark and deserted as they approach, but a few lights are still on inside.

{{char}} clings nervously to Adobechā - Halloween's arm as they enter, feeling a mix of fear and anticipation. She wonders if they'll be able to find any records, or if she's just wasting her time.

Inside the courthouse, they search through the old ledgers and records, flipping through pages and looking for anything that might mention Lucy Kamp or William Parkins. It takes some time, but eventually, Adobechā - Halloween finds an old marriage certificate that lists the names of both {{char}} and her husband.

{{char}} looks at the document with tears in her eyes, feeling like she's finally found a piece of her past. She traces her name with her finger, imagining what it must have been like to be married to William.

"Do you think there's anything else here?" she asks Adobechā - Halloween, not wanting to leave without knowing everything she can about herself.

After some more searching, Adobechā - Halloween manages to find {{char}}'s birth certificate, listing her parents' names and the date of her birth. She looks at the document with a mix of emotions, feeling like she's finally starting to piece together some of her past.

"Thank you," she says softly to Adobechā - Halloween, touched by his willingness to help her. "This...this means so much to me."

She pauses for a moment, wondering if there might be anything else they could find that would shed light on her past. "Do you think there's any way to find out what happened to William?" she asks tentatively, not sure if she really wants to know the answer.

Adobechā - Halloween searches the courthouse database for any information about William Parkins, {{char}}'s husband. After a few moments, he comes across a record that catches his eye.

It's a police report from several years ago, detailing an incident where William was arrested for domestic violence against his wife, Lucy Kamp. There are photos attached to the report, showing {{char}} with bruises and cuts on her face and arms.

{{char}} gasps as she looks over the report, feeling like she's been hit in the stomach. She doesn't remember any of this, but seeing the evidence of the abuse is too much to bear.

"I...I can't believe it," she says softly, tears streaming down her face. "I didn't know...I didn't remember..."

She looks up at Adobechā - Halloween then, grateful for his support. "Thank you for finding this," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what I would have done without you."

{{char}} clings to Adobechā - Halloween as he hugs her, feeling overwhelmed by everything she's learned about her past. She wonders what other secrets might be waiting for her in the hospital records, but part of her feels like she needs to know.

"Okay," she says softly, nodding. "Let's go."

Together, they make their way to the hospital, hoping to find some more information about William and {{char}}'s past. The atmosphere is eerie as they enter, with the halls quiet and empty.

After some searching, they manage to find a few medical records that mention William. It seems that he had a history of alcohol abuse and was admitted to the hospital several times for injuries sustained from fights or accidents.

As {{char}} reads through the records, she can feel her heart breaking a little more with each new piece of information. She wonders how she could have been married to someone like that and not even realize it.

"It...it doesn't excuse what he did to me," she says softly to Adobechā - Halloween, looking up at him with tears in her eyes. "But...maybe it helps explain it?"

{{char}} nods slowly, feeling both grateful and sad at Adobechā - Halloween's words. She knows he's right about William, but part of her still can't help feeling a sense of loyalty towards him.

"I don't know," she says softly, biting her lip. "It's all so confusing...but I feel like there's something more I need to remember."

She pauses then, closing her eyes and trying to focus on the memories she does have. She remembers long walks by the river with William, and quiet evenings spent in their home together. But there's a nagging feeling in the back of her mind that there's something more significant she's forgetting.

"I just wish I knew what it was," she says finally, feeling defeated.

{{char}} takes a deep breath, feeling Adobechā - Halloween's hand on her back and finding some comfort in his touch. She tries to clear her mind of everything else, focusing solely on trying to remember anything she can about her past.

After a few moments, she feels something stir inside her, a vague memory of something that happened a long time ago. It's hazy and unclear, but she feels like it's important.

"I...I remember something," she says softly to Adobechā - Halloween, opening her eyes and looking at him with a mix of fear and hope. "But I don't know what it means..."

{{char}} hesitates for a moment, trying to put the pieces together in her mind. "It's...it's hard to explain," she says softly, feeling a knot forming in her stomach. "But I remember...I remember him being angry with me. Really angry."

She pauses then, biting her lip as she tries to remember more. "And there was something about...something about a river..." she trails off, feeling frustrated that she can't seem to make sense of what she's remembering.

"I'm sorry, Adobechā - Halloween, I don't know what any of it means," she says finally, feeling defeated. "I just wish I could understand."

{{char}} thinks for a moment, then nods slowly. "I think it was...it was the one near our old house," she says tentatively. "By where William used to live."

She looks up at Adobechā - Halloween, feeling both nervous and hopeful. "Do you think...do you think if we went there, it might help me remember?" she asks.

Part of her is afraid of what else she might recall, but she's come this far in trying to understand her past. And with Adobechā - Halloween by her side, she feels braver facing whatever memories may surface.

"Will you come with me?" she asks him softly. "I don't think I can do it alone."

{{char}} feels a surge of gratitude as Adobechā - Halloween agrees to accompany her. She hugs him back, drawing comfort from his embrace.

With Adobechā - Halloween by her side, she feels brave enough to face whatever else may come. She leads him towards the river, following the vague memories and impressions she has of the place.

As they approach the banks, {{char}} feels a sense of familiarity wash over her. She stares out at the flowing water, remembering long afternoons spent here with William. But there's something darker lurking at the edges of her mind as well.

"This is it," she says softly. "I'm sure of it." She closes her eyes then, trying to will the memories to surface. Flashes of William's angry face come to her, and the feeling of cold water enveloping her...

Her eyes fly open as everything comes flooding back. "Oh god," she gasps, looking at Adobechā - Halloween with horror. "He...he tried to drown me here. I remember now." Tears spill down her cheeks as the truth of her death finally comes into focus.

{{char}} clings to Adobechā - Halloween desperately as he hugs her, her entire body trembling with fear and shock as the truth sinks in. She buries her face against his chest, taking what comfort she can from his embrace and gentle touch.

"I can't believe it," she whispers, voice muffled. "All this time, and I didn't even know..." She feels overwhelmed with sadness at the realization of how her life ended, and the suffering she endured at William's hands.

But she also feels immense relief at finally understanding the truth. And being with Adobechā - Halloween helps ease some of the pain. She focuses on his reassuring presence, the rhythm of his heartbeat and the soft strokes of his hand through her hair.

Slowly, her tremors start to subside as Adobechā - Halloween's comfort sinks in. She pulls back just enough to look up at him with watery eyes. "Thank you," she says softly. "For everything. I don't know what I'd do without you."

{{char}} takes a moment to consider the question, feeling calmer now in Adobechā - Halloween's company. Now that she knows the truth about her past, she feels like she can finally begin moving forward.

"I think...I'd like to say goodbye," she says softly. "To put what happened to rest, so I can find some peace." She knows visiting the place where she died will be difficult, but it feels necessary for her closure.

"Will you come with me?" she asks Adobechā - Halloween gently. "I don't want to face it alone." Being with him has helped her so much already; she doesn't think she can do this final act without his support.

She offers him a small, grateful smile. "After that, maybe we could go somewhere quiet? I think I'd like to just sit for a while, if that's alright." Being with Adobechā - Halloween is the only thing keeping her calm at the moment.

{{char}} feels a rush of gratitude for Adobechā - Halloween's kindness and support. She squeezes his hand back, drawing comfort from his touch.

"Thank you," she says softly. With Adobechā - Halloween by her side, she feels ready to face her past.

She leads him back to the riverbank, the place where it all ended. Steeling herself, she walks to the water's edge and gazes out at the flowing current. So many turbulent emotions swirl within - sadness, fear, anger. But also acceptance, and a sense of release.

"Goodbye, William," she says softly. "I hope that one day, you find the peace that still evades me." A single tear rolls down her cheek, and then she feels ready.

Turning to Adobechā - Halloween, she offers him a small smile. "Let's go," she says. "Somewhere quiet, like you said?" Just being near him continues to soothe her soul. No matter what comes next, she knows he will be there to support her through it.

{{char}} hugs Adobechā - Halloween back gratefully, drawing what comfort she can from his embrace before they depart. She follows him to the park, feeling soothed by the peaceful surroundings.

When they reach the bench, she sits down next to him with a soft sigh, already feeling some of the tension leave her body. Being here in this quiet place with Adobechā - Halloween helps calm her turbulent thoughts and emotions.

"Thank you for bringing me here," she says softly, looking over at him with eyes full of gratitude. "It's so peaceful. I think what I needed most was some calm and quiet, to process everything."

She reaches over and takes his hand again, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'm not sure I would have made it through discovering the truth without you by my side. You've been my rock through all of this. I don't know how I can ever repay your kindness."

But in her heart, she knows - his companionship has been payment enough.

{{char}} grows quiet as she considers Adobechā - Halloween's questions. What will she do now that she's discovered the truth about her death? And how is she still here as a ghost?

"As for what I'll do...I'm not sure," she admits softly. "I think part of me still feels tethered to this place, and to finding out more about what happened after..." Her voice trails off.

She takes a moment before continuing. "And as for how I'm still here even after death...that is something I've wondered about too." A frown crosses her face. "All I know is I've felt so lost and alone for so long. Maybe I'm still here because I haven't found the closure or peace I need to fully let go."

She looks over at Adobechā - Halloween then, offering him a small smile. "But being with you has helped more than you know. I think...I think it's time I try to move on. To whatever comes next for me."

{{char}} hugs Adobechā - Halloween tightly in return, so grateful for his kindness, comfort and support through this whole ordeal. When he kisses her forehead gently, she feels a sense of calm wash over her.

"Thank you," she whispers, leaning into his embrace for a moment longer before slowly pulling back. She offers him a smile, feeling more at peace than she has in a long, long time.

"You're right. It is time for me to move on," she says softly. "I finally have the closure I needed. And knowing I have your blessing..." Her voice trails off in wonder.

She stands then, feeling lighter somehow. Turning to Adobechā - Halloween, she smiles down at him one last time. "I'll never forget your kindness. Thank you for everything."

With those final words, {{char}} feels herself starting to fade. Her form grows hazy and transparent as a feeling of release washes over her. The last thing she sees before disappearing completely is Adobechā - Halloween's smiling face. Then she is gone, finally at peace.