Anniversary (Ghost Crimes)
Content Warning: Transphobia, Implied Homophobia, Death, Grief, Loss, Spirit Possession
Despite nearly half a year of experience as a medium, Star still didn’t know how to handle a sobbing client. The client, Akio, would look intimidating with his muscular build, harsh eyes, and pure black suit, if he hadn’t collapsed against Star as soon as they were alone.
They patted his back gently. “There, there.”
“I just miss him so much...” Akio’s voice trailed off.
“What can I do to help?”
Akio took some time to compose himself. He wiped the tears from his eyes and sat down in one of the chairs in his office.
“I just want to talk with Mścisław again...” He took a deep breath. “It’s been hard mourning him when his family didn’t even let me to attend his funeral, and it was all conducted under his deadname anyway.”
They nodded slowly. “I can see what I can do to contact him.”
Akio smiled, drawing the wrinkles on his face into sharper contrast. “I can afford to pay you whatever you want for this. I can afford it.”
Star pulled some candles, a lighter, and a meditation mat with sigils drawn on it out of their bag. They laid the mat on the floor and arranged the candles around them.
“I’ll be sitting on this mat in the middle of the sigils chanting his name,” they said.
“While I do that, I’d like you to light each of these candles counterclockwise. Can you do that for me?”
Akio nodded. They smiled at him and then settled onto the mat and closed their eyes.
“Mścisław. Mścisław. Mścisław.”
They heard the first candle get lit.
“Mścisław. Mścisław. Mścisław.”
The window curtains rustled.
“Mścisław. Mścisław. Mścisław.”
The door creaked open.
“Mścisław. Mścisław. Mścisł-”
They were Mścisław. They didn’t recognize their own body. They didn’t know how they were alive.
“Did it work?” Akio said. “Is that why you stopped chanting?”
Their eyes widened and they looked up at their husband. “Akio.”
They rose and embraced him. Akio squeezed them tight. They missed him so much.
They held there a few moments before speaking. “My family is being shitty about me, about us, aren’t they?”
Akio nodded. “They barred me from attending your funeral, and that took place after a few months of legal battles over who got to hold it.”
Mścisław winced. “I’m so sorry, love.”
They kissed Akio on his lips. They held there for several moments savoring the feeling.
“It’s been months since I died,” they said. “I’m curious, why today?”
Akio grinned. “Don’t you know? Today’s February 14th. Our anniversary.”
They laughed and kissed Akio again. “You were always better about remembering it than I was.”
“I know it isn’t much,” he said, “but I got take out from dad’s restaurant. I wanted to be able to share it with you.”
“I’m the luckiest man in the world,” they said. “Every other man must wish they had such a sweet husband.”
“I’m only so sweet because I have such a wonderful husband to be sweet to.”
Take out boxes lay discarded on Akio’s desk, long since gone cold. Mścisław leaned against it, facing his husband, their mouth fixed in a smile, but Akio’s gaze was fixed on the ground.
“What’s wrong, love?”
“Tonight has been wonderful.” Akio looked up with tears in his eyes. “I’ve missed you desperately.”
Mścisław nodded and placed their hand on his chest. “I’ll always be here with you. Even if I can’t talk to you directly, I will live on in you.”
He pulled them in for a hug and they could hear him sobbing. They gave his body a squeeze.
They said, “I have one last request for my husband.”
“What...” Akio’s voice is hoarse. He pulls away from the hug. “What is the request?”
“Keep on living. You will love me forever, but I don’t want you to dwell on me, for my memory to haunt you.” They bit back tears. “I want you to be happy even when I’m not able to support you.”
He nodded slowly. “I can do that.”
“Good bye, my love.”
They kissed Akio one last time and he returned the kiss.
He pulled away. “I will always remember you.”
Once again, they were only Star.