I was sitting outside on my front porch when it happened. I heard my dad sobbing, which never happens, then scream. 

"No! " He yelled. "Why?"  I jumped off the hard blue chair and ran inside. 

"Dad? Where are you?" My voice echoed through the silent house as I ran from room to room. I had looked everywhere except for my parents bedroom. As I approached the door, my dad looked up, tears silently running down his face. I looked over at my mom, then realized what had happened. Her face was stone cold, as white as snow, her eyes closed, hands folded over her chest. I sank to the floor and started bawling. 

   By now, me and my dad had started to become normal again. We were still in shock, and we would always be sad,  but it was easier with out my mom now. The only thing that was different other then my mom being gone, was that I never really wanted to be with my friends anymore. I preferred to go on walks through the woods by myself and think about my life. One day, I was taking one of those walks when I heard a voice. 

"Hi Ashley!" I turned around, searching for the voice, but no one was there. "I'm over here!" The voice giggled. Still, there was no person in sight. I looked up thinking maybe someone was in the trees. After a few more minutes of looking, I found someone, but not in the way I was hoping. In the tree on my left, there was a pale ghostly figure.

"Come down!" I shouted. "I want to see you better!" The figure slowly descended down the tree then appeared to float towards me. I noticed that the figure was a woman. As she got closer, she smiled a familiar smile, and I recognized her. "Mom?" I questioned. "But how? You're  dead!"

"Yes, I am. But, while I was in heaven, I pulled a few strings, and well, here I am! No one else can see me, except for people who have just suffered a great loss, so you look like you are talking to yourself right now. But just remember I'll be here for you."

  As soon as I got back to my house, I ran to my bedroom and grabbed my iPhone off of my bed, and started to text my friend. 

                   Bella, guess what!

What?

           You know how my mom   

                                               died? 

Yeah.......so?

        I saw her today! As a ghost!

Sure...🙄

                                          It's true!

Ashley, I know you miss

your mom, but you 

didn't see her. 🤷🏻‍♀️

           Bella, I know I did. If you  

            can't believe me, that's    

            your problem. I know 

           what I saw. 😤

My phone landed on my bed with a loud plop. I landed with an even louder plop after it. I had pretty much just lost my best friend. And I doubted she would want to be friends with me again. I felt the bed cave in next to me, and turned to look at my mom. I leaned my head on her shoulder and started to silently sob.