Before Cheng Xinxin woke up, her parents had consulted a psychiatrist at the hospital. After she awoke and saw no girl, her parents took her to the psychiatrist for an initial evaluation.
"...I didn't... I really saw her... I saw her... I saw her..." Cheng Xinxin clutched her head, repeating the words over and over as tears fell onto her legs.
Her mother held her, choking back sobs herself, and looked to the doctor for help.
The doctor had just opened her mouth when Cheng Xinxin shoved her mother away and screamed, "I really saw her! There really was a ghost! That girl kept staring at me! I saw her! For several minutes! Several whole minutes! I'm not crazy! Lots of people saw her in the restroom, too! She's a ghost! She's a ghost!!"
As Cheng Xinxin screamed, I heard the girl laugh.
The dream shifted to Cheng Xinxin's bedroom.
Her mother held her by the shoulders and made her lie down. She stroked Cheng Xinxin's hair, hesitated, then finally said, "Get some sleep. You'll feel better after you rest."
"Mom... I really saw her..." Cheng Xinxin whispered.
"I know, sweetheart. Mom knows. We'll call your teacher tomorrow and take you to the temple to pray for a safety charm. How does that sound?" The woman stroked Cheng Xinxin's hair again and tucked in her blanket.
When she saw Cheng Xinxin close her eyes, she walked over to the window to draw the curtains.
At the sound, Cheng Xinxin opened her eyes again and looked toward the window.
The female ghost and I were both floating outside it.
Swish—
The curtains closed.
I heard Cheng Xinxin's hoarse cries from inside the room. She'd shouted until her vocal cords gave out.
I turned my head and saw the female ghost smiling.