These Bitter Blooms

by Emma Hamm

“You will never be as powerful as I was. This woman will leave you. If you go into that basement, you will fail to bring about anything that you desire.” But then Thea reached her arms around him, and he felt her wrists move as she dashed them through the air. “What are you doing?” he asked, awkwardly holding his arms at his sides. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and never let go. If only she would let him press her to his heart, he thought maybe they would both be happier. “I’m getting rid of your father.” Thea flapped her hands one last time through the air, and then he felt all the cold air drift away. “The man is a menace. You’re dead, sir! Go toward the light.” The absolute ridiculousness of what she said punched him in the gut. Thea, the girl who had been so afraid to come into this house that she had never actually met his father while the man was alive, had no problem now ushering him away from his son. Balthazar likely thought he should be more feared now that he was a ghost.