The Ghost Counselor [Ziall] [MAJOR EDITING]

37~ Reality.

NIALL'S POV

Darkness. Numbness. That was all I could see, all I could feel. A while later, I could move, I could feel soft bed sheets clasped in my fists, I could smell the faint fragrance of mosquito repellant in the room. Where was I? My room? How is that possible? Am I in by bed? Zayn's bed? Zayn's room? Where the hell am I and why am I not at the cemetary with Zayn?

I was in the cemetary with Zayn just a minute ago! I fought through my jumbled thoughts, trying to remember what happened last. I had walked away, giving Zayn some privacy with his mother, and had unwillingly gravitized towards my own tombstone. And after that... I'm here.

I tried to make sense, I tried to get out of whatever trance I was bound in. Great. Was I fucking blind now?

And then it happened. The same God awful feeling of not being able to breathe. I felt tears stinging my sightless eyes as I thrashed in my bed, trying to regain my breath. I felt my lungs constricting, and I knew this was it.

I was having some sort of sick, twisted nightmare. Or maybe I was stuck in one of those ghost loops. In which a ghost keeps reliving their death again and again and again.

Oh, joy.

I now felt my body shuddering, and I welcomed it. Hell, I'll welcome anything. Anything but this pain.

"Sweetie, sweetie! NIALL! OPEN YOUR EYES!"

As the familiar voice reached my conscious, my eyes snapped open, and I couldn't see anything except white light, so squeezed them shut again.

"Here." And I felt the familiar plastic in my hands. I quickly brought the inhaler to my mouth, breathing in as I slowly felt my chest relaxing. I took a few more deep breaths, and finally opened my eyes.

And in front of me sat my beautiful mother, concern shining in her blue eyes, identical to mine. "Baby, are you alright?" she asked softly, as she cupped my reddened cheek. I unconsciously leaned into her touch, still staring at her in shock with half lidded eyes.

"This sure is a vivid dream," I murmured in a daze, looking around my old room. The room I had before I died, when my family still lived here in London. But I didn't know ghosts could dream!

Mum frowned, and ran her fingers though my sweat-matted hair. "Niall, it's over now. That must be some nightmare, it even gave you an attack. God knows what would have happened if I hadn't walked in," she trailed off, her eyes glassy. She then glared at me, and I flinched. "Haven't I told you a thousand times to keep your inhaler by your pillow? Why don't you listen?! What if I had lost you?" she said softly, but her soft tone made all the more impact.

I shook my head, suppressing a shiver. This is scary. This is some messed up dream. Is this some sort of revelation, a lesson or something? Telling me what would have happened if I hadn't died from an asthma attack?

I need to wake up. Wait till Zayn hears about this craziness. I discreetly pinched myself and ouch, yeah, that hurt.

"But, I'm glad you're okay baby," she patted my cheek as she got up, pulling her robe tighter around her body. "Now go get dressed and come downstairs for breakfast. It's your first day of Senior year!" Mum waved her hands excitedly, and I snapped my head up.

"What?" I blinked blearily, my mind still stumbling over everything.

Mum tutted. "Sweetie, forget that stupid nightmare now, you have a busy day ahead of you. Today's Josh's birthday too, if I remember correctly?" Mum grinned, and my blood ran cold.

"W-what? Mum, what date is it?" I demanded, my voice shaky. It can't be. It's impossible. It's fucking impossible.

"July 11th, Niall. You're scaring me," Mum said, and I sheepishly let go of her arms, but then pulled her in a bone-crushing hug, suppressing a sob. I can feel her, I can actually hug my mother after so many years and she can see me. I'm not going to question how, I'm just going to enjoy this moment.