Chapter 22: Prom Night
The night of the prom arrived, the atmosphere inside the school gym was buzzing with excitement and laughter. Glittering lights hung from the ceiling, casting soft golden hues across the dance floor. Girls in stunning dresses twirled with their partners, boys in tuxedos tried their best to look composed, and the DJ was spinning the latest hits, amplifying the joyful energy in the room. 
Juniper stood just outside the entrance, her heart pounding in her chest. She wore a delicate blue dress that Jace had once complimented during one of their rare quiet moments under the old tree. Her hair was loosely curled, with a small flower tucked behind her ear—a symbol of Jace’s promise. But as she glanced down at her hand, she wasn’t alone. 
Next to her, holding her hand, was Jace—the ghostly figure of the boy she loved. He was dressed in an ethereal tuxedo, one that shimmered like mist in the moonlight. No one else could see him, but to Juniper, he was as real as the night sky above them.
“I told you I’d be your prom date, didn’t I?” Jace said softly, his voice carrying a mixture of joy and sadness.
Juniper smiled, blinking back tears.
“You always keep your promises.”
Hand in hand, they stepped through the doors and entered the gym. Immediately, heads turned, and students began to whisper. Some giggled, others exchanged confused glances as they watched Juniper walk toward the center of the dance floor, holding the air where no one else could see Jace.
"Look at her," one of the girls muttered from the side.
"Who’s she dancing with? Is she pretending?"
"Maybe she's lost it," a guy chuckled.
"Didn’t she date that guy who’s in the hospital? Creepy."
But Juniper didn’t care. She didn’t mind their laughter, or their whispers, or the judgmental glances. The only thing that mattered was the ghostly hand entwined with hers, and the boy who stood by her side, unseen by everyone else.
As the music shifted to a soft, sweet ballad, Jace’s fingers tightened around hers, and they moved to the middle of the dance floor. The golden light bathed them in warmth, and Juniper’s heart soared despite the bittersweet reality of the moment. She knew this was their last night together, their last dance—but she would cherish every second of it.
“Are you ready for this, Juniper?” Jace asked quietly, his eyes locked onto hers.
Juniper nodded, though tears glistened in her eyes. “I’ve been waiting for this moment… for us.”
The music swelled, and with a slight tug, Jace pulled her close. They began to sway gently to the rhythm, their bodies moving in perfect harmony despite the strange circumstances. To Juniper, it felt like a dream—a beautiful, fragile dream that she didn’t want to wake from.
As they danced, Jace’s ghostly form shimmered slightly, and for a fleeting moment, it was almost as if he were alive again. His arms, though cold, felt solid against her back, and she closed her eyes, letting herself believe—if only for a moment—that everything was normal. That Jace was there, and they were just two teenagers at prom, dancing like everyone else.
“This feels… perfect,” Juniper whispered, her head resting against Jace’s chest.
“Like nothing else matters.”
Jace’s voice was soft, his breath cool against her ear. “It does. Right now, in this moment, it’s just us.”
They twirled together on the dance floor, completely lost in each other. The lights above flickered gently, casting them in a golden glow. Juniper’s laughter bubbled up, mixing with her tears as Jace spun her, her blue dress swirling around her like a wave. Even though no one else could see him, Jace’s presence was undeniable to her. And in that moment, Juniper felt the happiest she had ever been.
But beneath the surface, both of them knew this happiness couldn’t last.
The music faded into the background as the song came to an end. Jace stepped back slightly, his ghostly eyes shimmering with unspoken words. He glanced around at the sea of students who were still unaware of his existence, then back at Juniper.
“Do you remember what I promised you?” Jace asked, his voice suddenly thick with emotion.
Juniper nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks. “You promised you’d be my date… and you kept that promise. But… you’re leaving me now, aren’t you?”
Jace swallowed hard, his form flickering as he slowly began to fade around the edges. “I have to, Juniper. I don’t belong here anymore.”
Her heart ached with the weight of the truth, but Juniper tried to keep her composure. “I don’t want you to go.”
“I know,” Jace whispered, reaching up to brush a ghostly thumb across her cheek. “But you’ve given me everything I could have ever asked for. And I’m ready now.”
Juniper let out a choked sob, her fingers tightening around his fading hand. “Please… don’t leave me. I love you.”
Jace’s own eyes welled with emotion as he leaned forward, his forehead resting gently against hers. “I love you too, Juniper. More than I ever thought possible. That’s why I need to let go.”
She shook her head, her tears falling freely now. “You’re the only one I want. You’re all I need.”
Jace’s smile was bittersweet, his form flickering more intensely now. “You’ll find happiness again. I know you will.”
With one final glance at the dance floor, Jace tugged gently at her hand. “Come with me,” he said, his voice soft.
Together, they left the gym, walking toward the garden behind the school where the old tree stood tall and majestic against the night sky. The very spot where Jace had made his first promise to Juniper.
As they approached the tree, the air around them seemed to hum with energy, and Juniper knew that this was it—this was their final moment together. Jace’s form was fading quickly now, his ghostly glow dimming as the afterlife called him home.
They stood under the tree in silence for a long time, neither of them wanting to say the final words.
“I wish I could stay,” Jace finally said, his voice barely a whisper.
Juniper’s throat tightened, and she could barely get the words out. “I wish you could too.”
Jace smiled softly, his hand reaching up to cup her face one last time. “You’re going to be okay, Juniper. I’ll always be with you.”
With tears streaming down her face, Juniper reached out to pull him close. She didn’t care that he was a ghost—she didn’t care that this was goodbye. All she wanted was to hold him one last time.
And then, in one final, bittersweet gesture, Jace leaned in for a kiss. But just as their lips met, his form began to rise—floating a few inches too high as he hovered above her. Juniper let out a small, broken laugh through her tears, reaching up to tug at his ghostly shirt, pulling him back down.
They kissed, their lips touching for a brief, magical moment before Jace began to fade completely, his body becoming nothing more than a shimmer of light.
“I’ll love you forever,” Jace whispered as he started to disappear, his voice barely audible.
Juniper reached out, her hand passing through his form as he drifted higher and higher, his face glowing with a soft, peaceful light.
And then, with one last glance, Jace was gone.
Juniper collapsed to the ground under the tree, her heart breaking as she sobbed uncontrollably. The weight of the moment crushed her, but she knew—deep down—that Jace had finally found peace.
The night sky sparkled above her, and as the wind rustled the leaves of the old tree, Juniper could almost hear Jace’s voice in the breeze, whispering softly,
"I'll always be with you."
And though her heart ached, Juniper knew she had been given something precious—a love that would last beyond the boundaries of life and death.
---- The End ----