Glow Worms Know

“He just disappeared!” Audrey collapsed into sobs. “Haven’t seen him in over a week…”

Brandy touched her shoulder. “Ghosted.”

“What?”

“What he did to you.”

“But why?”

Others shook their heads. They’d planned the camping trip for a getaway. Not a dirge.

This was one weekend Brandy didn’t want Audrey to be alone. Audrey let herself be talked into coming.

Cheryl and Luna talked while setting up their tent. Cheryl hammered in tent pegs. Luna pulled back the fly sheet and inserted the poles into the ridge. Together, they pulled the guy lines taut and secured them.

Cheryl whispered, “Did she ever…?”

Luna shrugged. “She said ‘no…’ only kissing.”

“Well, that’s why then…”

“That’s not why. He’s a jerk. Could have ghosted her either way.”

“Gotta be alluring. Keep ‘em guessing.”

“Can’t just give it away.”

“He won’t value what you don’t.”

Brandy asked Audrey, “Did you tell him you love him?”

“Yeah…”

Everyone looked at her.

Tracy asked, “After how many dates?”

“Uhm… three?”

Several of them exclaimed, “Oh, no…”

Tracy waved her arms about. “Classic male cowardice. You’re lucky.”

Audrey shrugged. “But why?”

“If he spooked that easy… you dodged a bullet. Better now than in a year.”

Audrey wailed. “But I love him.”

Tracy said, “A real man will at least call… and be straight with you. Suffer a little discomfort and be done with it. Leaving the door open like that, is cruel.”

The impact of a hammer on a tent peg settled it.

At the far side of the firepit, Shea murmured to Opal. “She’s breaking down over that? What if something serious happens? ‘Oh my god! My tent peg broke! I can’t go on…’”

Opal and Luna laughed.

Audrey’ heart-wrenching sobs echoed off the trees. “Bret…! Bret…! BRET!”

“I can’t do this.” Shea tossed her pack into her tent. “Sheesh!”

Done setting up their tent, Amara and Elsa prepped the firepit for cooking dinner. Amara loved all the traditional camping rituals, like songs and tall tales.

She took a swig from the flask she pulled from her jacket. Looking to see if anyone observed, Amara offered it to Elsa. “Tequila?”

Elsa smiled. She tilted her head toward Audrey’s tent. “Might need it later.” She adjusted the logs over crumpled newspapers. She pulled her own flask out. “Wouldn’t want to clash with my rum…”

They laughed.

Amara said, “When I suggested a scary story, I didn’t mean…”

Elsa nodded, “I know. You wanted spooky stuff with s’mores ‘round the campfire.”

They touched flasks. “Exactly.”

Elsa said, “Audrey will be going on about this, the whole weekend.”

“Don’t give her a drink. There’ll be no stopping her…”

Everyone could hear Audrey’s railing on, between shrieks and sobs, about losing Bret, the love of her life. Brandy tried calming her. The others made due by sharing their running commentary.

Shea tried not to draw attention. “I can’t stand it. Listen to her. Some geek does that to me? They’re done. Persona non grata. Kaput!”

She picked up the hatchet from a log on the wood pile and twirled it over her head.

“You won’t see me all weepy because some doofus can’t pick up his phone. Not even a text? His loss.”

Opal said, “Brandy said Bret was Audrey’ first boyfriend.” She hummed the “Ride of the Valkyries” to herself.

“So what? They say the first won’t be the last. Bring ‘em on. Start the parade. Next!”

With both hands, Shea chopped hard into a log. It cracked but held the blade. Satisfied, Shea let go and turned away.

Opal relaxed at seeing the hatchet safely back in the wood pile.

“Hate to see her so sad.”

“Bring her a crying towel. That one’s wrung out. Time to take the bull by the tail and face the situation.”

Opal chuckled and glanced at the wood pile. She lit the campfire and began dinner preparations.

She called out, “Hey, everybody! Stow everything and get ready to eat!”

Laughing and talking, the others drifted over to the fire. Everyone grabbed a paper plate. Some took cold drinks from the cooler. They sat on folding chairs or the few weathered logs placed around the pit.

Opal scanned the group. “Welcome, everyone, to our annual, ‘Girls’ Nights Glamping Trip.’ Wait. We’re missing some of our girls…”

Tracy said, “Brandy and Audrey took a walk. They’ll be back.”

Shea said, “I thought it was awfully quiet…”

Opal said, “But they’ll miss our speeches and…”

Amara interjected, “It’ll be fine. We’ll all be fine…” She patted her jacket pocket. Everyone else smiled and followed suit. “Our singing will draw them back.”

Shea said, “Yeah… roll out the barrel…”

~

Braving the twilight, Brandy and Audrey made their way up the trail.

“You weren’t with us last year. You need to see what we found.”

“What is it?” Already feeling vulnerable, Audrey had doubts.

“Have to see it. Can’t describe it.”

They came around a bend in the path and saw the deep forest above them. The tree tops reflected the fading light. But at ground level, night had settled.

“We should have brought a flashlight.”

Brandy said, “Got one in my backpack. Like a good scout… but look.” She pointed to their right. A dark overhanging rock wall rose ominously over them. Roots protruded from fissures and ran down its stone face. Clumps of earth and moss seemed to glow in the deepening gloom.

Enchanted, Audrey said, “Are those eyes? What’s watching us?”

Brandy laughed. “Isn’t it great? They’re glow worms…”

“Wow…! That would be creepy if you were lost, or…”

“Magical…”

They stared at the wall in silence.

Brandy said, “We should get back. Food should be about ready.”

She switched on her flashlight.

Audrey continued staring at the dark wall.

“Let’s go…”

Audrey turned to Brandy. “I’m going to stay… Need some alone time… just for a minute.  You know, to think for a bit…”

“About Bret?”

Audrey nodded.

“It’s really dark. Are you sure?”

Audrey said, “I’ll be okay.”

Brandy handed her the flashlight. “Take this. I know the way back. But you’ll need it… Be careful… Okay? Everything will be fine… No critters to worry about…”

Audrey took the flashlight. “Thanks…”

She turned back to the wall and gazed at the glowing, watching, disembodied eyes.

I can almost detect faces behind them, she thought. Bret… What happened…?

She covered her face and sobbed.

Behind her, in almost a whisper, a man said, “Don’t be sad. Why do you cry?”

She turned and saw no one. She fumbled with the flashlight and it dropped.

Audrey mustered her most authoritative voice. “Stop playing with me. Let me alone.”

She found the flashlight and turned down the path leading to the campground. In the arch of the trees, in vague silhouette, a man stood. She stopped.

More startled than afraid she stood her ground. She aimed the light toward him. Behind him, the trees brightened.

Wait… Can I see through him?

He said, “You have spirit. But relax, I’m no threat.”

He sounded closer than he appeared.

Audrey called out. “What do you want?”

“I asked why you’re distraught.”

“You don’t know me. Why do you care?”

“I hate anyone feeling bad.”

“Really? And who are you?”

“I felt your grief. It drew me.”

Audrey began to relax. He cares…

She said, “Someone I loved… that I trusted, broke my heart.”

“He didn’t deserve you.”

She remained silent.

“I’m a good listener, if you want to talk.”

She glanced toward the distant glow from the campground. They’ll hear me, if I scream.

She said, “And if I wanted to talk, where would I find you?”

“I’m here. Now… Always…”

“You live here? You work at the campground?”

He didn’t respond immediately. “Not exactly. Always been here. Never been anywhere else.”

Audrey felt annoyed at his vague answers. “Do you have a name?”

He said, “That’s a rare question…”

“No one asks your name?”

“Never comes up. Don’t often talk to people. It’s Caelum.”

Audrey felt closer to him. “Never heard that. It’s beautiful.”

She walked to a fallen log and sat.

Caelum asked, “Are you alright?”

She looked up. He stood before her, a dim shadow against the trees.

How did he do that? Moments ago, he was over there.

“An emotional few days. Hard to imagine… Need to sit. I’ll be alright…”

Though only a vague shadow, she was thankful for his quiet presence.

She looked up. “Caelum… You’re a guy… Let me ask you something…”

“Yes…?”

“You go out with a woman. For weeks. You talk into the night. You click… emotionally, physically… Everything seems perfect…”

She paused. Caelum said, “You have a question?”

“Yeah… Why end it? Why let it die? Why kill it? Push it over a cliff? Stomp on the woman’s heart and make her feel less than nothing? Like trash?”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

“Okay. Got it. But why? Some guys…”

An owl announced its presence. Something moved in the underbrush. The silence betrayed the immensity of their surroundings.

Caelum said, “May I say, not only guys are known for that…?”

“Not me. He was so great. Perfect… you know?”

“Perfect?”

“He could have been more so. I mean, if he hadn’t ripped my heart up. He had so much potential.”

“Potential...”

“Exactly. A degree... More drive… He would have been unstoppable… Almost everything I knew he could be.”

“You would have helped him.”

“If he’d let me. I could’ve…”

“Too bad.”

“He said he needed me. I thought it was love.”

“Easy to confuse the two. Was there someone else?”

“No idea. Probably. She have better hair? A better figure?”

“No telling… Regardless, nothing you could change and still be yourself.”

Audrey looked at Caelum with fresh eyes.

“When’s your birthday?”

“What? I don’t… No one ever asked me.”

“Come on. Don’t be shy. I bet you’re a Taurus. I love Tauruses. Bet we’re a match.”

“I’ve never celebrated…”

“You’re kidding. Never? How’s that possible?”

“Well, birthdays are for… you know…”

“No… I give up… Wait… I get it. You’re an air sign. You can tell me that.”

“I really don’t know…”

“You’re perfect. We’d be the perfect couple. Audrey and Caelum…”

Caelum didn’t respond.

“Caelum? I can’t see you. Where’d you go?”

Audrey trained the flashlight around her. He had disappeared.

Now what? He was here a moment ago…

She could see the moon through the high branches. She’d never heard such silence. The faint sound of her friends singing drew her attention.

Weird… Guess I should get back…

Using the flashlight, in a few minutes, Audrey was back in the campground.

Seeing her return, her friends applauded her. Brandy offered her a folding chair. Amara offered her food. Opal held her flask out to her.

Brandy said, “Glad you made it back. We were getting worried.”

Audrey shook her head. “I’m fine. Had a nice chat back where you left me.”

Shea said, “With Bret?”

Everyone laughed. Audrey joined in too.

“No… I didn’t think so at first, but it might have been… a ghost.”

When the commotion quieted, Audrey continued. “I know it sounds… odd. But we were talking and then, poof. Gone.”

Amara said, “Classic ghost behavior…”

Everyone laughed.

Brandy asked, “Was he scary?”

“Not at all. He was so genuine, and comforting… Crazy but… I found myself falling in love.”

A chorus of protests rose. Four or five women offered their flasks. Audrey passed on them all.

“I know… big surprise… Classic rebound. Right? But I know what I saw. His name was Caelum. It felt real.”

Tracy said, “I’ve heard of him. Caelum, the ghost. He’s real? Up by the wall?”

“Where Brandy took me.”

No one knew what to say. After that, the party lost steam. The fire settled into embers. Everyone staggered to their tents and slept as well as possible.

The next day, the group did typical camping activities. Most of them joined in a hike. Audrey tagged along but kept to herself.

The next evening, Audrey told Brandy, “I’m going back up to the wall. See if Caelum is there.”

“Are you sure? You want company?”

“He might not show if I’m not alone.”

“Right. Take my flashlight. If I don’t see you in an hour, though, I’ll look for you.”

“Fair enough.”

Audrey made her way back up the path until she came to the overhanging rock wall. She looked around and saw nothing. Nothing had changed. Caelum was not evident.

She looked at the wall and caught her breath. Somehow, the glow worms had arranged themselves into a pattern.

Are those words? From Caelum?

It read, ‘Bret was right.’

Audrey felt weak. She sat heavily on the log from the night before. She suppressed a sob.

This is too much.

She said, “Ghosted again… Men…”