Charles had never been the social type. As a child, he would play alone with little toy cars and action figures. But he never played with the other human children.

Emphasis on human.

The adults only thought he had a hyperactive imagination. That the people he made up and played with were nothing more than pretend.

Of course, that wasn’t true.

Charles could see ghosts. His favorite to play ...

If his head wasn’t attached to his neck, Mr. Herbert would lose it.

If it weren’t for his grit, I’m sure he would quit.

Because the class would laugh and call him mad

But deep, deep down, they were truly glad

That Mr. Herbert could make them smile by just being him....

I woke up and it felt like…I was floating.

Out of blurry eyes I could see that I was in bed. My once warm blankets wrapped around me. But I felt detached.

What is going on?

I move my arm, relieved they could still move. And I pull up the blanket to my nose. The smell of cotton fills my nose.

I pull the blanket back down and look around the room. Remembering the day.

“Touch?” I ask myself. “I t...