Heather slowly walked back into the store, thoroughly exhausted from the day, and looked up to see the apparition behind the counter wearing her daughter's face. Weeks ago this would have still shocked and scared her, but she'd become inured to its attempts after all this time. She sighed audibly and reached out to take hold of the counter, leaning forward to stretch her aching back and leg muscles.
She sensed a change in the temperature of the room and looked up. The phantasm had changed entirely, no longer wearing Brigid's familiar face but one Heather didn't recognize, though no less beautiful. It was dressed in a silver satin gown, sleek and shiny, and its chestnut hair draped down over one shoulder of the smooth material.
Music started, a slow big band number in a minor key--Heather didn't know from where--and she stood up watching the creature with a confused expression. It moved from behind the counter and reached a bare arm toward her. Heather stepped back slightly, off-balance--it had never made moves to physically interact with her before and she didn't know what to expect. It was fast though, faster than she anticipated, and its hand touched her left hip. Before she could react it had stretched its other hand to hold hers and lifted it into a dancing pose. In time with the soft sultry female voice that had started singing over the music, the being started slow steps, leading Heather almost without her realizing it had happened. Bemusedly Heather lifted her other hand to its shoulder, feeling the silkiness of the dress covering its shoulder.
They continued moving together and the apparition (could she even continue to think of it as that, as solid and physical it felt under her hands?) subtly moved its hand further across Heather's back, pulling her closer in as they danced. Heather tentatively slid her left hand past its shoulder, sliding smoothly along its back, finding a teardrop cutout in the back of the dress. She lightly trailed her fingers across the exposed skin and felt a shiver go through the...the being...the...woman she was pressed against. Her head had been down thus far but Heather lifted it, locking unexpectedly with eyes showing infinite sadness. She gasped slightly at the intimacy she suddenly felt, and the woman out of time slid her left hand down Heather's arm, leaving goosebumps in its wake, and then slowly down the side of her cotton shirt, stopping at the waistband of her skirt.
As the sad melody played on, their dancing brought them closer to the edge of the room, and without warning Heather felt herself pressed between the wall and the soft body holding her. She felt the hand on her waist move slowly down over her hip, her thigh, and find the hem of her skirt. At the same time the other arm around her waist tightened, and one satin-clad leg insinuated itself between her legs. The other woman broke the connection of their gaze momentarily, allowing Heather's brain to restart, and she said in a throaty, weak voice, "Someone might walk in."
