One famous one is 'The Ghost and Mrs. Muir'. In it, a widow moves into a seaside cottage and meets the ghost of a sea captain. They have a passionate relationship filled with arguments and love. It shows how love can transcend the boundaries between the living and the dead.
Once upon a time, there was a young woman who moved into an old house. Every night, she felt a gentle presence. One day, she saw a faint figure of a man. He was a ghost from the past. They started to communicate through writing on foggy windows. Over time, they fell in love. But their love was doomed as he was from another realm.
A third theme is the mystery and the unknown. Ghosts are often associated with mystery, and in romantic ghost love stories, this adds an extra layer of allure. The living character is drawn to the ghost not just because of love but also because of the enigma that surrounds the ghost's existence. They want to uncover the secrets of the ghost's past and their after - life, which makes the story more engaging.
Another great short story is 'Love in L.A.' by Dagoberto Gilb. Jake, a young man, meets a woman named Mariana in Los Angeles traffic. They start chatting and there's an instant connection. The story beautifully captures the brief moment of attraction and the potential for love in the most unexpected of places, with the city of L.A. as a vivid backdrop.
There was a girl who often visited an old cemetery. One day, she noticed a strange yet beautiful glow near a particular grave. When she got closer, she saw the apparition of a young man. He told her he had been waiting for someone to see him for decades. They began to meet every day, and he would tell her stories of the old days. Their relationship grew, and she found herself falling in love with this ghostly figure. It was a love that defied the boundaries between the living and the dead.
Well, longing is a very common theme. The ghost longs for the living world and especially for the love of a particular person. It's also common to have the theme of sacrifice. The ghost might sacrifice its own afterlife peace to be with the living person they love. And then there's the theme of mystery. The very nature of the ghost adds an element of mystery to the relationship. The living person is often trying to understand this otherworldly being they've fallen in love with.
Another example could be from some Asian folklore. In Japanese mythology, there are stories of humans falling in love with yokai (spirits or ghosts). For instance, a young man might encounter a beautiful female spirit in a forest. Their love is often bittersweet as they are from different worlds. The relationship is filled with longing and a sense of the ephemeral nature of their love because of the transient nature of the spirit world.
Once, at a crowded music festival, a girl lost her phone. A boy found it and returned it to her. Their eyes met, and there was an instant spark. They spent the rest of the festival together, sharing food, dancing, and falling in love. It was a brief but intense love that started from that one kind act.
One important element is a chance encounter. Like in the story where two people meet by accident at a coffee shop and their eyes meet for the first time. It gives a sense of fate.