Sweet Penelope

I love you.

The nurse cut my shirt off and examined the wound. I clenched my jaw as she stitched it up. Allison held my hand and rested her head in my neck. "The bullet had an exit wound, and there's no damage internally. You're going to be very sore for a few days. Replace the bandages twice the day, clean it, and take your pain meds. You'll be just fine." I smiled. "Thank you." Allison kissed my lips. "We did it." She wiped the tear from my face. I smiled and for the first time, I envisioned Kirk. He was sitting on the end of my bed, stroking his beard as usual. "I'm so proud of you, son. Perfect shot to the head, just like I taught you." I started to cry. "Thank you for everything, Dad." He patted my leg, as Penelope appeared on the other side of the bed. She had tears running down her rosy cheeks and she sniffled. "May his soul burn forever. Thank you, bubby." She hugged me around my neck and I squeezed her tightly. Then, Penelope grabbed Kirk's hand and they walked out together. Allison touched my cheek. "Are you seeing things again?" I nodded. "Not things. Penelope and Kirk." Allison grinned. "I felt their souls, but I couldn't see them."

Police officers questioned us both. We were both honest about everything and it was ruled as self defense. Allison continually made jokes about my butt as we walked through the hospital halls, as she kept pulling the gown back to look at it. I jokingly told her to stop, and she started laughing. "Oh, I'm only admiring it."

We headed home. Back to Illinois. Though as long as I was with Allison, I was home. She decided to drive and the seatbelt rubbed against my wound, so I put it behind my head and only wore it around my waist.

Life resumed. We cooked together. Ate together. Slept together. Showered together. Cried and laughed together. Allison was my best friend. So, when I walked into the jewelry store, there was no doubt in my mind. "I need something shiny. Beautiful yet simple." I thought those words also described her. The engagement ring was perfect, it matched her aurora like no other.

I took her to the park. We had a picnic under the stars and of course, I wasn't able to bring enough food to fulfill the hungry beast. We looked at the stars and we searched for constellations. We even witnessed a shooting star, which was something I had never see before. She played a song from her phone, and we started to dance together. My eyes swelled with tears as I got down on one knee and looked up into her glowing green eyes. She covered her mouth and started to cry herself. "Will you marry me?" Allison screamed the word "yes" at me.

The visions went away. I missed seeing Penelope but I knew it was better that way. You'll always linger in the past if you allow it to haunt you. Allison and I painted the nursery together. We agreed on a pastel yellow, it seemed to fit either gender and we were too excited to leave it blank. Allison was nervous to carry a child again, considering the loss of her first baby. But I knew she would do perfect.

Everything suddenly made sense. My purpose in my life was not to murder evil. It was to be a husband and a father. I never truly knew my own father, dumping me at seven years old. He was my inspiration to be better. And Kirk was my role model on how to be the better. I wish Kirk could meet his grandchild. I also knew Penny would be the best aunt. I couldn't see them anymore but as Allison, I could feel their souls. And they were content. And they were proud of me.

I hung Penelope's drawing in the nursery. I was only able to save one out of her many. So I created some drawings in her memory. Of the perfect family, which isn't unrealistic if you want it bad enough. I hung my drawings beside hers, putting the thumbtacks in a rainbow pattern.

And I remember when Cheryl called me. She was crying and said she seen Daniel's obituary on the internet. They were tears of joy, of course. She also explained to me that she divorced Thomas. She said he went totally off the rails, irritable and angry. Cheryl claimed she had no idea what happened to him, she cracked a joke saying he was going through male menopause. Thomas attended Daniel's funeral, and apparently, he was the only one besides Daniel's ex. I told Cheryl that she was a grandmother and she went into more tears. She started visiting us regularly, she fell absolutely in love with Allison and they even started their own bakery together.

I am so glad that I decided to hang on. To give life a chance. I still break down sometimes. I still cry and I always miss my father and my baby sister. But that is life. There can't be all good with no bad, and there can't be all bad with no good.