The Beauty of Betrayal

Chapter 0.4

Kissing my finger and placing it on the headstone, I stood up and smiled. Not a fake smile, but a smile full of happiness. I feel so much better now that I've talked to my brother. I never realized until now how much I needed that.

I walked back to the car to find Gracie sitting there with a smile on her face. Opening the car door, I climbed into the passenger seat. "Hey."

"Hey, how was it?"

"Oddly satisfying. I feel more connected to him now" I responded with a smile.

"That's great P. I'm glad you decided to do this. Who knows maybe it'll even help you with everything you have going on in your life." She said, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.

I nodded and gave her a small smile. "Yeah hopefully. Well let's head home. Mom wants to go get new bathing suits before we leave."

Gracie pulled out of the cemetery and headed in the direction of our neighborhood. "So where are you guys going for your trip?"

"We decided on Cancun" I answered, looking out the window at the passing scenery.

"Ooo Sounds like a lot of fun. Promise me one thing" Gracie started as she parked her car in my driveway.

"What?"

"You'll try to have fun."

I smiled at her. "I promise."

After giving Gracie a big hug and promising to call her every night during our trip, I walked up the front steps of my house and called my mom down.

"Mom let's go!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming, don't get your thong all in a bunch."

I rolled my eyes before going to get into my mother's car.

That late morning and part of the afternoon, I allowed my mother to dress me up in as many bathing suits that she deemed necessary. It's been a while since we've done the whole "Mother daughter shopping spree" thing so I let her have her moment.

We are now back home packing up our new clothes and loading the SUV. Packing up my vans, Converse, and nike slides I put my shoe bag by the door and checked my clothing bag for the fifth time.

Once I had checked and then double checked and then triple checked, I headed down stairs to see what everyone else was up to.

"Hey dad, whatcha doin' ?" I asked

"Hey kiddo. Nothing just checking your brother's bags. Someone has to make sure they packed their necessities," My father answered before continuing to dig through my brother's bags.

"Well I'm gonna go back up and double check again." My dad laughed before waving me off.

I climbed the stairs slowly before reaching his door. I know it's probably not the best idea to go up here before leaving, but If I'm being honest I think it's the only way I'll be able to make it through this trip. He's always made me feel at home.

I took a deep breath before gently twisting the door knob and stepping into the room. Everything still looked the same. It still even smelled like him. A tear made its way down my face. Leisurely I looked around the room, taking everything in.

It's weird for something to look exactly the same as before, but feel so empty. Hunter's room used to be so bright and seemed like it was full of life. Now, it just seems like everything faded to gray. His black walls added to the emptiness, so did the empty bed, and the empty computer chair.

If there was anything in this room that Hunter loved more other than his bed, it would be his desk. He loved writing letters, playing his video games, and reading books at his desk. It was his favorite place. He used to say it gave him a sense of control knowing that whatever he did at that desk was his own. And no one could ever take that away from him.