Unsaid Love (JATP fanfiction)

• Chapter XIV •

Pennsylvania, 2021:

Alex's POV:

A moment awaits me that I thought I would never have again. Well, actually I'm only experiencing it indirectly. I see them, but they have no idea that I am there, that I am standing in front of them and that I hear exactly what they are talking about.

For my parents I no longer exist in any way. I left them at that time without saying goodbye to them - I had no other choice. Through my death, I have turned their lives completely upside down. But why did they change towards me?

They took it literally. I only know Fiona's point of view, but I know she is telling me the truth. I've seen how much it affects her that our parents never really talked about me. Still, I don't have a chance to hold my thoughts against them. I am dead.

"Alex, are you ready?"

"On my way."

The next three days the boys have to survive without me in some way. Oh god..

At least there's Melanie and Julie to look after them. Because who knows what stupid ideas they'll get when I'm gone. Honestly, I don't even want to think about it, because it can't be good.

I climb into Fiona's passenger seat and fasten my seat belt. She packs up the last of her things and says goodbye to her girls.

On the car ride we finally have time for ourselves again. Because of her programme in the last few weeks, our sibling time, which we have missed so much for so long, has come up too short. We also reassure each other mentally about how to react in front of our parents. We are so used to talking to each other that we now have to watch out for our parents. They don't know anything about me and I have the feeling that it's better that way in the future. I don't have the feeling that they would take it so well. I've heard about such problems from someone due to change.

"Hey Mom, hey Dad!", Fiona greets our parents as they open the door for us.

"Hey honey, welcome home."

At the sight of the two of them, I feel fear rising inside me. You can tell by the years I've been away. Mum's hair has gone a little greyer and dad has got glasses.

Fiona gets her suitcases out of the car and enters our childhood home. But I stand rooted to the spot, still in the same place as 5 minutes ago.

Only with Fiona's worried look in my direction do I wake up from my fear.

"We can do it. Together."

With a small movement of her head, she invites me to follow her into the house.

Everything is still the same as I remember it. The sofa is still there in the same grey. The TV is still a little askew and in the kitchen there is still the wooden table with a little corner broken off. Yes, that was me. When I was a little kid, I drove along there with my toy car and hit my head.

"Honey, do you want to take your luggage upstairs? I cooked for us afterwards.", my mom asks.

"Yeah sure, I'll freshen up and be right back." , Fiona said.

I follow Fiona upstairs to her old room. The very room that used to be my playroom. Now it's totally rearranged, logically enough. Fiona's bed is under the skylight, where she has a perfect view of the sky. Her desk is opposite with a lamp and a few pictures set up of her and our parents.

But one of the picture frames stands out. A beautifully decorated picture frame stands right next to her bed on the bedside table. And there is no other picture of our parents in it. No. It's my grave... "Alex Mercer, not gone, just gone ahead. Watch over us now from above."