COCOLATE

Chapter 8

Jenny was in the forest. The same as yesterday. She looks around. But couldn't find her brother.

“Jeff? You here?” She calls out. Suddenly she feels a hand on her shoulder and screams, startled. She turns and sees Jeff laughing.

“Ahh! Jeff!! You scared the hell out of me! This place is already scary and on top of that…. You scared me!” She places a hand on her chest and exclaims. He doesn't stop laughing. He then pulls her into a hug and kisses her forehead.

“How was my little sister's day?”

“Let's sit somewhere! I'll tell you!” 

Jeff sits down immediately and pats the space next to her.

“You want to sit here?” She asks him. He nods. She sits down beside him.

“Jeff?”

“Yes?”

“Can you go to different places now? In my dream?”

“We can. But I always wanted to stay here...so I didn't go.”

“But...why? You died here….”

“Yes... I died here…..but I still love this place...this place always gave me peace. I used to come here when I was troubled. This place holds a special place to my heart...a few days before I died, I wanted to bring you here. It could have been our place. But now we can only meet here in your dreams.” He sighs.

Jenny holds her brother's hands and smiles. “We can make it our place Jeff…even if it's only in our dreams, it's still our place.”  He nods, tears in his eyes.

“I'm so sorry Jen, I'm so sorry I left you...if I was still alive, I wouldn't have let anyone bully you.” He sobs.

“Hey! Don't be sorry Jeff... it's okay. I'm fine..” She tells him.

*Am I really fine?*

She doesn't know.

Jeff then looks behind her, wipes his tears and smiles.

“You finally decided to come!” He exclaims.

“I had to! I have news!” A deep voice spoke.

Jenny turned and saw a man. He looked like he was in his thirties. He was really fair. He looked handsome. He was clad in black from head to toe. She turns back to Jeff.

“Who is he?” She asks him.

“Jasper! Come sit!” Jeff pats the ground next to him. Jasper sits down and they form a triangle. Jeff looks at Jenny.

“Jenny, this is Jasper. He's a grim reaper. He was the one assigned to collect me...when I died and met him, I pleaded with him to let me stay. It was a miracle that he let me. I've been with him for two years and we were trying to find a way to meet you. And we found a way just a few days back. So I came to meet you as soon as I could!”

“Honesty, in all the 500 years of my service as a grim reaper, I've never seen someone so desperate to stay. That too for a sibling. He loves you a lot Jenny. You're lucky to have had a brother like that.”

“I love my sister so much Jasper.” Jeff holds Jenny's hand and chuckles.

*******

Betty: Hey Jenny, can we exchange our brothers?

Jenny:What the—Hell no! No way!

Betty: Take my brother then! He's for free!

Jenny: Never!