Revenant Paul Lahote

Chapter 22

Something in Caylee's heart felt heavy. 

An immeasurable amount of weight laid it's heavy head on her chest, pushing the air from her lungs and slowly suffocating her. Her eyes felt watery and coincided with the weather outside. 

She was supposed to be happy.

Yet as she slowly got ready in the morning without Paul - one of the first mornings he hadn't been present for - she couldn't help but struggle with the lump that lodged it's way in her throat. Caylee stopped at the door at the end of the hallway, hand shakily hovering over the doorknob before finally gaining enough strength to open it. 

Gran's room was so empty. 

The rocking chair remained immobile; disregarded notebooks and half knitted blankets thrown about the room in the true messy fashion that Gran had. Caylee walked cautiously as though Gran was going to pop out of nowhere and yell at her for being in her room. Smoothing her hand across one of the notebooks that was far less dusty than the others; it was clear it was used more recently compared to the others. 

She opened it carefully and a small photo fell out, but that didn't bother her one bit. No, caught Caylee's attention was the last page to be written in, addressed to her. 

My darlin' , 

If you are reading this I am probably gone, or you are just feeling snoopy. 

I only ask for you to not be sad. Don't mourn for me child, as I'm certain that when my time comes it will be for a good reason. Our journey in this lifetime is limited, so we must savor every feeling we come across, good or bad. Know that we will meet again. 

Your spirit touches others in a way common people like myself cannot. You believe that what you have is a curse, but I promise you that it's a gift. Paul will help you with that without either of you noticing. Hold him close, my dear, as you two have been given a special chance, and your love will be pure and undeniable. Timeless. 

Trust in him and trust in yourself. You two will balance each other in ways you can't even realize. 

I'm proud of you. 

Love, Gran

"Hey," Paul's voice pulled Caylee out of her thoughts, and she shut the notebook carefully. His eyes were clearly filled with concern, and he knew this was the first time since Gran died that his imprint had been in the room. 

He didn't bother to ask if she was okay, which she was grateful for. Instead he sat down next to her and pulled her body close, soothingly running one hand through her hair. "What's this?" He asked, picking up the forgotten photo. 

The two looked at it once, then at each other and back again. 

"It's him." Caylee smiled. 

In the photo sat a much younger looking Gran, sitting on the steps of the porch smiling wide. But she was not alone - there was a man beside her, looking down at her with eyes filled with pure adoration. 

"They guy from her story," Paul exhaled. It was surreal. They had only heard the story a handful of times, asking occasionally like little kids that wanted to hear a bedtime story. Truthfully, Caylee just loved the idea that there had truly been a love so strong and clear, and that her Gran was lucky to have it. While Paul had been intrigued at the notion, constantly thinking of the girl sitting beside him whenever Gran would speak about the love she and the man shared. 

"I've seen him before," Paul said suddenly, making Caylee's eyes go wide. 

"What? Where?" 

"In one of the pictures at Sam's. Old Quil gave him a bunch of old albums when he told him some of the basic legends. You don't think?" Paul and Caylee shared a knowing look before bursting into a fit of giggles. 

When their laughter died down, both lightheaded, they flipped it over. 

'May our souls remain tethered until we meet again.' 

For those of you also missing Gran <3