Short Stories

one

"Ian?" I question running to the old wooden bench. He says nothing as I take a seat next to him, staring up at the blue stars. There is silence between us, as I sit there picking at my nails.

"It's beautiful, isn't it? You can see all of space from here and the great expanse of it all." His calmness is contagious, but something still nags me.

"Why are you here? Gone for 15 years and you show up now, why?" I inquire finally looking at him, his short brown hair peaking out from under his beanie; I only hold his gaze for a second before he is staring out at the sky again. "I just want answers, Ian. I mourned you for years." Tears prick my eyes as he reaches out and brushes them away.

"Time moves differently here; I always knew one day you would need me. Just look how much you've grown sorellina". Little sister, "you have a daughter now, your getting better day by day", my eyes dart to my feet he knows. Ever since that day I've been drinking heavily tyring to find a way to cope, but now I have a family with my daughter. I haven't touched a drink since her birth 4 years ago, but before I came here, I thought about it and was ready to ruin all my progress. "Hey, it's okay sorellina, you don't have to miss me." He reaches around me pulling me close in a warm hug. Finally letting go as my sobs subside into a twisted face of sadness.

"I can't help but miss you. You left so suddenly all I got was a call from the hospital."

"I'm sorry I hurt you, but I can't control my fate. You can still change yours though, I still want the best for you. Sometimes you may look back with regret and sorrow, but for me, please just try to live in today cause hey", he tilts my face up so we're eye to eye, "it's not all that bad." Ian pulls me in tightly, hugging me like this one moment is everything and I guess for him it is, this is the last moment of a lifetime.

"Addio anima mia lascia che Plutone ti dia il benvenuto per riposare." Goodbye my soul, let Pluto welcome you to rest. At first his hands start to fade, then his body and finally his face with those vibrant golden eyes. Looking to this beautiful view one last time with the blue stars I whisper, "the play is over applaud."

The sky becomes darker and my vision swells, then the golden light of day comes through. I sit on a bench, rough old wood scraping my fingers. The sun is just peaking over the hilltop bringing around a new day. "Mummy, mummy!" My daughter yells running up to me, a pout on her face. "You said you would just be a minute, aren't you going to come play with me."

"Of course, tesoro." Sweetheart, turning away from the bench I can feel Ian moving on to his next life, a smile tugging at my cheeks.