A little too late (A Pete angst Story)

Chapter 18

~Next Day~ Pete POV

I drive to Rose's house and ring the doorbell. Her mother opens the door and leads me to the living room where she is. She leaves me to give us space, and I call her name gently. She turns around, and it feels like the breath in me was snatched out. Those are 100% Wynter's eyes. Rose gets up and smiles, coming to me and hugging me tightly. I can feel my shirt becoming wet, so I assume she's crying, and all I can do is cry with her. She's probably overjoyed that she can see and explore so many parts of the world that she could never imagine and I am crying because I didn't know how much I would miss looking into Wynter's eyes. We head to the couch and talk about all the things she wants to do so we look through yearbooks and old school projects. We plan a ton of events she wants to do since she can see now, and I just take in her excitement for a moment. She asks to see pictures of all my friends so I show them and tell her who is who and that's when she asked about Wynter. I looked through her memorialized Instagram for the last picture she took and showed her Wynter. She asked me why her page looked different so I finally had to explain what she missed.

"She was really depressed and lonely, and that became too much for her. She passed away a few days before you got the call for your eye surgery. "

"I'm sorry, I know she meant a lot to you"

"We hadn't talked in a couple of years, so I don't know if I have a right to be sad"

"Of course you do. She used to make you really happy...wait, I have her eyes. I had a note that all it said was "I request that you go and be happy so we all can be happy"

"Sounds like her, she was so focused on making sure everyone else was happy, and yet she could never genuinely find her own. I have to visit her mother because she left me something with her"

"May I come for support? I don't think you going alone is a good idea. It's too hard"

"I would appreciate that"

So we got ready, hopped in the car, and drove to her mother's house which was a little bit out since I moved as an adult. She still lives across the street from my mom, so they may be spending more time together. We arrived and I just stand there having difficulty knocking. I feel sick as if I am about to pass out,  but Rose grabs my hand and she rings the doorbell. She opens the door and slightly smiles before letting us both in and leading us both to the living room. I introduce my girlfriend, and she is very nice to her, although I am sure a part of her despises us both. I don't think she has noticed anything about Rose. Before I can figure out what to say Rose speaks up.

"I'm sorry for your loss. No words will be enough to provide comfort but I mainly came today because I think your daughter donated her eyes to me and if that would help at all to see them at least one more time then I would like to do that for you"

"Wynter's eyes?"

Rose grabs her hands and looks at her. It didn't take long before she saw it and started tearing up. She let go and stood up.

"Thank you Rose, I will be right back. I have to bring Pete his things"

She left before either of us could respond and I hugged Rose.

"You did an amazing thing for her, she is resilient, so she is not going to cry in front of us. I know that meant the world to her"

"Thanks, I think I am going to wait in the car. This is a very personal moment and bond that you two have over Wynter, and I don't feel comfortable invading that. Take your time and come out whenever."

"You don't have to"

"Out of respect I want to, I don't know if I would have wanted Wynter in the house with you and my mom if things were the other way around"

She smiled, kissed my cheek, and headed out. Wynter's mom came back and asked where she went.

"Where'd she go?"

"She wanted us to have privacy to mourn Wynter, and she felt as if she was invading since we are dating"

"Well, that was nice of her. She wanted me to give you this scrapbook she made it should have pictures of every memory you two ever created. It should even have some pictures of your other friends I met a few times. A batch of brownies is on the kitchen counter for you, the recipe you two always made when one of you was sad, and this QR code plate with one side being all the different classical music she played and on the other a playlist of all you two favorite songs."

"Wow, she really is an angel. She gave me so many comfort items so that I couldn't fall apart."

"She was like that, she left me the beneficiary of her life insurance policy and it has where I can travel and explore the way I always said we would do. She wants me to live for the both of us so I have to figure out how to do that. I might have your mom be my travel buddy so I am not alone every once in a while"

"I think that would be amazing. You don't hate me do you?"

"No, I think she would have left earlier if she had not met you so you bought me time. I wish you had been more open about your feelings. Although you never were in love with her I think her hearing from you at least once that you loved her would have meant the world to her, she would light up when Danny or one of the other boys told her that. She just wanted love from a world that didn't love her back"

"Can you send me the information for where you buried her? It might be kind of late but I feel she is still here and I would like to visit sometime and talk to her"

"Of course, you can visit if you want or you can just think about her. She shows up in my dreams and she told me she's been visiting her different friends to comfort them"

"Will do"

"Well, I don't want that girl waiting too long in the car. Here's my number if you ever want to reach out and talk. I have to look after you and the boys now since Wynter's not here"

I hugged her tight and we just embraced for a while before I let her go, took my things, and headed to the car. I loaded it up and drove off. I will listen to the playlist and look through the scrapbook later when I am alone. I hate that I was just a little too late...