Ghost of You ♡ LRH

31 - Heaven's Not Too Far

Can I please have one more minute?

I gave you life

Now you gotta watch it leave my eyes

But Heaven's not too far away

No, I know someday you'll visit

Heaven's Not Too Far – We Three

♡

9 Years Ago

Aria

Everything was dark.

What happened?

Where am I?

"Come on sweetheart, you have to fight. You're all I have left." The woman's voice sounded a million miles away. It sounded familiar but I couldn't place it. Along with the sound of crying, there was a very faint beeping. "I don't know if you can hear me dear but if you can, I want you to fight. I know everything seems like the end of the world but I promise you that there is so much left for you to see. Fight for it. Fight for Luke."

Fight? What happened to me?

The accident. Where is everyone else? Please tell me they are all okay! How am I still alive? I can't go on without them. I can't be the only one left, I refuse to believe it. That woman said she was all I had left...and I know wasn't mom or Stella. Aunt Carissa. A feeling of warmth began to envelop my body. I could hear screaming and the beeping cease.

I'm so sorry but you are going to have to forgive me. I can't fight when I've already lost everything. I don't wanna fight. I just want to go home.

♡

My eyes fluttered slowly open. I was in my bedroom? The familiar feeling of my bed helped ease my panic. That was the worst nightmare I have ever had. A groan left my lips as I stretched out. The floor was cold beneath my feet. I padded over to the window only to be met with a confusing sight.

The world outside looked way too bright and soft to be natural. It almost looked like it was blurry outside. The sinking panic that I pushed back earlier came flooding back. I pushed myself away from the window and bound down the stairs. This was my home! My eyes just have to be playing a trick on me. No matter where I went, I couldn't find anyone. This is reality not a dream! It has to be!

"Aria?" I whipped around at the familiar voice.

"Dad?" Without thinking I launched myself at him. I broke down in his arms at the familiar feeling of his embrace. "I was so scared." He wouldn't understand what I was talking about but I didn't care. This was all just one nightmare.

"Hey darling, I need you to do me a big favor." His voice was shaky. My blood ran cold. Dad was the strongest man I knew but right now he sounded so weak. "Look at me." Instead I buried myself further into his chest. I know when I look at him, something bad is gonna happen. "Aria, honey I need you to do this for me."

I clung onto him as if he was my lifeline...and I fear he may actually be my lifeline right now. He unwrapped his arms from around me and forced me to look up at him. "Dad please tell me that was just a dream. I can't do this."

"I'm sorry baby girl, but you can't be here." All the air was knocked from me. No...no! "I'm gonna need you to wake up for me okay?"

"Are you here alone?" I knew diverting from the conversation was childish but I needed answers. I needed to know if there was anything left for me. Dad rolled his lips in and shook his head. "Who else? Please tell me that someone else made it!"