It had been five years since Oakley had last seen Mrs. Cooper, but he could still remember the kindness in her eyes when she had taken him in after his release from jail. He was now living on his own, pursuing his dream of becoming a professional comic book artist. Today, he was sitting in his small apartment, working on the latest issue of his comic book series.
As he sketched out a scene of Billy and the pixies in the enchanted forest, he heard a knock at the door. He wasn't expecting anyone, so he set down his pencil and walked over to answer it.
To his surprise, Mrs. Cooper was standing on the other side, a warm smile on her face.
"Mrs. Cooper, it's so good to see you!" Oakley said, stepping aside to let her in.
"It's good to see you too, Oakley. How have you been?"
"I've been doing well, thank you. Just working on my comic book series."
"I've heard about it. It's quite popular, isn't it?"
Oakley smiled modestly. "It's doing pretty well, I guess."
Mrs. Cooper looked around the apartment, taking in the simple furnishings and the stacks of comic books and sketchpads scattered about. "You've come a long way, Oakley. I'm proud of you."
"Thank you," Oakley said, feeling a lump form in his throat.
They chatted for a while, catching up on old times and reminiscing about Billy. Mrs. Cooper asked about the latest issue of Oakley's comic book, and he showed her the sketches he had been working on.
"I'm really enjoying this issue," he said. "It's all about Billy's adventures in pixie land."
Mrs. Cooper's eyes widened. "Pixie land? Billy used to tell me stories about that place when he was a little boy."
Oakley smiled. "Yeah, that's where he and I went in my sketchbook. We had some crazy adventures there."
Mrs. Cooper looked at him thoughtfully. "Do you still talk to Billy?"
Oakley's smile faded. "No, I haven't seen him since I graduated high school. But sometimes I feel like he's still with me, you know?"
Mrs. Cooper nodded. "I know what you mean. Billy will always be a part of you, Oakley. But don't let your memories of him hold you back. You've got your own life to live, and I'm sure Billy would want you to make the most of it."
Oakley nodded, feeling a sense of sadness and gratitude wash over him.
After Mrs. Cooper left, Oakley returned to his work, feeling inspired and motivated to keep creating. He knew that Billy would always be a part of him, but he was ready to move forward and make his own mark on the world.
