All that we have

Three

June

Skye

After getting home a little after sunrise and crawling into bed, I was less than impressed when the incessant buzzing of my phone woke me up a short time later.

"Hello," I answered groggily.

"Skye? Where are you?" My mothers voice sounded out over the phone. I tried to remember where I was meant to be, drawing a blank.

"In bed?"

"Are you coming to Zach's today? For Logan's birthday?"

Shit. My nephew's eighth birthday. I told everyone I would still be there. They said I didn't have to come, given it would be the first family event since Michael's death, but I love my nephew and promised him I would be there. I couldn't believe I forgot.

"Urgh, yes. Yes I'll be there in an hour," I scrambled out of bed.

"Did you get him a gift?"

Double shit. "I'll pick him up a gift card on the way. I'll see you soon ok?"

An hour later I was pulling up to my brothers mini mansion. Zach was the successful sibling. He worked hard, got a great job as an accountant at a top firm in the city and along with his wife they had recently purchased their dream home on this half acre block for their perfect little family. It's got the whole lot, beautiful house, swimming pool, a half basketball court and he's been building a guest house out back too.

I'm proud of him though, because I know how hard he worked to get here. He never planned on having his first child at only twenty-one. It only made him work harder to provide for his family.

We were always close growing up, and mostly stayed that way as adults. His wife Alyssa and I don't always see eye to eye. Or more so, she doesn't seem to like me that much, I've never really had a problem with her. She's nice to my face, but I've overheard comments and seen the facial expressions that give away far more than she probably intends. I definitely wasn't in her bridal party when they married. You could say we tolerate each others company, but we sure aren't chatting on the reg.

I sat in the car for a bit preparing myself to walk inside. Michael adored Zach's kids, Logan and Miley. For all his faults, he never let those kids down and they were always so excited to see him too.

Now I was about to walk inside for the first time in their lives without him.

After having lay in someone else's arms only hours earlier.

Type mess into google, I'm sure my picture will show up.

My insides were a whirlwind of emotions. Is there even a proper way for someone in my situation to react? Knowing I can't sit out the front forever, I grabbed the birthday card on my otherwise empty passenger seat and made my way inside.

"Aunty Skye!" Miley's little voice cried out as she barrelled into my legs, holding her arms up to be picked up for a cuddle. She's was nearly six years old, but wasn't yet too old to be excited to see me.

"Hey, Ley-ley, I've missed you!" I hugged her tight as we walked down the hallway towards the voices of everyone else who was there.

"I miss you too. Where's uncle Mikey?" She asked looking behind me. I felt the ice enter my veins as panic overtook me. I know Zach tried to explain how death works to her, but he said he didn't really think she understood. I didn't have a clue where to even start to help a five year grasp the concept of death.

"Uncle Mikey won't be here Miley. Remember what daddy told you?" Zach saved the moment addressing his daughter, mouthing sorry to me.

"Uncle Mikey won't be coming around anymore, but he'll always be in here," her little voice repeated the words I assumed Zach told her as she touched a hand over her little heart.