The Chosen.

Genius

Mia spotted a hotel off of the side of the highway and the sun seemed to be setting quickly so we decided to set up here for the night.

"Alright, we all need to talk." Bill says seriously with his hands up in front of him but i can't help but to giggle at his theatrics. Cutting his eyes from me he starts

"Okay has everyone seen the figure?"

"Yes."

"Yep."

"I see it in my room standing over me while i sleep." Zeke says while looking at the floor his eyes refusing to meet any of ours, "Actually, i saw it in the furniture store last night too. But i'm just so used to it i didn't think you guys could see him too."

Everyone glances around the room suddenly uncomfortable at the fact it was watching us sleep last night, and the fact that i could be here this very second.

"Okay when did you start seeing it?" Bill asks his eyes narrowed as he is deep in thought

"Uhm. well when i died." The entire room falls into silence, Tom's audible chewing ceases. Zeke continues, "I was 16 and i got hit by a car. I died on the way to the hospital and when they revived me it was there. It's been looming in my shadows ever since."

"I died too. I had cancer when i was 10." Mia says, her eyes meeting his to provide understanding to his situation. "Hey, matter of fact, that's when my dreams started."

Bills gaze meets mine "And June? Have you...died?"

My eyes dart around the room searching just a moment of peace, this trauma is still so recent for me. "Yeah... I-... Yeah." i stammer from my unwilling lips, i can't give any more information i just can't. Not with out losing my shit anyways. Just bringing it up is making my stomach turn and all the sudden the candy in my mouth starts to turn bitter. The group stays silent as if they're feeling my pain with me, it's almost comforting. They aren't hounding me with questions like the rest of the world, they understand my trauma and my avoidance.

"I've never seen it." Tom says shyly, he's the only one out of all of us here that hasn't. What is his purpose amongst us? I don't think that's fair of me to be asking though, i still haven't figured out our purpose yet either.

"And i've never died... but neither has Tom." Bill says his hand on his face as he racks his brain

"Lucky." Mia whispers making Zeke and I laugh, she's right. They're extremely lucky. I wish i could experience life with out seeing it through trauma filled lenses. Tom points his finger towards Bill sitting across from him

"Bill, that's not true. You died when we were babies, the day we were born."

"Ohhh yeah! you tried to kill me i remember now!" Bill announces to the group

"That's not what happened." Tom says rolling his eyes

Bill having a eureka moment jumps from the bed "So, we have all had near death experiences, and we all see this thing. Except Tom." Tom points his finger at him to signify he's correct "So, if this is about those experiences there has to be more people out there, one's like us that have been on that brink of death."

"Oh my god, Bill you are genius." I jump up from the bed as he throws his arms around me pulling into his warm embrace. We sway holding the hug and i breathe in his scent as i lay my head in the crook of his neck. Zeke coughs and Bill and i break away awkwardly realizing our hug went on for a little too long for every one else's comfort.