Land of the Gods

Chapter 1

Acceptance

I haven't seen my sister since Stella's graduation party. That was three years ago. I still wait for her. I know she's not coming back but, it feels like she'll burst through the doors congratulating me. " I knew it Solis !! Top of your grade and valedictorian. Congrats lil bro" . Why can't she be here? Me and Stella light her favorite candle. June 20th graduation day and the day of her passing. " Congrats Solis. Lucia would've been proud". I know.

Lucia died in a crash on her way to Stella's graduation party . She had dozens of roses, pizza and gifts. On the site she was hit, rose petals fell making a rainfall of red. Red as in the fire, blood, and roses that engulfed the blue sky. Her car was burned and half of the front was smashed in. The semi- truck hit two other cars after. Three kids ages 18, 10, 1 died. Their mother? They couldn't identify her until her husband saw a bag with her engagement ring. The other car was a new father headed to his baby's first day on earth. Why must god take the ones that want to live?

She saved up enough money from her two jobs to buy Stella a car. She had appointments for a family photo shoot. She had plans with her friends to see the new movie that came out. She had bought new pillows for the living room couches. She had my graduation to attend to. She had so much to live for.

Stella was my guardian after she was stable enough to adopt me. I was in foster care for a few months. Wasn't the worst thing honestly just had to share a room with two other boys. They were gross, smelly, and scrawny. Being raised by women all my life made me more aware of how I should present myself and how to be confident in my own skin. We were an amazing family. Death took them away slowly.

I had an appointment to get my transcript and graduation photos at school today. Stella dropped me off with the car Lucia gifted her. The drive there was silent. After her death we haven't spoken as much as we used to. Making a right turn to the entrance to my high school I see the graduation balloons up high in the air. Graduation ended an hour ago. Our counselors made appointments for us to get our photos and transcripts in class rank. I was the only one there.

I opened the door about to leave until Stella said, " Solis." Looking back I see her staring deeply into my eyes. Her blonde hair and green eyes had a dark tint in them, the shade covered until the top of her chin. Her maroon button up looked more red than usual. " Yeah?" She grimaced and looked at the steering wheel. "I love you. And I'm proud of you. I really am. I know we don't talk like we used to but, I wanted you to know that I love you and I will always love you." I look at her side profile and see her hands whitening as she grips the steering wheel hard. "What's wrong Stella?" "Are you ok.?" She turns her head and looks me in the eyes. Licking her lips she says "I just thought I should be more vocal about things like this. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable." Stella is not very vocal about her feelings even when Lucia was here she had to grab her ear to make her talk. "Oh. I love you too sis, and you didn't make me uncomfortable. I'm just shocked." She smiles at me. " Ok enough. Bye. Close my door gently."

Walking into the school office makes me want to gag. Beige walls carpets that seem like they've been there since 1901. The front desk had Mrs. Lea look like a toddler. " Solis Amato class 1" she looks up through her red framed glasses. "Here." I look down and see her slide a white envelope. "Thanks". That's it. I just say my name and rank and she hands me my stuff. I thought I was going to be there for an hour or something. I look at her and leave. I hated coming to the office. It's either I had to fill out college applications or I had to show a transfer student around. My friends were not going to be here till later on. I decided to just walk home. I told Stella I was going to be home till six but I'll just buy us some In-N-Out and walk home.

Walking through the door I yell out my sister's name "Stella!" No response. I leave the crumpled bag on the dining table and head to my room. "I bought us some In-N-Out. It's on the dining table." I said in front of her door. Our rooms were next to each other Lucia had the masters room which is on the other side of the living room. We left it alone after her passing. I turn off the candle as I open my door. I lay down and text Johnny, one of my friends from foster care.

Johnny Mendoza

Hey

Wassup dude how you feeling today?

Like shit
It's her anniversary and I still feel like it's not real it's weird
Like I can walk to her room and throw her stuff and leave and she'll come after me screaming

Want me to bring you some food or anything?
I know you feel sad but please, don't forget to eat.

Thanks but I'm good just ate a burger

Ight let me know if you need company or anything

Thanks man <3

Hmm <\3

It's been 4 hours and I've been asleep the whole time. I stare at the wall for a bit. Sweat dripped down my face. I get up and go to my bathroom and see myself. I look like a ghost with cold sweat and bed hair everywhere. My ashy blonde hair is swept to the right, my blue eyes dimmed to a dark blue. I'm tired. Like I feel exhausted and done. My parents died in an unknown way and when we reported them missing they told us they only found my mom. She drowned in her car by herself. I get nightmares about it. Her face distorted to something I'm not used to. Her smiling face turned blue and gray lips chipped and eyes sunken.

I knock on Stella's door. She doesn't open. I knock for a few more minutes. My face scrunches up in confusion. Is she even here ? I look outside the front lawn and see her car parked there. She had work in the morning but after dropping me off she should've already been off her second job. I knock once again.

I open the door. Her room was dark and her music was playing in her bathroom. The song was low and softly playing. I look down at the floor and I see a chair on the floor. It's the chair I bought her when I got my first check. The velvet green color slowly changed though usage. I feel the cold sweat come back. My hair feels frizzy and my head hurts. The hairs stand on my arms. I'm scared. Lucia and Stella have always been close. When Stella heard about what happened to Lucia. She cut everyone off her life. She was like a walking corpse trying to pass by as a living person. I would hear her cry and say her name. After our mom died Lucia became our mom, our dad and best friend. Stella tried killing herself after her first anniversary came by. I caught her in time and begged her to stay with me. I told her I still needed her and she was my only family left. I cried and begged her to stay.

I guess my begging didn't work.

Her body was hung on the hook that connected her bed canopy. Her body swayed around slowly as it felt my presence. I touch her face as I see her tear stained cheeks. "I'm sorry I begged you to stay. I'm sorry I wasn't enough to keep you with me." Tears fall down in rapid motions down my face. I don't know if to cry, yell, drop down or to just leave her there. I walk back to my room after closing her door. I grab my prescription pills for anything and take them. Two, three, four, five bottles fall. I hope death takes me too. I hope I can be with them. Like how we used to. I hope death feels for me and allows me to meet them. I hope. I hope.

This is when I died.