Shadows

Two

Silence. Guilt. It all wove into one emotion. Lying in the same bed where so many tragic things happened. I turned my head to see Jamie asleep. At least...it was Jamie before he went to sleep. I looked up towards the wall where the headboard was and missed the neon light we would look at when we were kids. It was comforting...but now it was gone. I had started to think I couldn't cry anymore and I knew sleep wasn't coming to me at any point...I just...it seemed so fast. Dominic was in my arms as I was telling him a story...he was in my arms as he cried from a hard day at school...he was just here with us. I sat up slowly and looking out of the window before deciding to leave a note by the bed that I was going for a walk and would be back soon. I walked downstairs after getting my shoes on and started walking. I knew the only place I could walk and be left completely alone were the old projects buildings. I felt nostalgic hearing the sounds of traffic as I walked down the pathway. I missed the way it sounded. I had been walking by myself for about thirty minutes before I finally reached the building I wanted to see. Downtown was almost abandoned at this point, and I knew the reason why. Their king wasn't here...and the Drapes had disbanded. I could see that the massive brick wall was repaired where Wade's car had crashed into it. It was sad...but it felt like the only way I could talk to him.

"Wade, I know you're not here anymore...but...I hope he's found you. You'll know who he is when you see him." I stroked one of the bricks. "He's probably really happy...or really scared. I don't know. I just hope he's okay." I was sleep deprived I leaned my head against the brick wall. "And...by any chance if you see Prince's parents...tell them Prince is okay. I think. I don't know if they're up there. I don't know how this afterlife shit works." I turned to where my back was against the brick and I was in the center of where the car would've went straight through the building. "I wish I would've had you buried just so I could have something to talk to. But I guess having a tombstone and a brick wall to talk to is kind of the same thing, huh?" I swallowed hard as I looked up at the stars. My lip trembled but no tears formed.

I could hear my son's voice in my head. Clear as day I could hear him calling for me and Prince. What I was hoping for was that Prince didn't feel guilty for the loss of our son. Right as I was about to sit against this wall, I heard footsteps coming up. Heels against the pavement. I turned my head and...Jamie? Prince? Camille? The walking was throwing me off as they were walking up to me. "What are you doing?" It sounded like Prince. I stood. "I just...needed to talk some things out with an old friend." He was very monotoned. I looked at his eyes and they weren't glistening like they used to. They weren't dark, but just very...blank. "Prince." I said to him. Usually when I said his name, his right eyebrow would raise a little, but it didn't. This wasn't my husband. "Who am I speaking to?" I asked. He gently put his hand on my shoulder and I didn't feel like I wasn't in danger. "Are you a male or female?" I asked. "Male, of course." He had a different way of speaking. A slight English accent. "I'm not going to harm you. It would devastate Prince if I did that." I nodded feeling his hand take mine as we were walking back towards the suburbs. "My name is Alexander Nevermind and I've been waiting to meet you, Delphine." It had happened. Either this was a new alter or one that's been locked away.

"Where's my husband?" I asked him. "Your husband isn't who I'm worried about. It's Camille, Jamie, and another one that I won't name that I'm worried about. They've all shut down. They need a break." His fingers laced inbetween mine. "Another alter? There's more than Jamie and Camille...and you?" "Hmmm." He said. "I want to keep them away from this pain. Getting them attached to people their host is attached to is dangerous. Beyond dangerous." I shook my head and took my hand away. "I don't believe you. I've done more research on this than you can ever imagine and not once have a read it's dangerous. It's actually helpful for Prince." "Again, I'm not worried about your husband. It's Jamie, Camille, and Joey I'm worried about." I stopped walking and he turned to me. "Joey? Who's Joey?"
Alexander held his hand out to me. "Please. Let's keep walking." Alexander said. "Tell me who Joey is. I thought Jamie and Camille were all of them." Alexander dropped his hand to his side.