Goodbye, I love you

Peter meets Abuela

"It was a beautiful day today, wasn't it?" I stared at Abuela. She smiled at me and inhaled as we watched the twilight set in.

"Come on, let's head back." I stood. We walked on the pier, enjoying the ocean view. "I had a great day, mija."

"Thank you." She said.

"Anytime, Abuela." I smiled.

I told Abuela about the time when Bethel and I got banned from a pet store. I know, right? How does a person get banned from a pet store?

"You kept freeing all the animals?!" Abuela exclaimed, and as I held my breath from laughter.

"Uh-huh!" I nodded. "Well Bethel is an extreme empath, and she hated the way they were caged, and being sold but I on the other hand just thought it'd be

fun."

"Avery,"

"Heh, heh," my laughter was cut short after I saw Peter. "Avery, do you know this young man?" Abuela asked.

"Yeah, we go to school together." I replied, "Well, I'm Avery's Abuela." She held out her hand. "Nice to meet you, Abuela. I'm Peter." He said, and they shook hands.

"Nice to meet you, Peter. Are you Avery's boyfriend?"

Kill me, kill me now! My cheeks flushed.

"No, we're just friends." He glanced at me.

"Walk with us?" she asked. "Sure." He nodded. I was quiet the whole time because Abuela and Peter seemed to be bonding.

"Mija, you haven't said a word since we left." She said concerned.

"Are you okay?" she asked, "I'm fine, Abuela. Just not feelin' chatty at the moment." I replied.

"Bye, bye now. Especially you, mijo." She said as we reached Elders' Point. Peter smiled, and nodded. "See you next week, Abuela." I said. Peter and I walked back to my house.

"This is my stop." I said.

"So soon?" he chuckled. "I'm afraid so." I smiled.

"I'll see you around, then."

"Yeah." I said and he turned to leave.

"Uh, Peter." I said, and he swung back with his hands in his pockets, "Yeah?"

"Thanks." I said. He ran around through his brown hair, and raised his eyebrows. "Bye." He said. "Bye." I said.

I started for the Pearson's house where I had to go babysit. I sighed and silently prayed that the kid's parents weren't leaving. I was mentally drained, and I felt like lying on my bed and think about everything that happened today and possibly praying and talking it over with Bethel on face time.

"Avery." Tim called, and I snapped out of my thoughts. Ah, yes there's Tim. The kid I'm babysitting―ugh. Believe me, I groan out of love. His parents Mr. And Mrs. Pearson had to go this charity event, hm, really nice people.

"Avery." Tim snapped his fingers at me, "What?!" I snapped. "It's passed my bedtime." He told me, "Oh," I said.

"How long did I space out?" I asked him.

"Not longer than usual." He said. "Come here." I pulled him into a hug. "Where do you usually go?" he asked.

"Different places. But, sometimes it's just nowhere." I replied. "What?" he asked. I smiled, and gave him a noogie that messed up his brown hair. "Don't worry about it." I kissed him.

"Let's go." I told him. We went upstairs to his room and I tucked him in.

"Goodnight, Tim." I kissed him on his forehead. "Goodnight, Avery." He said. I forgot to call Bethel tonight. I sighed and checked my phone. 11 p.m. almost midnight, and the Persons weren't home yet. I can't call her now. I leaned against the couch and drifted to sleep.

"Avery, Avery, dear."

I moaned moving sluggishly.

"What?" I opened my eyes. "We're home, but it's late so, you should crash here honey." Mrs. Pearson told me.

Then I closed my eyes instantly.

***

On a Sunday morning, I was smiling at my best friend while we listened to the sermon. The Pastor talked about miracles and how each day we wake up we have little miracles done to us even when we don't know what they are. I thought of how I survived that fire, but my parents weren't so lucky. Could that be a miracle? I don't know for sure. I was startled by the congregation rising up.

"Next week, before the sermon every one of you will have a chance to tell their miracle. God bless you all. You may bid each other farewell and blessings." He said. The church broke into laughs and murmurs as people shook each other's hands.

"Peter is a nice guy, but I'm not sure about his friends." Bethel told me. I gave her a hug. She always looked out for me, and I love her. "And Mick?" I teased. "Unlike Peter, Mick doesn't have hooligans for friends." She said.

"Just be careful." She walked away. "Wait, Bethel our after-church plans?" I yelled. "I have bible study with Mick at Ronny's. Love you, bye!" She yelled. I smiled, and shook my head. She's just lucky to run into Mick who happens to be really nice, and a Christian. I think it's great they're hanging out. She has someone else to help her grow closer to God.

I walked home thinking about my friendship with Peter and the whole trust thing. I opened the door and went inside only to find him sitting right there. I took a deep breath and prayed silently that he won't say a thing.

"Where were you?" he asked not looking at me. "Church." I said then he chuckled, "Them folk won't save you. We all know what you are. We all know the truth." He stared at me.

"You're a murderer."

I stood silently in front of him then I decided to go upstairs, but then I stopped. "You're right. Only Jesus can save me." I smiled and walked away.

The look of disbelief and confusion on Stan replayed in my mind, and I sighed in relief. I know the goal isn't to come up with great comebacks, but I'd be lying if I didn't enjoy that. I went to check on my mother, and I found her sitting on the bed with pictures scattered on the bed.

I shut the door, and sat next to her grabbing one of the photos. They were all pictures of me and Levi. His graduation, the day before he left, and my first birthday with them. She looked at me, and a tear rolled down her cheek.

"I miss him too, mom." I hugged her as she cried on my shoulder.