A goodbye never said (by EliIsCool555)

Chapter 2

  Melissa's POV

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As i lay there, completely hopeless about my life, i get a text message from an unknown number:

Unknown: Hey Mel, wanna hang with us at my house tomorrow?

Me: Who even are you?

Unknown: Wow, you seriously don't have my number saved?!?

Me: Monica?

Monica: Yes! I was asking if you wanna hang with me, Nicole and Sophie at my house tomorrow, I already asked Carolina, she can't come.

Me: Sure

Monica: Alright see ya, now, GO SAVE MY NUMBER!

Me: ok, ok bye!

I look at the rainy sky before going into a deep sleep.

.

I'm back at the house.

The house that is so familiar to me.

My house. In Italy

The house looks exactly like it did when I was 6—every picture frame, everything in its place like it was 10 years ago.

The smell of Mom's cooking is in the air, like it's soaked into the walls. I walk through the hallway, and everything is so.... Familiar.

I hear the soft, padding sound of paws behind me, and I turn.

Bello, my dog. His tail is wagging, eyes bright and full of love, just like always. I kneel down, laughing as he bounces toward me, like he's missed me all this time. I run my hands through his fur, feeling the warmth of him, and for a moment, I can't even breathe. I've missed him so much.

Then I hear his voice.

"Melissa."

I look up, and there he is, sitting in his old chair by the window—Grandpa. His face lights up the moment our eyes meet, and suddenly, I'm running to him, hugging my arms around him like I always used to when I saw him.

"Grandpa!" I breathe out, hugging him tight.

"You've grown," he says, brushing my hair from my face like he used to. "How's my girl?"

I can't help but smile. "I'm fine, Grandpa. I'm just... I miss all of this."

We talk, just like old times. About everything—Denmark, how strange it feels to be away from home, how quiet it is without Bello, without him. He listens like he always did, nodding thoughtfully, offering small pieces of advice that seem to make everything better.

Time slips away. It's like we've talked for hours, but it's never enough. I don't want this to end.

Then his smile softens, and he lets out a small sigh.

"Melissa, I'm sorry, but I have to go now."

The words hit me like a punch in the chest. I feel the panic rising in my throat, like I'm going to lose him all over again. "No, please don't leave me again." I whisper, my voice cracking. "Please."

He shakes his head, his eyes are filled with so much love, but there's sadness too. "I'm sorry, but I have to."

He starts to fade, his form slowly dissolving in front of me, but I reach out, grabbing his hand. "Promise me you'll come back in my dreams'" My words are trembling now, and I can feel the tears burning in my eyes.

He smiles, his hand still in mine, though he's fading away. "I will always be with you. You call me, and I will be in your dreams for as long as you need me."

The tears spill over, and I can't stop them. "Thank you, Grandpa"

His figure is almost gone now, but before he disappears completely, I hear his voice one last time, so soft, but so clear:

"I will always be with you."

And then he's gone. The warmth that surrounded me just moments ago has vanished, and all I'm left with is the echo of his words. Bello presses his head against my knee, whining softly, but even he feels far away now.

I wake up, tears still stinging my eyes, the cold reality of my Danish apartment sinking in. I stare at the ceiling, sad that this dream has come to an end, but somewhere deep inside, I feel the tiniest flicker of warmth.

I'll always be with you.

Moments later, I hear somebody yelling from the kitchen, it's my dad telling the house that dinner is ready.

I wonder what delicious food he's made for us today.