Death To Thora - COMPLETE SHORT STORY

Eleven

The air is fresh and bites at the tip of my nose.

Sunshine fills the streets, which are swelling with repairs. Many buildings got damaged last night, but at least the town is still standing.

Even so, I don't feel like the hero.

My apartment is lonely, so I reach for my phone. For reasons beyond my understanding, there are two bars of service and about a hundred text messages from my mom. I don't hesitate to dial her number.

It rings... And rings... and rings...

"Hello?" Her voice appears on the line.

I don't even know what to say, but at just the sound of her voice I want to break down in tears. "Mom?"

"Where are you honey? You're cutting out. Why haven't you been answering my calls or texts?"

My heart drops. "How's Dad?"

"He's holding on for you. You need to come visit him soon. He doesn't have much longer."

Tears well in my eyes as I realize I will never be able to visit him. I used my power, that means I'm stuck here. How do I explain to her that my childish avoidance has led me to missing out on the only thing that matters in my life right now?

"Thora?"

"Yeah, I'm here." My voice is hoarse.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

She goes silent for a moment. "When are you coming to visit, Thora?"

I can't bring myself to break the news. How would I anyway?

I hear her sigh on the other line. "You're not coming to visit him, are you?"

"No," I choke out. "No, I got caught up in Aderith– that town work made me visit. I don't think I'll be able to make it in time. Just tell him I love him and thank him for everything?"

The disappointment in her tone is apparent. "He needs you. I need you. Your brother needs you. Why can't you just get on a plane tonight?"

The knife in my chest twists. "I can't Mom, I'm sorry." Tears cover my face, and I can hardly get words out. "I'm so sorry."

I hang up before I hear anything else. I can't take another second of this. I came here to get away, but I didn't come here to stay away. I wonder if anyone else in this town has a family that they're missing. Surely they do.

The grief is unbearable. What have I done? Why did I choose to run? Why did I choose to stay? My family will have to grieve both me and my father. I may be alive, but we will both be absent for the funeral. We will both be absent for the holidays. Birthdays. My brother's wedding. There will be more for them to suffer through, and it's all my fault. I will never be a daughter again, because I am not a daughter anymore– not since I chose this town over my family.

I am a ghost.

I bury my face into my pillow and sob. "No, no, no, no, no-no-no," I cry out. "This can't be happening! Take this away, please, please–"

I feel a presence on my lap. I toss the pillow and find Percy laying across my legs, a crestfallen look in his face.

"What are you doing here?" I croak.

"I'm so sorry, Thora."

I let my eyes bore into his, waiting for something else to leave his mouth.

"You did this. You told me to grab the stone– I never should have listened to you!"