Flying to Neverland

Chapter 4: Missing him

     Lily's POV:

I woke up from my nap around two am. My eyes flicked to the picture of my dad on my nightstand, and I remembered what he used to do with me and Trace around two am. I grabbed the picture and my blanket, and padded out of my room and downstairs in my pajamas.

I crossed the living room and went over to the basement door. I took a deep breath before opening it and walking downstairs.

The basement was warm just like I remembered. The couch was still there, as was the TV and our selection of movies. I turned on the lights that still flickered, and sat on the couch that still smelled like my dad's cologne.

***

Around two am on random nights, my dad would wake me up and take me down here and sit us on the couch. Then he'd pop some popcorn in the microwave and mix in dried fruits and sprinkle it with chili powder. He called it his special late night popcorn.

Then he would have us pick out a movie, no matter how stupid it was to him, and he'd watch it with us. Sometimes it was just me with him, others it was me and Trace, and sometimes it was him and Trace.

Sure we'd both be tired as hell the next day, and sure we might end up staying up with nightmares because we decided to watch a scary movie, but it was the time dad spent with us that mattered.

He died of cancer. He's always had a small form of it. Mom married him knowing he had cancer. He was strong, he never showed weakness in front of us.

He had the doctor have us visit him one last time when he knew he was dying. He wanted us to leave the room before he died, but we didn't. He died with us holding his hands.

***

I sniffed and wiped at my eyes, staring at the picture of him. He died not even a year ago, and the pain was still fresh. I searched for a spot on the couch where his cologne smelled the strongest, and sat there, pressing my face into the worn fabric. I don't know how long I sat there, until I heard quiet footsteps coming down the stairs.

I knew it was Trace from the moment he landed. I could always sense who it was.

He didn't say anything, he just sat down next to me and I put my head on his shoulder. This time I didn't care that I was crying in front of him. Silent tears fell down my face and on to the picture of dad that was in my lap. Trace put his arms around me and held out a bowl. I looked in it and nearly sobbed.

It was dad's special popcorn.

Without a word, he got up, put the bowl in my lap, and put in a movie, turning it on. Dad's favorite movie, The Homeward Bound.

***

We stayed down there, watching movies until the sun rose and it was time for school the next day. 

I was reluctant to leave the couch. Trace was heading back upstairs, but I lingered. He turned around and stopped.

        "He's gone Lily. This was a goodbye. Okay?" He asked. I nodded.

I knew what he meant.

He knew I was down here from the beginning, and his coming down here and watching movies with me spoke a silent sentence.

        "Moving on."