~Gunshot~

~The After

The after

I saw a bright light swarming above my dead body. I widened my eyes as I felt an urge to walk towards it. I stopped myself and waited. Grandma walked out of it smiling and grinning at me.

"Honey come on its all over, you're free! You can come with me now, you've answered your unanswered question! You can come to the afterlife" my grandma announced reaching out her hand. I grinned as I raised my hand to meet hers.

"Wait! You said that your unanswered question was me, what did you mean exactly?" my grandma lowered her hand and stepped towards me.

"When your father died I had to watch over you, see you through and protect you...didn't do much of a good job though..." Grandma said indicating to my ghostly transparent body. I giggled at her staring her ghostly appearance up and down.

"So where is dad?" I asked cursing myself for not asking sooner. My grandma grinned at me and turned to face back at the blinding light.

"He's fine sweetie, Martin sweetie can you come out and see our Ellie?" she whispered. Soon after, another ghostly figure emerged from the dazzling light. I took at step back taking in his amazing presence. Short brown hair, stubble, simple t-shirt and baggy jeans.

My dad...

He looked stronger and full of life in comparison to when I saw him lying in a hospital bed on his dying day. He was full of life despite being dead. A huge grin covered my face as I ran forward to hold him in a tight embrace. He held me in his arms and stroked my hair.

"I missed you so much, I love you so much, I'm so proud of you" he whispered into my ear as he loosened his grip on my torso. I pulled away with tears in my eyes I was to choked up to reply to him. I felt exactly the same, I missed him, loved him and was so bloody proud. I couldn't be happier I was reunited with my grandma and father. I smiled as grandma took my right hand and dad took my left. We began to walk towards the fantastic light, I felt a massive force pulling me in. It felt like I belonged. I was heading for peace, heading for the afterlife.

I resisted the urge and stopped in my tracks. I snatched my hands back.

But what about mum?" I questioned turning my head to gaze down the alley. I really wanted to move on, but I couldn't leave mum...not with Ed still on the loose. My father tuned to my grandma and nodded.

"She's in good hands dearie, Mark will look after her and she will be happy, properly happy...there's a little one on the way" my grandma told me proudly. I felt a smile spread across my face. My mother always wanted another kid and I always wanted a baby brother or sister. Looks like I won't be there for them, to bully the kids who pick on them or buy them sweets behind mums back. But at least they will have a proper family and not have to live unaware of so many secrets. They won't have to face having a murdering, mad, obsessed physco of a father that they didn't even know about until it was too late.

"But what about Ed?" I asked Dad, still fearing for my mother's safety. I saw his face fill with anger as I asked about the monster who took everything from us.

"You don't have to worry about him anymore. His body will give up, the alcohol will kill him. Pretty soon he will be burning in the pits of hell" Dad said still coming across angry. I smiled at him trying to calm him down. I took his hand along with my grandmas. Dad turned to wink at me. I laughed. I glanced down at my hand. There were no blisters and no redness, it was healed. I was ready. We all started to walk again.

We walked into the light.

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