Almost Normal (Editing)

Chapter Twenty Three

JADE'S POV

Standing at his grave gave me a weird feeling. I knew now he was gone, but here he was. All I had left of him was those boxes in the attic and the memories of us trying to fit in. I realize now I was never the hero, but I also was never the villain. Andrew is the true hero, sacrificing his life for mine.

"Selfish bastard." I laughed quietly to myself.

I rested my hand down onto the headstone feeling the cool rock against my skin.

"Thank you." I whispered before turning around and walking away.

I made my way down the grassy hill as the sun began to set when I saw her. Swaying slightly holding a brown paper bag failing to conceal the bottle in it. I felt a ball of anger course through my body and in one swift motion I was on top of her my fists connecting with her face. Attacking her in a blind fury I didn't even notice she wasn't fighting back until she started laughing. I stopped my tirade and she looked up at me. I'd done what my urges wanted to. Her face was clearly broken, bloodied in more than one spot. Her breath reeked of alchol.

"Do it Jade. Kill me like you killed everyone else." She said crying the last part.

I got off her chest and sat in the grass watching her lay there crying and taking swigs from her bottle until it was empty.

"Joy, I'm not like you. I'm not a killer, I'm not seeking revenge (anymore)." I said calmly, that last part under my breath.

"It's Angel! And please just put an end to my misery." She cried out.

"Fine! Angel. I'm not going to kill you because you want me to. It's not who I am."

"So killing my sister when we were kids? Then killing Damien? Is that who you are?!" She exclaimed.

"Damien tortured me. And I have no excuses for your sister. I should be mad at you because you killed my brother! And you tried to marry him? What's up with that?"

"...I'm sorry. Friends?" She said hopelessly innocent.

"God no. You're insane. You need serious help." I said shaking my head.

She nodded and we were silent for a while. The moon rose in the sky and that's when I started to hear snoring. I scooped up Angel/Joy and carried her down the hill. I put her safely into my car buckling her in and drove off to do what I should've done a long time ago.

Back at home I sat on the front porch staring up at the stars. I heard a car drive up and a door open then close. Then foot steps crunching on the pavement as the car drove off. My mother sat next to me looking up at the sky with me.

"I took Angel to the hospital. Told them she was suicidal and mentally unwell." I said.

She laughed and hugged me, close kissing my temple. "You're a good person Jade. I'm sorry for not being a better mother." She sighed and we sat like that for a while. Mother and daughter on the front porch.  She then pulled out a piece of cardboard and handed it to me.

"You should call him, he's cute." She said, making me groan and push her off of me.

"Mom!" I exclaimed feeling my cheeks get hot.

She went inside laughing, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the night sky. As if my body had a mind of its own it pulled out my phone and started dialing Patrick's number. What do I say to him? Am I ready for this? What if I spiral out of control again? Oh my god it's ringing please don't answer, please don't answer, please dont.

"Hello?" A tired voice said on the other end.

"Hey you told me that call you once I've accepted things... well here's me calling." I said nervously.

I heard laughter and some rustling before he asked, "...and how do you feel?"

"Free." I said.

And for once in my life, I wasn't lying.

End.