Against the Stars

Chapter 34

It was a few days after her hallucinations before Ginny felt well enough to walk around. Everyone sort of left her alone. They knew how much Stephen's death had affected her, how it had affected all of them. Everyone seemed to be in their own personal silent mourning. Ginny, for no real reason, began to wander around the house.

Don she found herself mindlessly wandering into Stephen's room. She didn't know why, she just did. When she opened the door it was a miracle she didn't burst into tears instantly.

She wanted around the room, but quite sure what she was looking for, our even, if she was looking for anything at all. The room, for her, still felt like Stephen. It felt like he would burst through the door and yell at her for messing with his stuff.

He didn't.

Ginny collasped on Stephen's bed and finally broke down. She still couldn't believe it. He was gone. He wasn't coming back. He had traded one adventure for another. But Ginny didn't want that. She wanted him back here, on an adventure with her.

"Oh Steph," she moaned burying her face in his pillow. "Oh Steph, why did you have leave?" Her tears left long steaks on the pillow, but Ginny didn't care.

Finally she got up and dried her tears. Is this what Stephen would have wanted? Ginny thought to herself. No, no it's not.

She got up and began to walk around the room. Everything looked like Stephen, from the many books on the shelves, to the names of everything. It was all proof that he has once been here, that he had once lived. And every object reminded Ginny of how much she missed him.

"Oh Stephen," Ginny mumbled as she smacked her toe on something. Looking down, she see it was the only thing in the whole room that was out of place. It was one of the books she had given to him for Christmas.

For Christmas, Ginny had given Stephen a stack of books, all with a note from her written on the inside cover. Ginny mindlessly began to flip through the book,  expecting much. However, something caught her eyes.

Written on the back cover of the book was a note from Stephen to get. From the quality of the letters, Ginny could tell it had been written in his final moments. Crying even more, she began to read.

Gin~

I apologize for the state of these letters, I'm afraid I do not have much stronger left. First and foremost, I want you -if nothing else- to know I love you.You were a sweet, caring little sister sometimes, but a mischievous one other times. I loved both sides. You were always there to cheer me up. Remember those days when we were younger and would run through the Andover plains together? Boy, those were the days.

But those days are gone. We live here now. I know you haven't had the easiest time with everything that's been going on, but you're strong Gin. You know what you're doing and I admire you for that. I know you'll miss me, but please try not dwell on the past. Look to the future, your  future. I know you can do it. So once again, I love you Gin.

Love,

Stephen George Miller

Ginny suddenly found herself fleeing the house. No one tried to stop her. She ran out into the streets, her cloak not fully fastened. It was Wada light drizzle when she left, but Ginny didn't care n there was only one name echoing through her mind, Stephen, Stephen, Stephen.

Ginny kept running and for the longest time, didn't know where she was going. She just had to get, away, away from the world, away from everything. Finally, she knew where she needed to go.

Stephen's grave.

Stephen had been buried in the local cemetery which was just down the road. That's where she needed to go. Maybe there, she'd get a sense of peace.

The rain began to come down harder as Ginny approached cemetery. She ignored the train as it patted down against her shoulder and head. Nothing was going to stop her now.

Ginny wandered mindlessly through the cemetery looking for Stephen's grave. She was hopelessly lost, but she didn't care. She would find the grave of out many she had shoes get while life looking.

And then, somehow through all the rain, she spotted a headache and knew that was it. That was her target.

She quickly made her way over to it. Miraculously, she was right. She badly form in the wet, soggy, mud covered grass before her brother's grave and started to cry.

By now, the rain was coming down harder then ever. The rain drops were like little pellets speaking into her back. But she didn't care. She barley noticed.

She ran hand over the store hand carved with her brother's name. Stephen George Miller. She ran her hand over those words over and over, reading them again and again. This doesn't be get brother's grave.Stephen had to be back at home, reading a good book. It was just someone with the same name.

But the dates didn't lie. June 29, 1760- January 21, 1776. He wasn't even sixteen yet. He had so much of his life left until it was suddenly yanked from his grasp.

As rain kept coming down harder and harder, Ginny the herself over his face she began to sob. She sobbed and sobbed, her years becoming part of the rain. Lightning flashed behind her. She barley flinched. Nothing could startle her now.

Ginny carefully peeled herself over the stone.She, for  moment, just say there and stared. She stared as if staring could convince her it was all a dream.

It wasn't.

Stephen was done, buried beneath her feet and there was nothing she could do to change that.

Suddenly a voice cut through Ginny's thoughts."I thought I'd find you here."