It Happened to Me

Chapter Twelve

Chapter 12

Everything feels so different.

I open my eyes to a blue sky. I feel something beneath me, something that should be my bed but isn't. I sit up, looking at the soft green grass beneath my body. My gaze sets on my clothing, noticing that I am covered in a long white dress. I touch my hand to my head and feel that my long, black hair is combed out and feels really soft.

I start to stand up, observing my surroundings. There is a long, flowing river that leads all the way down into the unknown. There's one bridge and it curves upwards before landing on the other side. Curious, I begin to walk over the bridge, my feet sinking into the soft grass beneath my toes.

Soon, I come across a bench. It's placed close to the river but not too close so water would not splash onto me. I take a seat, smoothing out my white dress and placing my hands in my lap. The wind starts to pick up, whistling a soft but raspy tune. Everything is so serene, so calm; opposite of what my life is usually like. Which makes me wonder, where am I?

"Mia," I hear a man's voice say.

I look up to a man standing right in front of me. He smiles and sits right next to me, smoothing out his black hair. He had a familiar face and looking at him brought back all of the memories and all of the pain.

"D-Dad?" I stutter.

"Well," He pauses and cocks his head to the side. "Yes, who else would I be?"

"It's just...I just-" I stop myself, quickly wrapping my arms around his neck to hug him. "I miss you so much."

"I miss you too sweetie." I pull away from him, seeing him smile. "How are you?"

"Not so good," I answer honestly.

"No?" He says in surprise. "What about that boy?"

"Jayce?" I ask. "He's....good."

I look away, feeling myself blush. I should have seen that coming; I should have known he was going to ask about him.

"So everything isn't so bad," He smiles.

"Okay, let me correct myself," I smile. "Some aspects of my life aren't so bad."

"Better," He says. "It's too bad that I only had the chance to meet him for a moment."

"Yeah," I smile to myself, my eyes slightly watering just from talking to my father. "You would have liked him."

"I might have," He laughs. "How's Lily and Aiden?"

I almost wince at Lily's name, remembering all that she has done since his death. She hasn't been the nicest person to me even when I thought she was being nice, she still wasn't nice. Thinking about Aiden brings me some relief. He talks to me only sometimes, other times he's no where to be found. I can't help but think about how much everything has changed.

"Do you remember how mom use to say that family is all you really have?" I ask.

"Yes," He answers.

"I use to believe that but now," I pause. "Now I'm not all too sure."

"What do you mean?" He asks.

"Everyone just split apart," I admit. "We're barely a family anymore. Aiden keeps to himself, Lily is being the B word, and I barely see mom anymore."

"I'm sorry, honey." He says, wrapping an arm around me and leaning my head onto his shoulder. "Everything will get better."

"When?" I ask, my voice beginning to crack and tears falling from my eyes. "I've tried everything and nothing works. I tried to give Aiden his space. I tried to forgive Lily for being so mean to me. I tried to talk to Lily as normally as I can. I even cooked dinner one night to get everyone together like we use to but everyone just blew it off. I just don't know what to do anymore."