fractures

a sense of peace

Layne

I can't believe what I'm seeing. Marlene stands there, before us, just like the day I last saw her, just that she's translucent now. Is this Marlene's spirit before us? But that can't be real. Am I seeing things?

But a look at Abbey tells me that Abbey sees her too.

Abbey and I stand up hurriedly.

"Marlene?" I ask, reaching out to her, still not believing my eyes.

Marlene takes my hand and smiles.

"I'm sorry," I tell her. "We're sorry. Very sorry."

Marlene squeezes my hand. "I forgive you. Both of you."

"I'm sorry I pushed you off, I didn't mean to-"

"That wasn't your fault, Layne. I don't blame you for that."

And it was like something in me lifted. Like there's been weights on my shoulders all this while.

"Thank you, Marlene," I whisper, overcome by relief and gratitude. "Thank you."

Marlene hugs me. I hug her back. "Go live your life, Layne, stop dwelling over the past."

Then Marlene draws back and turns to Abbey. They hug. I hear Marlene murmur similar words to Abbey as well. Abbey starts crying. Marlene steps away from the both of us.

She smiles at us for the last time. "I'll be watching over you guys. So just go and have fun."

"But you won't be able to," Abbey says sadly.

"I made that choice. But I'll be more than happy if both of you are happy. So if you can't live for yourselves, then live for me, at least," Marlene says, starting to fade away. "Go and be happy."

"We'll be missing you," I say, finally feeling a sense of peace washing over me.

"Me too," Marlene whispers, then she disappears completely.

Thank you, Marlene.

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1 more chapter! this part is like unrealistic but it's a story so anything can happen haha

-ohkayed