Collide Invisible Lips (KELLIC)

Chapter 16 - Final

Time Lapse: Four Months

I had never been more excited for anything.

Dr. McDougall had restored me to near perfect health, with the exceptions of migraines that came several times a week and occasional backaches. Jack, Nick, and I had released a public statement thanking the fans for all their support and that we might continue music careers as individuals, but that Sleeping With Sirens couldn't exist without Gabe and Justin. When I was finally able to escape the understandably overprotective care of my family, I did the one thing that I knew I needed to do.

I bought the house.

The worst thing about the last four months, worse than all the physical therapy and migraines and doctor's appointment combined, was not having Vic. I felt empty without him there. I was just going through the motions, not ever really being happy without him. When I went to sleep at night, I always awoke wondering why he wasn't next to me. I needed him in my life, and I could only wonder if he felt the same way without me.

And so here I was, sitting in my car in the driveway of my new house, ready to find out.

I'd had movers furnish the house for me as my back prevented me from doing too much activity of that sort, so all I had to do was walk in and unpack my clothes and dishes and things. I took a deep breath, a huge smile on my face, ready to see Vic again. I got out of the car and unlocked the front door to the grand old place that Matty had built.

"Vic! I'm home!" I called out, loving the way his name rolled off my tongue and echoed down the hallways. Silence. I frowned slightly, setting down my suitcase at the foot of the spiral staircase.

"Alysha! Matty! I'm back!" I called again, straining my ears for any sound of a book falling or a door slamming to indicate their presence. Again, I heard nothing. I was beginning to get nervous. I had barely been able to survive the last four months without Vic. I knew that I would never be able to survive another fifty years without any sort of contact with my soulmate. I ran up the stairs to the attic, still as musty as ever, but now completely barren of furniture.

"Vic? Are you up here?" I asked. The curtain in front of the window fluttered, and my heart leapt into my throat. I ran over to it, holding my arms out as if I could feel him there.

"Vic? Vic?" I questioned frantically. The curtain fluttered again, and I realized that there was a draft coming from the window. I stepped back, feeling my heart begin to break again. I couldn't do this without Vic. Surely he wouldn't make me wake up and then abandon me here? I ran back downstairs, my heart pounding in my chest and my back beginning to ache from all the exertion. I rummaged through my backpack until I found a pad of sticky notes and a pen. I set them both down on the counter top and took a step back.

"Any of you, come write something. Show me you're here. Please, Vic! Please!" My begging grew louder and more desperate. A heavy feeling of dread was settling over me. The pen didn't move. The house was dead silent except for the sound of my own heartbeat. In frustration, I grabbed the pen and notepad and threw them across the kitchen. I sank down to the ground, resting my forehead on my knees as the tears began to fall. I couldn't do this without Vic. I just couldn't. I had nothing without him.

"Vic! Where are you?" I wailed, lifting my head and looking around as if he was going to just appear before me. Nothing. No movements, no noises. I let out a cry of frustration, feeling helpless to help myself.

If he wouldn't come to me, then I would come to him.

I went down to the wine cellar, Craig's former drug cave invisible to me, and cracked open a bottle of red. Sipping from the opening, I ran back upstairs and poured a glass. Two glasses down, and it still kept flowing.