End of Nova

Chapter 25 | Home

"She's not even moving anymore. She's not eating. We need to do something." Chris whispered from behind me, talking to Jones.

"Do what? She didn't even go to the funeral. She doesn't want to move." That was Jones, and he was even worse at whispering than Chris.

They were talking about Kaylie. She was on the couch, for the last six days. I would have thought that would be me, but it wasn't. If Evans was really gone, I wasn't going to waste a day sulking. 

He knew I was a queen, and he knew I was capable of greatness. He wouldn't want me to only think of him, and not live my life. I was grieving, I was crying. But I was going to take it day by day.

I haven't had the heart to talk to her yet.

She was just on the couch. Or she was grabbing a water bottle, or taking a quick shower. But no matter what she was going to be planted on that couch. Just looking at the walls, or at the coffee table.

He had a book there, something on snowcap. She stared at that more than anything. 

She didn't even change her clothes. She's in the same clothes she wore when we came back. Her hair is unkept. And she's just there, but then she's not. 

I feel to blame. For his death, for everything. I was the one who landed here, and tangled up his life. If I didn't talk to him, none of this would have happened. He and the rest of his friends would have been better off. 

I was in his room. On his bed. I kept it the same way I found it, when I found out. There was a big stack of papers on his desk. His bed was clean, but his pillows were everywhere. His window was opened, and it showed outside.

The snow, was melting. 

I have to go back home. It wasn't good for me to stay here, or right. It would only remind them that he was gone. I had the button on me today, to return home. I was ready to go tonight. I told Chris and Jones my plan, and they were fine with it.

Jone was going back home to Minnesota. He said his big brother inherited a farm and needed help with keeping it. So he was going back in the next month. Chris, wasn't going anywhere. He was staying in the city, because he was taking a job with the doctor.

He said he wanted to learn more, and he could from him. So everyone was set. Except Kaylie. She said she was going back home, and it was what she needed. Staying here, after everything wasn't good for her. 

She was going to do amazing back home, I could tell. She's an amazing person.

I gathered up the courage to walk to the couch. Chris and Jones were just watching from the sidelines. I placed myself right in front of her, and sat on the coffee table. She was just blank, black eyes blank feelings.

"Kaylie, I'm going home tonight. To Nova. What are you going to do?" I asked her patiently, and she gave me a soft shrug. "Kaylie."

"What?" She croaked, she hasn't talked in five days, this was progress.

"You and me loved him, but now we have to do it a different way." I guess this was a talk to myself too, after all.

She looked up to meet my eyes, "A different way?"

"Yes, now you have to love yourself enough to keep going." I grabbed her hands, and put them in mine.

"What are you saying?" Tears were on the brim from falling, and she was shaking in my hands.

"Love yourself enough, that when you find yourself down, remember he wouldn't want it that way. Remember that he was happy, he would want you happy." I guess it was hitting home for me, because my tears were blocking my view, "Don't let him be gone in vain."

"But he's gone!" She harshly ripped her hands form mine and sat back in the couch.

"Yes he is, but that doesn't mean that you have to be gone too. You were going back to Florida, to your dad! Do it, for yourself first. Then for Evans." She sobbed, until she finally brought me into a hug, and I hugged her back. "Please, do it. I can't see you like this anymore. Please."

She was vigorously nodding her head, tears spilling and all. Then the boys joined us in the hug. They even threw some jokes. Saying that she needed to take a shower for Evans. And brush her teeth for him too. 

And she did just that. There wasn't a skip in her walk, but a small light in her eyes. It was coming back. 

Later that night, we were all on the couch, when I told them it was time. I pulled out the button, and held it in my hand. Maybe when I was ready, I'd come back to Earth. When everyone was ready. 

They brought me in, for one last hug. And then I stood up, and pressed the button. The same blue storm entered the room. I looked at them one last time, before stepping into the portal. Nova is my home, now that Evans is gone. And I think a part of me can live with that.