At End's Gate

WE NEED THIS

"What are you doing?" Lisa asked Paige who seemed to be really focused on what she was doing.

"Just wait a while. I'm almost done," Paige responded.

She saw James and Blake about to stand up to walk up to her to comfort her." Don't worry. I'm fine. I'm not having a break down or anything. Keep watch."

The boys listened and continued observing the screen. Conner finally woke up to see Paige standing by the desk with Alexis and Lisa behind her." Is everything okay?"

Paige turned and smiled." Good you're awake. Everything is fine. I'm almost done." After a while she turned and faced everyone." Let's all sit by the screen with the boys."

They all sat down facing the screen. Paige handed each one of them a piece of paper. "Okay. What we're about to do is something we need to do. We've been through too much. We grieved but we never really had a chance to heal together. This exercise will help us to do that . Each one of us is going to give an account of who they lost. This encompasses all the good memories. When you're done giving your account you're going to write the names of the people and write them the words GOODBYE FOR NOW. I hope that's okay with you." She looked at everyone. They nodded." I'll start," she suggested. Paige took a deep breath." My dad was a brave man. He always stood up for what he believed in. In the scientific community he would overwork himself to clarify his hypothesis. I actually thought that as strange at first but growing up I began to admire that. He was always there for me and he was an occasional nerd," she chuckled slightly before continuing," I loved him," she paused to pull herself together.

"Paige I don't see the purpose of this exercise. It hurts," Blake said.

"It hurts B but we need this to heal," she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear." My mom was kind of my best friend. She did my hair, loaned me dresses and helped me to calm my nerves each time I freaked out because of an event. She was always there for me. I loved her." She wrote her parents names, wrote the words GOODBYE FOR NOW and kissed the paper. Paige felt tears about to come but she pulled them back. "Who's next," she said offering the pen.

Lisa took it." Growing up as an only child people would expect you to be lonely. That never happened in my case. My parents were my siblings, best friends and guardians in one. They made my existence worth while." She paused. She was seated next to James. He held her hand for comfort. She steadied her breathing." I loved them with every shred of my heart ." She wrote down as instructed. She smiled and handed the pen to James.

"Okay guess it's my turn then. Growing up people teased me that I was a mama's boy," he laughed." At first it bothered me but with time I didn't care. My mom was like my biggest supporter. She would come to every debate, every game and performances in my life. She was always the loudest in the crowd even at the tech fair. I loved her. My pops and I had our share of mishaps. Growing up I wasn't as decent as I am now. He actually made me take sports as a punishment. Amazingly I was good in basketball thus this hybrid of a jock and a nerd came to be. He was my hero. I loved him." James wrote on the paper and gave the pen to Blake.

"Don't worry. My story isn't a geek coming of age story like my brother." Everyone laughed. James rubbed his hand in his brother's hair." Ow! Okay I'll stop teasing. To my mom I was her baby. She would give me everything I wanted. If I requested it she would try her best to give me what I asked for. Don't worry. She didn't give me pot." He chuckled then his tone became serious." My mom was my Angel. She stood by me even in times I really screwed up. I loved her. My dad was like a super hero to me. I admired the way he worked hard for us to be successful and the way he encouraged us. He would take me out to play baseball. He helped me discover my talents. I loved him." He wrote on the paper. He smiled and handed the pen over to Alexis.

"My God this is hard." She felt Paige's hand on her shoulder." My dad always called me his little bell. He would always come to my room to sing for me. He had a raspy singing voice. It was really bad." She let out a small chuckle." My mom on the other hand was an amazing singer. She was an amazing woman. She was my role model. I loved them both." She wrote on the paper and gave Conner the pen.

" I grew up really quiet and responsible. My dad always behaved like the son in our relationship. He was fun. He helped me learn how to let go and live a little. My mom was the responsible parent. She would always be scared when I did something she deemed dangerous. When my dad bought me a motor bike she almost died," he laughed." I loved the dynamic in their relationship. I wish I could have that some day. They loved each other unconditionally despite being different. I loved my parents." He lowered his head looking at the paper and wrote according to the instruction. When he was done he looked at Paige." Thank you."

Paige smiled." You're welcome. We all needed to heal."

I tried my best to portray the grief the characters had as well as to show an element of having hope that although we lose loved ones it's not the end. We will see them some day. I hope you liked it. Tell me what you think.