Jack's Girl

50: In Loving Memory

The dark brown casket was slowly placed into the hole. Just knowing your dad was in that box made you uneasy.

Your mother was standing at your right and Sean was on your left.

Why your mother was here, you had no idea. You thought to yourself as soon as this was over you'd try not to cus her out.

Once everything was over and done with, people started to leave. Most of them where people your dad used to work with and had become friends with before he quit. Some where cops that had gotten to know him while he stayed in a jail cell a few nights for being pulled over while he was drunk.

They started to cover the box with dirt. All the guests had left but you stayed, watching.

You watched them burry the last member in your family. True you had your mother, but your dad was your real family. He wasn't the one to leave you as a child. Even though he was a drunk, he still was a good father.

You cried.

After the whole casket was covered with dirt, finally, you decided to leave.

You hopped into your dad's truck, your black dress slid up your thighs as you sat on the leather seat.

The truck was hot and instantly made you sweat. You cranked it up, turned on the AC, and started back to the house.

You stayed at your dad's house for a couple of days after the funeral. Sydney stayed and helped you pack up all of your dad's old things. He didn't leave a will so you decided to donate most of his things.

One day, while you where cleaning out his bathroom, you found his old watch. It was a Rolex that was given to him by his father before him. It's a family heirloom that's always given to the boys. Your father only had you.

You picked the watch up delicately, inspecting every detail in the golden etched design. The leather strap and golden buckle tied the whole thing together. For some reason it reminded you of the beach.

Sydney came into the hallway and stoped at the door of the bathroom. Holding a box, she took in a deep breath. "Where should I put this one?"

"What's in it?" You ask.

"Cloths."

"By the door then. We'll donate them." You go back to inspecting the watch.

"You should keep that." Sydney suggests. "I mean, you're practically giving everything else away, keep something."

Sydney walks off to the door as if she hadn't said anything about the watch. You silently agree with her and slip the watch onto your wrist.

You both keep cleaning.

By the afternoon it starts to rain. You both stop for a break and eat some Chinese take out with plastic forks.

"Have you talked to Sean?" Sydney breaks the silence.

"Not really. He messaged me last night while I was asleep. I saw it this morning but I didn't reply." You say, taking a sip from your favorite drink.

"What was it about?" Sydney slurped some noodles.

"He's going on tour around the country. How Did We Get Here Tour? I think is what it's called."

"How ironic."

"He's been planing it for a while now. Never really liked to talk about it. He always said he hated the thought of leaving me."

"But now he's leaving? That doesn't make sense." Sydney protested.

Thunder clapped and you both jumped with a knock on the door instantly after.

Sydney kept slurping her noodles and you got up to check the door. It was Sean.

"What are you doing here? I thought you had a flight to catch?" You stammer.

"Got an hour postponed. Thought I'd come and see how you where doing." Sean stood there at the door like a vampire in disguise, waiting to be granted entrance.

The rain had gotten him completely soaked. He seemed thankful of the front porch.

"Want to come in?" You invite.

"I can't. Mark is in the Uber waiting. I just wanted to stop by." He declines.

"That's it?" You ask.

"Well I was wondering how everything is going to happen now. Like are you going back to school? Are you going back to Ireland? I'm sorry for being pushy but I just needed to know. Will we see each other again?" He stammers and fiddles with his fingers.

"Sean, everything is going to be okay. It'll all work out. Trust me." You take his hands in yours as you speak.

"I trust you." Sean says, brushing your hair back behind your ear.

You gave him a smile, a truly happy smile. He pulled you into a hug. It lasted a while. It was warm and full, like being wrapped in a fluffy blanket. You breathed in deep, trapping his sent in your memory.

The Uber honked the horn, maybe because Mark told him to. The rain was starting to get heavier.

"I don't want to leave you." Sean said, restrain in his voice.

"I'm sorry but this is how it ends. You have to go." You say comfortingly.

"But what about you?" Sean takes your hands in his again.

"Sean, your life is fantastic. My life is fiction. You will keep going but I will end here. This is my last chapter. Goodbye." You say and pull your fingers out of his hands.

Sean walked off the porch and out into the rain, only to turn back and say his final words: "You'll always be my girl."

He gives you a smirk and runs to the Uber. That was the last time you saw him.

A couple years pass and you're doing just fine, both of you.

You live in your old house by yourself. Getting visits from your mom twice a year, Christmas and your birthday. Sydney calls just about every day to catch up.

Sean still does YouTube and you have taken the job at your local newspaper, writing articles about everyday life in your home town.

You two don't speak to each other anymore. It almost seems like you have never met.

Every once in a while you'll find yourself watching his videos and laughing along with the other millions of people. Watching him through a screen feels better than watching from backstage.

Part of you still thinks that Sean remembers you. Or was that someone else?

Ị̸̮̹̲̈́͆͝ ̴̬̩̫̏̑ḫ̵͊̈́͝o̸̗̠̖͗̀͆͐p̶͓̌̒͗̕ẻ̸̫͊͠ ̵̯͒̄n̵̡̹̱̖̐͌̈́̄o̵̮̮̮̯͛t.