Diaries of the Dead

13 | The Real Story

unedited

13 | T h e   R e a l   S t o r y

Cara pulled her silky black hair into a low ponytail and rubbed her temples in frustration. She sucked in a breath and studied the papers in front of her. It was hard for her to think about a funeral. It was hard to think about Abby, dead.

She pulled herself together and began to fill out the papers.

Jessica loomed over her mother, analyzing her every move. She was wrong about her. She really did care and Jessica could sense that she felt horrible for not being there for Abby.

But what about me, she thought. Didn't anyone know that I was dead? Didn't anyone care?

Cara stood up abruptly and moved towards the kitchen cabinets. The distress had built up inside her and she had no idea how to handle it.

Jessica couldn't help but feel sorry. Whether she wanted it to be true or not, Cara was her mother. And she cared. "Mom!" she cried, rushing to her mother's side. "Please don't be sad. Abby is happier now. She's in peace. I'm not there yet, but I'm here."

She drew her eyebrows together and attempted to hold Cara's hand. She knew it wouldn't work, but trying was better than doing nothing.

Cara glanced down at her hand and gaped. She felt the burst of energy that shot through fingers. Her face lightened as she glanced around the kitchen. "Abby?"

An elated grin came to Jessica's face. "No Mom, it's Jessica! Don't you remember me?"

"Abby!" Cara exclaimed with new found happiness. "Oh, my baby! Can you hear me?"

"No!" Jessica yelled, growing angry. "It's Jessica, your other daughter! Abby's not here, but I am!"

Cara felt the seconds pass and the silence continued. All hope that had ignited in her was gone. She sighed weakly and walked over to the dining room table again. She sat down and continued to fill out the papers.

Jessica felt the rage boil in her blood. "I'm dead!" she yelled, "And my own mother doesn't even care!" She laughed hysterically as an attempt to fight her tears. She needed to move on, fast. She couldn't be stuck here and be forever ignored.

* * * *

Aiden didn't even flinch when the doorbell rang. He kept his eyes fixed on the broken laptop and refused to move. There was no point in doing anything anymore.

He was void.

Empty.

Gone.

The chimes continued to echo throughout the house until it completely annoyed him. He exhaled in frustration and forced himself to answer the door. Wrapping his long calloused fingers around the knob, Aiden threw the door open and remained impassive.

The man on the other side of the threshold put on an award winning smile and spoke in a high pitched voice. "Hey, Aiden!"

Aiden's eyes slightly narrowed. The familiar curly-haired man stood outside his door with a peace offering in the form of a smile. But Aiden wasn't having any of it.

"We haven't talked in like-" Nate scoffed and pulled his lips into a full grin, "-well forever."

Aiden kept his fixed gaze on the boy and suppressed a sigh. "Do you need sugar or something?"

Nate blinked a few times, taken aback by Aiden's remark. "Dude, you okay?"

"Peachy," he retorted, though he gained no satisfaction from being loathsome. It wasn't in his nature.