PHANTOM SEPILOGUE

CHAPTER 14

JANES POV

Harry and I walk back down the correct trail this time. The sound of leaves crunching below our feet being the only noise around us.

"I'm sorry for getting so upset," I say breaking the silence.

"Jane, it's okay. Really." He says pulling me closer into his embrace.

I can't help but smile at him, he's so perfect. His skin is no longer pale, but instead it's replaced with a sun kissed glow that compliments his green eyes perfectly.

I'm filed with relief when we eventually find our car parked just where we left it.

Harry walks me to the passenger side of the car and opens the door for me, just as I think he's about to wait for me to get in and close it and get us on the road again he puts his hands on my shoulders and brings them up and down gently.

"You ready to find your parents?" He asks and arches his brows.

"Couldn't be more excited," I reply. "I've missed them so much and have so many questions!"

"I'm really happy for you and that you get to see them." He says grabbing my hands and setting his chin on the top of my head.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath to prepare myself for the reunion with my parents. I'm thankful for Harry always being there to comfort me when he can pretty much read my mind to know exactly when I need it most.

He kisses the top of my head before waiting for me to get into the car so he can close the door. I watch him as he walks around the front of the car and climbs into the driver's seat.

He puts his hand on my thigh as we exit the parking lot of the diner.

I watch everything pass by in blurs as we finish driving through Oregon and reach California. Memories of Sacramento and my childhood flood my mind as we get closer to where my parents would be. We pass my kindergarten, the old church we went to, and the hospital I was born at.

Everything looks so vivid and colorful in the afterlife, My hometown looks much brighter than I remember it to be. I guess it's better for me to see it this way.

As we drive up to my childhood home I spot cars in the driveway that do not resemble the ones I came to know. Confusion fills my mind as I see an old lady walking out of the front door with a watering can in her hands.

Harry seems to notice the stranger as well, he looks over at me with confused eyes.

"If your parents aren't at your house, where would they be?"

"I-I don't know." I stutter even more confused than him.

"Harry you don't think," I start, "You don't think they're in high school do you?" I ask curiously.

"So they were happier in high school!" he answers sarcastically.

"Yeah ha-ha," I say laughing and rolling my eyes.

I start to think of where else they would be and find myself thinking of why they would be in high school. Were they not happy with me? Of course they were, you were their only child, Jane. Then I realize, they were happy and they did love me, but with all the stress I put them through, it must've been so hard on them. Before I know it my eyes are glossy and I'm holding back tears.

"Oh my gosh, Jane I was just kidding! I didn't mea-"

"No it's not that! Well kind of but, I was thinking about it and I just caused so much of their stress and hurt because of what I put them and myself through. It was easier before me for them I guess."

HARRY'S POV

"No you can't say that. You have to think about the times before that," I say trying to comfort her as best I can.

Just as she was about to say something she stares straight at me with wide eyes and her hand moves to cover her mouth.

"What's wrong?" I ask her, hoping it's nothing I said.

"Oh my gosh. Harry, they're going to- I have to tell them about why I'm here. How I got here," she says, barely being able to form the words.

I reach across to her face to wipe her tears from her cheeks and say, "Jane you don't have to think about that right now. Let's focus on finding them first."

"No Harry you don't understand! We moved to Castle Hill and changed our entire life to get me away from my past. What are they gonna think when they find out?"

She starts crying even more and her breathing gets deeper and heavier.

I hate seeing her like this. She shouldn't be thinking about this. She should be thinking about how happy they'll be to see her again, despite where we are.

I unbuckle her seatbelt and pull her onto my lap and hug her tightly. She gives in and rests her head on my shoulder, her hot breath present on my neck.

"Shh Jane. It's okay. It's going to be okay" I coo into her ear.

A few minutes go by of Jane crying, but she eventually calms down and is breathing normally again. She sits up and leans against the steering wheel to look at me. Her eyes are puffy and bloodshot and her cheeks are flushed pink.

"I just don't want them to be disappointed in me like you were."

I hate that I got so mad at her because now I see how much it actually effected her.

"Jane," I sigh, "I'm sorry I got so mad at you when you told me, I just didn't know how to deal with my anger and I was just upset at the thought of you hurting yourself because of me." I say trying to make this situation any better.

She runs a hand through her hair and takes a deep breath.

"I didn't kill myself because of you, Harry."

"What do you mean?"

"I killed myself because everything in my life became too much, I was alone. I didn't have anyone else and it seemed like it would ease my pain at the time, you were one of the parts of why I did it. But I didn't do it because of you."

I hold her hands in mine, and smile at her.

"Why are you smiling?" She asks with a confused expression on her face.

"Because you stress yourself out over how to tell your parents why you killed yourself, when you just explained it perfectly to me." I say chuckling.

JANE'S POV

Harry is right, I shouldn't be so stressed out about telling my parents. I just need to repeat what I told him and they should understand. The thought that can't seem to leave my mind is how my parents might not even remember me.

I can tell that talking about my suicide rubbed Harry the wrong way, he's gripping the steering wheel tightly enough for his knuckles to be white, A thick line in his forehead also gives away his frustration.

My assumptions seem to be right as he breaks the silence in the car.

"I'm sorry that I left you all alone," he says, "I was selfish for wanting to pass so badly, but I hope you know I only hid knowing it was Nate from you because I didn't want to leave you."

His eyes tear away from the road and meet mine.

"I know, but I wish you would have told me that before you crossed." I say looking down at my feet.

It's true, I think one of the reasons that I felt so alone is because I never had the closure I needed. Harry was gone from my life within seconds and I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye.

"I don't want to fight with you anymore because what's done is done. I love you, Jane."

"I love you too, Harry."

Harry's thumb running softly over my knuckles is the last thing I feel before drifting off to sleep.