spaces | grayson dolan

𝚜𝚒𝚡

I inhale a breath as my jaw continues to hang open. I'm speechless, having no words to speak at the sight of him in front of me. Blinking a few times, I'm convinced this entire past thirty minutes has been a dream. My brother is here, standing inches away from me. His dark hair, beautiful eyes, perfect dimples. It's all right here.

"Hi Hope." He flashes me his familiar and warm smile, a smile that lights up the whole world.

"How is this possible?" I step closer to him, every sad part of my body suddenly feels oddly calm.

"I've been waiting for you to get here for awhile now." Hunter whispers with a small smile.

"So, we are dead?" Grayson nervously speaks up from behind me. "You told me your brother died last August."

"I did. I'm fully dead, but you aren't." Hunter shifts his eyes to Grayson.

"What does that mean? Please explain to us what's going on." I demand, still staring at him in utter shock.

"You're in-between heaven and earth. This isn't technically the full after life, it's just a part of it. Your bodies are on earth, but your spirit is here." He motions his hands around the silent street.

"And where is here, exactly?" Grayson's breathing becomes heavier.

"Your own personal piece of heaven." A smirk forms on his lips as he looks down at me.

"That doesn't make any sense!" Grayson begins to pace around with his hands on his hips.

"So, we're not dead?" I slowly ask. I still have no idea what he's talking about.

"Technically, no. You're still breathing, but your conscious is going to be trapped here for awhile." Hunter keeps his eyes on me, the small smile is still covering his mouth. "I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you more. Everyday I-"

"Go to the cemetery and write in your diary. You vent about mom and dad for handling my death the wrong way." He finishes my sentence for me.

"You know?" I gulp.

"I see everything, little sis." He starts to laugh and I feel like crying. This time, happy tears, but nothing leaves my eyes. I feel too peaceful to cry. "I'm with you every single day. That bay window must be real comfortable."

My chest heaves up and down as I try to let out my emotions. I want to cry, but physically can't. Stepping closer to my brother, I wrap my arms around him. When I can't feel his body against mine, I slowly pull away.

"I can't hug you." I whisper.

"We don't have contact with each other." He rubs his lips together.

"Why not?"

"Because we're in two different states." He tries to explain, even though this is all confusing.

"I can't believe you're actually with me. Not just here, but also in the real world." My head is reeling.

"Of course I am. Just because you can't see me doesn't mean I'm not there."

"So, this is heaven?" I whisper while looking around.

"Incorrect, this is your heaven." He points out.

"Where's real heaven?" Grayson speaks up.

"Well, you have to die first to actually see it." Hunter shrugs. This causes Grayson's entire face to twist with anger.

"Is this some kind of sick joke?" He steps in front of me, getting extremely close to my brother.

"Grayson." I mutter, hoping he'll stop.