The Same

Chapter 11

"You don't have to do this, you know," Sam whispered from beside me.

We were walking down to the creek. Jackie had begged nonstop yesterday for us to go swimming, but Sam stubbornly refused. I finally told him we could go, and I honestly thought that with Sam there, maybe I really could go in the water.

Now I wasn't so sure.

But despite the knot in my chest, I whispered back to Sam.

"I think I'm ready." I sounded a lot more confident than I felt.

The creek suddenly came into view, and the knot in my chest tightened.

"Oh, it's so beautiful!" Jackie called over the sound of the rushing water.

Before anyone could respond, Papa Roy took a running start an dove headfirst into the water. Laughing, Jackie followed him in, except more carefully and with less of a splash.

Sam looked at me. I gulped and nodded for him to go in.

Smiling, he lept into the water after his grandparents.

"Aren't you going to come in, April?" Papa Roy called to me.

I felt like I was going to puke. Or faint. Or both. Maybe I would just drop dead. It might just be easier. I wouldn't have to worry about any more families or houses or moves or creeks...

I pushed the thoughts away from my head and focused on just walking up to the water. How is it that they can just leap into water for fun, without a care in the world, but here I am, barely able to stay on my feet at the sight of rushing water.

"It looks kind of cold..." I started.

No. No, April. I scolded myself. You've avoided water for this long, you can go in. You can do it.

I couldn't do it.

I set my towel down and sat on it, gingerly dipping my feet in. It occurred to me that I hadn't gotten even this close to water in over ten years. The thought gave me chills, and especially the part about my life falling apart that last time I went swimming.

It all came back again. I could see her flailing around in the river, desperately trying to find air. I could hear the sirens, the screams of my parents-my real parents.

Suddenly, I knew I couldn't go in the water.

"I... I think I'll just stay here"

•••

{Sam's POV}

I stared out of the tent at the stars. I had convinced my grandparents to let us sleep outside. They were still in the cabin, but April and I had found the old tent and set it up for out last night in paradise.

"April, are you still awake?" my voice floated through the darkness.

"Yeah," she answered somewhere next to me.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"It is."

We were silent for a moment before her voice came through the tent again.

"Do you believe in heaven?"

The question surprised me. Did I?

"I've never really thought about it. Do you?"

"No," she answered definitely. "I don't believe that there is one place people's souls go where they die. But I believe they go somewhere."

"Where?"

"Here. Into us. All their strength and happiness floats right into us so it can be felt all over again. And some people look at the stars and think that somewhere out there, somewhere in that sky, above that sky, beyond this planet and life and reality, my sister is there. They think she's in this beautiful and happy place where she never has to worry about anything and can stay there forever and ever, and that's all fine and well, but I don't believe it. Because if my sister was beyond this world, she wouldn't be inside of me. And I truly believe that she is a part of me."

"Wow."

"I've never told anyone that before."

"I won't tell anyone."

"Thank you, Sam. You really are the only friend I've had."

In the darkness, I felt her hand looking for mine. She found it and squeezed it tightly. I squeezed it back, and before I knew it, her breathing had become even and she drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

I reached over and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"I love you, April."

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Hiiiiii guyyssss thanks you for reading ily😘😘

So I hope this chapter was a tad more interesting than the last one. Please vote and comment what you think, I really like hearing from you guys!

Thanks ily all😘

-Abby✌️