Asunder

Chapter 44 - Happy

The hole in the ground in front of us seems to stare with eyes of its own, waiting.

"Ready?" I smile, looking over at him by my side. At the letter in his hand.
He nods, and pecks my lips. "Ready when you are."

I exhale.

The paper crinkles between my fingers as I squeeze it one last time, the birds chirping around in Hana's garden seemingly quieting down for us. For our little memorial.

For Maya, and Tommy.

I set Maya's letter in the dirt first, placing her mint jacket over it.

Dear Maya,

I'm sorry to bother you right now. I know you're probably over this, and you've got other angel duties to attend to, but please read this carefully, because it's important.

The day you died, a part of me died along with you. Cliché, I know, but it has a good ending, I promise. You took a part of me up to heaven with you. And honestly, it's a part of me I'll never be able to get back.
You were in my nightmares for a long time, Maya. And you'll probably come back in the future.

But now when you show up, with your hazelnut eyes, I'll try best as I can to dream lucidly. To hold my hand out and reach for you, and tell you I love you. I didn't tell you enough. When we were young. It's like we never had space for it, like it was a luxury we couldn't afford. I know we were just trying to get by. And so I forgive us for it. I forgive us, because even when we were afraid, even when we fought, I loved you with all the strength I had. And now that I'm stronger, I love you more. I remember more of the good times. The times we agreed on which movie to watch when we were home alone, and there was no one's love to fight for; no fear. The times when I tickled you, and you laughed forever before you got angry; it was worth it to me, to make you laugh. The times where you let me wear your favourite mint jacket, even when you wanted it more, even if I got it dirty.

I'm giving it back to you now, because I've outgrown it. I don't know if you're resting in peace, I don't know if you're still hurting. But Maya, my sister, please hear this: we never got the chance we should have. And I never got to make it right. But I promise you, I will live and love on this Earth like you never got to. I will finish healing, because it's such a beautiful life, even if you never got out to see it. But I will. I will be strong. And like so, I'll love you more, every single day.

I hope you're up there, finally; happy. And if you're not, or if you aren't there at all, I will be happy for the both of us.

-Kingsley

A tear falls from Sky's eye as he places his letter over the jacket, and covers it with a superhero comic book.

I take his hand. He squeezes mine.

Together, we bury the letters to heaven in dirt. And Hana helps us properly plant a flower over them. A flower that reaches to the sky; past the clouds.