All Those Things I Still Remember

11: Late Night Visitor

I was staying home alone with Melody. It was the first time since his death that I'd been alone. I was putting Mel to bed when someone walked by the door. I looked at Mel who was just smiling. I kissed her forehead and rose from the bed. I closed her door behind me and walked towards the living room. No one was in sight, so I just shook it off and went back to my room. I grabbed my notebook from the drawer as well as a pen. I decided to go back out to the living room to wait for someone to come home. I sat on the couch and flipped to the next clean page. I uncapped the pen and began to write.

Jimmy,

I'm finally getting a little better. Trick thought that I was strong enough to be able to stay home alone. Well, I mean, I'm not alone, because Mel's here. But I mean, like, without one of them. It's been a really long time since he's let me be alone. I think Christmas Day was the last time I was home alone for even an hour. I really wanted to

I heard a giggle come from Mel's room and I put the pen in the notebook before closing it. I quietly crossed the house, down the hallway, and stood just outside her door. She was talking in a hushed tone, but I couldn't tell who to.

"Do you remember that duck at the park? That was really big!" She was quiet for a minute. "No, that was like a Franken-duck. That was scary! And it wasn't scared of you running at it." She was quiet and then, she giggled again. "I wish I could talk Mommy into taking me there." I waited for her to continue, but she didn't. As the curiosity overcame me, I opened the door.

"Who are you talking to, Mel?" I asked her. She looked around, but when she didn't find whatever it was that she was looking for, she sighed in dismay.

"No one, Mommy." I watched her for a minute.

"Okay, well, I was just wondering what that noise was. Good night, baby, "I said, leaving her room. I went back to the living room and sat on the couch. I opened the notebook and resumed writing.

get better for Melody. And I guess everyone else... But I felt like she shouldn't have to go through what I did with my mom when Josh died. I mean, it really fucked me up. I just thought that I'd write to you. I miss you a lot.

All my love,

Shay

I closed the book and decided to go lie down, seeing as how it was almost midnight, and no one was back yet. They all probably crashed at Pete's. I shut the door behind me and returned the notebook and pen to their drawer. I turned off the light and crossed the moonlit room to the bed. I curled up under the blankets and felt sleep pull at my eyes.