Dear Love Of Mine

Afterlife, Maybe

-Scott-

The light. It was so bright I had to close my eyes. I stood up off the cold ground. Where am I?

I walked around, not finding anyone in sight, "Hello?" I heard my voice echo through the emptiness. I kept walking.

"Scott?" I whipped around to find a young girl. She looked to be maybe 18.

"I'm Scott, yes. Who are you?"

"My name is Marley."

"My daughter's name is Marley."

"That's me. I'm your daughter in the future, dad."

"No way. Where am I?"

"The afterlife. I'm not dead, but you are. Almost."

"Almost? What do you mean?"

"You're almost dead. But you won't let go. Because of dad."

"Mitch." I let out a deep sigh.

"Yes. Your husband. He misses you."

"I miss him. How do I hold on longer? Like, forever?"

"It's all up to you whether you live or die."

"How?"

"Hold on. Fight for it."

"Fight for what? Life?"

"Exactly. You must. If you ever wanna see dad again. Or me."

"Why are you older here?"

"I'm here to tell you how life is after your death. 17 years later." She grabbed my arm tight. I held on as we went to the apartment.

I followed Marley upstairs. She slowly opened the bedroom door. There was a dark figure on the bed. It seemed to be curled up in a ball.

"That's dad. He's depressed now. He has been ever since your death."

"He hasn't moved on?"

"He can't. You were his first love. His only love."

"Is he okay?"

"He's harming himself again. He cuts deeper and deeper every time." A tear slid down her cheek as she spoke about her sick father.

"Has he contemplated suicide?"

"He attempted three years ago. He regretted it because he saw how broken I was after. I thought I lost my other dad. I thought I was fatherless. Parentless in this cruel world."

"What happened to the man that killed me?"

"He got life in prison. He was found guilty because there was a camera pointing down the alley."

"I wanna go back."

"Back where dad?"

"Back to life. Back to you and dad. I miss you guys. I love you and I don't want to die."

"Fight."