My Purgatory Hell

Chapter 24

"Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things."

- Winston Churchill

My conversation with Veronica did not get much farther than discussing the need to visit Hayley, because I was pulled home before she could explain herself. Austin had summoned me with an Ouija board.

As I sat across from him, Austin looked like he struck gold. How long did he sit here?

Giving him a puzzled look, I waited patiently for what he had to tell me. It wasn't like I was in any hurry to confront my ex-best friend. In fact, that was exactly what I was trying to avoid, even if Veronica pointed out the importance of hearing her out.

"I talked to Mom about Mr. Green," Austin started, a little uncomfortable. He seemed like a child in a candy store with a bunch of cash in his hand, unsure of what to buy, when he fidgeted. His statement had evaporated any thoughts I had of Hayley. Instead, this topic about Mom and Mr. Green became the priority.

Giving him all of my attention, "What about him?" I mouthed--I knew Austin couldn't hear me, but I hoped he could read my lips if I mouthed them slowly. Unfortunately, Austin didn't seem to understand what I had said, but he was on the same page regardless of this miscommunication.

"So Mr. Green was Mom's high school sweetheart," Austin informed me with an uncomfortable look written across his face.

Dating life before our father (or mother) was never mentioned. This piece of information my brother brought forth was intriguing, and it made sense why David Green would give Mom a look.

You need to be focusing on finding peace, an inner voice sounding similar to Veronica chided. I wanted answers here. It wasn't imperative, but it certainly felt like it was. Finding peace would just have to wait a little bit longer. Samantha couldn't find peace for years, so what was a matter of days for me?

Austin continued, "I think from the sounds of it, they were serious. They lasted for years, and I think were even going to get married. I guess that's why Mom doesn't mention it in front of Dad." Austin shrugged as if this was no big deal. 

Sighing, I stood up. What if David Green was my biological father instead Dad? The thought was eerie, but definitely shook my core. There was no evidence or talk of their earlier years of getting together, but I highly doubted this fact was the case. However, I couldn't stop my mind from leading me on these odd tangents. It seems to be happening a lot lately. Well mostly after my death. Samantha and her peace, revealing my feelings to Winnie, reminiscing on moments with my family. I couldn't seem to focus on any one thing. When I did, it seemed as though the matter upset me or caused me pain. Was this what it was going to feel like until I found this so called peace? This was my own purgatory hell.

I shook my head. The matter here was David Green and my brother. Nothing else should matter except for that. I just needed to remind myself to focus.

"It is a big deal," I said, bringing myself back to the present and my current conversation with Austin. He didn't seem to comprehend what I was saying, so I focused on the Ouija board in front of me. The process was long and seemed to take some energy out of me.

Austin frowned. "Why? It isn't like she's still with him. Honestly, not everyone meets the one on their first try."

His statement sounded wiser than his normal, and wanted to pry my thoughts away from the situation at hand. Forcing myself back, I raised an eye brow at him. Since when did he suddenly grow up? I crossed my arms over my chest, refusing to make a comment to his statement. Frowning, Austin seemed at a loss of words.