The REM Trials

Chapter 38

My chest tightens when I see them waiting for us on the cabin's front porch. Mum is crouched in front of a little girl that I assume is Morgan. Next to them, May is nervously shifting on her feet as she talks to Happy.

They notice us as we approach, and May wastes no time in running up to Peter. I awkwardly wrap my arms around myself as I stand off to the side. Happy doesn't seem to mind though. He just pulls me into a tight hug that makes it all come flooding back.

I can feel him shaking with every breath he takes. It's a reminder that I'm not the only one who lost someone they cared about. My hands bunch his jacket up into my fists as I desperately try to hold back the tears threatening to flow once more.

"I'm sorry, kiddo. He meant a lot to so many people." I nod and try to steady myself as he pulls away to arms length. "Are you holding up all right?"

"Considering that I was dead for five years, brought back, saw my Dad die, found out I have a little sister, and also lost someone else who was family to me?" I shake my head. "I'm still processing, and I don't know if I'll ever be okay with it all."

"No matter what, you won't be alone." He tries to make it sound upbeat and encouraging, but for some indistinct reason, I find it hard to believe him.

My thoughts are interrupted by a child's voice. "No! Daddy said he'd come home." Morgan is standing in front of Mum, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her foot stomps and hands push away Mum's. "He told me he'd come home."

I take a deep breath and try to gain an ounce of composure. It doesn't register in my head that I'm moving until I'm kneeling in front of the porch step at eye level with Morgan. "Hey, hey." She sniffles and wipes her face. "Dad—he isn't really gone. Yeah, we may not be able to hear or see him, but he always told me that he would always be with us. You wanna know how?"

"Y-yeah." She hiccups and watches me with wide eyes.

"Right here," I gently point to her heart, "and in each other."

Her hands cup over her heart as she softly smiles, "Really?" I nod and try not to cry again as she presses her ear to my chest so she can hear my heart. "I—I think I hear Daddy."

Mum and I both smile at each other with tears brimming in our eyes. There's still the ache buried deep in my chest. It's the kind that makes me want to scream at the world before crawling into bed and never come out again.

I doubt Morgan will let that happen. Despite the sadness, she's dragging me around, introducing me to all her stuffed animals, and shows me my room. It's exactly like my room back at Dad's flat. All my furniture is here, my photos hung on the wall, and papers littered exactly how I left them.

Morgan grabs my hand when she realizes I've gone eerily still and quiet. "Are you okay?"

A part of me wants to lie to her, but I know that she'll likely see through it. "No," I whisper and sit down on my bed, "Not really."

"Will a hug make it better?" I crack a smile at my little sister and nod. Her little arms wrap around me as tightly as they can. "Momma said that we have to help you with this 'a duck mint.'"

"Well, the hug is all ready doing wonders." She smiles a little wider at it. "Thank you, Morg."

"You're very welcome." She nods triumphantly as if her grand mission is finally accomplished.

I look up to see Peter leaning in the doorway, smiling at us. "You what else might make all of us feel better?" I ask her and tickle her sides until she laughs. "How about, we all get into comfy clothes and watch movies together?"

"Disney movies?" Her smile breaks across her face so wide I can see her few missing teeth. She looks over to Peter in the doorway and her eyes seem to get a little glimmer. "Can Peter come?"