My heart is in my throat.

I feel nauseous, anxious, and vigilant all the same.

I know I've been standing here for more than 15 minutes. Nevertheless, I can not bring myself to knock upon the door that stands, and has stood, in front of me for what seems like an eternity. I rehearse the line same line over and over again in my head. I thought I'd be prepared, but everyone probably does. Up until the very moment of action, that is. So here I stand, awaiting the moment that I can muster up the guts I was born with. My watch beeps as a new hour begins.

3 o' clock in the afternoon.

I sigh as I am reminded that I arrived around 2:10. The sun is blazing and my uniform doesn't help.

I slump my head forward, and give myself a mental pep-talk. It's all you. This is all and only you. No one else can do this but you. My hand balls itself into a fist and slowly rises as if it has a mind of its own. I knock. I wait. I begin to remember things I'd been blocking out for quite a while. His smile...and last words. In the single second after I'd knocked they all came flooding in. It was too much. So much that the tears that'd never fallen before, came rushing out. So did Mrs. Jackson.

Despite the fact that I was looking down, tears running down my face, and the only sound was my sobs... I knew. I knew she knew. I knew who she'd been expecting. I knew who she'd been expecting for the last 2 years around this time. I knew who she'd been expecting wasn't coming home. Ever. I look up and see my reflection in dilated pupils. Dilated pupils inside of eyes, beginning to burst with tears. Eyes inside of a head cocked slightly to the side, in a way that screams...I don't understand. Mrs. Jackson's trembles, and tears begin to pour out. As if she was horrified that her *skeletons had danced right out of the closet.

Well, it's out there. I thought. I didn't say it, but it's out there. I wasn't sure if I had the right, but I hugged her. I hugged her as if he was home. Home and safe. It didn't last long, and it didn't need to. Anything that would have, could have, or should have been said, had been fully expressed through tears, and a hug.

I wipe my eyes and return to "Attention" position. " Mrs. Jackson. On March 24, 2023, Percy Jackson was K.I.A." She choked on her own tears the second I said Percy.

She sniffled, wiped her eyes, and breathed out "What did he say last? Do you know?" I looked into her eyes, and I thought back.

I sighed.

"He said, I love you, Nico."

Thank you for reading!

*- Skeletons in the closet means to have secrets and memories that you'd rather not talk about with anyone else.