I stood there in shock. "What?"
"You heard me. You don't want to be a part of this world anymore, right?" I nodded slowly.
"Well you got your wish you were never born in the first place. Before we leave I want to show you a few things though. No one will be able to see us, obviously since you don't exist, so don't try getting their attention. You'll only hurt yourself."
"But what are we seeing? I'm confused."
"Just stay near me and it'll be alright. Got it?"
I nodded, taking a deep breath and swallowing the lump that was forming in my throat.
We walked back into town, not even feeling the cold air of winter. Everything looked the same as it had when I left. It was about to be dark soon so not many people were on the streets.
As we walked to the outskirts of town, we stopped at a black gate. I turned to the man beside me, confused.
"What are we doing here?"
In front of me was the graveyard. I hadn't been here since last year on the anniversary of my mother's death.
"I need to show you something. Follow me." he said as he walked forward, motioning with his hand. I did so, following a few feet behind him, staring at my feet. I looked up as he noticed he had stopped in front of a tombstone.
My mothers.
I looked to the one next to it and gasped.
In beautiful writing it read: loving husband, son and friend. Burt Hummel
I opened my mouth to speak but quickly shut it at a loss for words. Before I could try speaking again, he interrupted.
Burt Hummel, your father." I nodded as a sob racked through my body, making me fall to my knees.
"He was a great man."
"How did it happen?" I asked in a whisper through my tears.
"The heart attack. Since your mother had died, he didn't have anyone to fight for. He was in the coma, and he just gave up. When your mother died, he sold his shop and moved to a one room apartment. He didn't take care of himself. He didn't know how. He gave up"
I listened intently as tears rolled down my red, cold cheeks. He gave up? That wasn't the dad I knew. The strong one, the one who fought for anything and anyone, no matter the situation.
"I will fight to the death for your right to love whoever you want."
The conversation replayed in my head. More tears formed spilling over until I couldn't see anything but a blur. A hand went on my shoulder and gave it a tight squeeze. I felt him kneel down beside me, hand still placed on my shoulder.
"Without you there, he didn't take care of himself. Because you weren't there for him, he died. Because you weren't there, he had nothing and no one to live for." HE paused and took a deep breath. "Because you were alive, he lived."