I just want to say thank you for all of the beautiful reviews! I planned for this to be a One-Shot but I'm adding on this little sequel. I got a few requests for this so . . . here it is
I closed the final box in my apartment. The only thing left was a thin sheet and a coverless pillow on the mattress I was leaving behind. Tomorrow I was leaving for Rhode Island to stay on my brother's couch for a few days while I looked for a job at Rhode Island School of Design. It had been three months since . . . the accident, and I needed to get out of this town. Whether or not it was really her or just my imagination, Aria had told me to move on. Her spirit was giving me the strength to know it was okay.
I missed her every waking moment of my life and every now and then I would revisit those moments of delusion as if she were here with me. But each time she would pepper me with questions about why I hadn't moved forward. That really made me wonder if it actually was her. Like her spirit or presence. Only she would do that. It was one of the things I loved about her yet one of her quirks that annoyed the hell out of me.
I began my walk to the elevator with the last box when my phone buzzed. I shifted the box and pulled the cell out of my pocket. "Hey Michael." I huffed to my brother.
"Hey, Ezra. Look, Amanda has a soccer game tomorrow so we'll be a little late in. You may need to entertain yourself for an hour or two."
I hit the down button on the elevator with my elbow. "No problem, Mike. I'll, uh, catch a movie or something."
My brother chuckled on the other end, "Alright, brother. See you tomorrow."
"See ya." I said at the same time the elevator dinged as we hit ground floor. I stuffed the phone in my pocket and got my keys for the car. I looked up and almost dropped the box. I hadn't even tried this time, but Aria was perched on the trunk of my car.
"Hey." I said, unsure. I was never ungrateful to see her but . . . usually it was on my own terms.
"Hi." She smiled. "So you're finally doing it, huh?" I could tell she was happy.
I smiled back. "Yeah." Even when I wasn't seeing her, I could always feel her. Her eyes caught the box and she hopped off the trunk. As I put the box in I looked at her, "Is this crazy. That I see you and talk to you? Even though you're . . ." Damn. After all this time I still couldn't say that word. It didn't fit right. That word never would with her.
She shrugged. She always changed a subject she didn't want to hang on, "So where's the rest of your stuff. I mean that apartment's tiny but it's not that small."
I feigned hurt, "Hey that apartment is not small. It's cozy." Her laughter illuminated around her. I never knew how much I missed that laugh till I heard it again. "To answer your question, um, I have a storage unit in Rhode Island. So all of the big stiff is there. The t.v., the book shelves . . ."
"Ah, yes. The book shelves." Aria smiled. I laughed with her and locked the trunk. "This is a really good thing Ezra. You moving to Rhode Island. It's really . . . really important."
I scoff\laughed, "Yeah you're making it sound that way."
She grinned warmly. "It's nice to see you back to you, Ezra."
I leaned against the trunk, "I'm getting there."
"Do you like me visiting you?" She asked. There wasn't any hurt or insecurity in her voice, just curiosity.
I shook my head up and down vigorously, "Yes. I don't know if I would be able to keep on if you didn't." Yes, it was true, It did hurt whenever she showed up because then I was reminded she was really gone. But I'd rather hurt and have this figment.
She smiled lightly then looked around, "Well I have to go now. But I'll be checking up so you better be on the road tomorrow." I smirked, "Yes ma'am." She hugged me, and once again it broke me how real she felt.
"Aria." I whispered into her ear. "Yeah?" she whispered back and pulled away slightly. "How can I feel you when you touch me, but my hand goes through you if I try to touch you?"
She smiled, "Don't ask so many questions. Go get something to eat and get some rest, okay?" she said. I laughed lightly and nodded. She started fading away and by the time she was gone I realized we hadn't done our regular goodbye. I dismissed it and did what she said by getting in the car and driving off to the closest fast food restaurant I could find.
The next day
I walked through the doors of a pub in Barrington, Rhode Island and the smell of sweat and grease met my nose. I sat down and rubbed my eyes while murmuring, "Amstel . . ." to the bartender. "Are you okay over there?" A feminine voice called.
I glanced up to see a girl with wavy dark blonde hair and deep brown eyes. I smiled politely, "Just making something of the day. I'm moving into a new place today but my . . . roommate won't be home till later and I don't have the key."
The girl scooted down the two barstools between us and sipped her mojito. "You know I'm going to a foreign film exhibit later. My friend can't make it and I have an extra ticket if you want to come?"
I smiled, barely noticing the bartender putting the forgotten drink beside me. "I love foreign films."
"Really?" she smiled. She had a beautiful smile. I felt like I was cheating. But I knew Aria would give me hell if I didn't start trying.
"Yeah, when does it start?" I asked.
The girl looked at her chain link watch. "In an hour . . . I'm Eden." What a unique name.
"I'm Ezra." I smiled. Maybe this could be fun.
Six Months Later
I struggled with my tie. Damn it. I heard a knock on my door. "What?" I asked frustrated.
Hardy laughed, "Dude chill. Just want to know how you're doing in there?"
"Fine." I lied. If it weren't for the tie situation I'd be floating. Today was the day. It was my wedding day. I didn't think I would be able to ever move on, but Eden was . . . perfect. I loved her, and I couldn't help but feel happy.
"Okay, just hurry. Eden's dad is getting antsy." I hear his footsteps walk away.
I was giving up on the tie. "Need some help?" I heard. I closed my eyes at that familiar voice, a smile spreading across my lips. "Hi." I said, my eyes not yet open. I turned around to see Aria smiling. "Haven't seen you in a while." I said.
She walked over and started moving the tie around, finally fixing it into a double Windsor knot. "Today's the day, huh? I'm so glad this happened."
"You are?" I asked. I sounded like I was asking my father if he was sure I could paint flames on his station wagon.
"Yes! Why did you think I was so persistent you leaved THAT day?" She grinned from ear to ear.
I stopped, "Wait . . . Aria did you . . . Did you plan this?"
Aria smirked, "Remember how I promised you would find someone? Because I picked her. I love you so much that I needed to find the best person for you. I knew she'd be in that bar that day and I knew she would have a ticket to a film festival because I was the one who burnt out the engine in her friend's car."
I felt my eyes go glossy, "I can't believe you would go to this length . . ."
"Ezra." She stopped me again. "I needed you to be happy like this again. It hurt me . . . seeing you so low. But now you can live your life. You can be everything and everything with Eden. I need that for you."
"Thank you." I whispered to her. "I love you." I said.
"Always?" she looked down.
There was a knock, "C'mon man!" Hardy sighed on the other side of the door.
"Forever." I smiled down at her. I let her wrap her arms around me and it didn't hurt so bad. As I `felt her slowly drift away I realized something. I didn't feel her around me anymore. Not like when she would leave but her energy stayed. She was actually gone. She was finally at peace.
Hoped you guys liked that! It wasn't too short or detailed but I'm proud of it! Love you all!
