I know I haven't updated this for a while, but that's only because I was having the best time of my life on a 7 day cruise in the Caribbean-and you didn't get to!-Did I just say that?
Part 14: A Comparison to Life
Lily shut her eyes at the sudden invasion of sunlight in her room. She blinked twice trying to get used to the unfamiliar light source, she hadn't seen such bright sunlight in several days. It was only dawn, but the light seemed intensely bright. She could hardly believe that she was going back to school, and that her sister wasn't going to do the same thing. But at the same time she couldn't help but smile.
"You're happier now." Lily said as if Jesse were standing right in front of her.
She missed Jesse badly, but she felt she should move on as if this had never happened. She couldn't help but ask herself if it ever really had. It could simply have been a dream, but no, she looked on her desk and saw the single photo of Jessica. She picked it up cautiously, barely able to feel the movements of her hands. She seemed to be doing all of this subconsciously, not meaning to do it at all. But she couldn't stop herself, and she couldn't refrain from crying. A single tear fell onto the picture, and was rapidly soaked up by the papery texture.
She stared at it in horror, "On no! I've ruined the picture!"
She wiped at the spot vigorously, but no matter what she did it remained. Even though it was stained she felt better knowing that there was a part of her in it next to the figures of Jessica, and standing a few feet away, her own body lost in thought. She stared at Jessica's face, and for the first time was able to look beyond the cheerful, energetic person she knew. Hidden deep in the eyes of her sister was a shockwave-like appearance of fear.
She picked up a pen that she had carelessly tossed to the floor a week earlier, and on the back of the picture wrote the date the picture was taken. She paused unable to make up her mind, and slowly returned the pen to the surface of the picture. Slowly she half-scribbled the words Jessica and Lily Randall. My unforgotten better half. Lily stared at her handy work and frowned. She felt horrible for having to resort to writing a note to a dead person she hardly knew, but at the same time knew very well...too well.
Lily smiled and laughed angrily as if it had been no more than a common breath. She felt her work was done, but suddenly she found herself collapsed to the floor. Tears were gushing down her face, and she felt suddenly empty. She curled up in a small ball on the floor hugging her knees to her chest, and fell peacefully asleep.
Lily awoke to the peaceful sounds of birds singing off in the distance. No birds ever seemed to venture into the yard of the Randalls, even though there were several lovely trees. She pulled the blanket around her tighter, and covered her head to block out the sun. Just then she realized that she was still on the floor where she'd fallen asleep. She sat up slowly and gazed at her surroundings. She yawned, and stood up. Glancing back at the floor she saw the picture, and for a moment couldn't decide what to do. Suddenly she found herself bending over and pulling the picture off the floor. The ink on the back seemed slightly smudged in one spot, and Lily yawned again.
"Well I guess I better get ready for school." She smiled and sighed softly at the thought of seeing the guys again.
She could just picture it. "Hey Lil did you miss me?" Ray would ask, and she'd be forced to punch him. Travis would say welcome home in some foreign language, and then he'd probably say something along the lines of "The first rule of Buddha states that all life is suffering." Robbie would probably be standing there trying to think of a question to ask on RFR and a way to welcome dear old Shady back. It was a lovely idea, and suddenly she found herself in a rush. Quickly she brushed her hair, ate breakfast, and forgot to brush her teeth as she hurried out the door and ran as fast as she could to place she most dreaded, and the place she most wanted to see.