I listened to the preacher talk about Joe's life; I can't believe he's gone. I ruined his life I practically killed him it was my fault that he was driving while upset. Tears were rolling down my cheeks as I held my new boyfriend's hand; I buried my head in his neck letting my tears soak into his skin as he wrapped his arms around me
"I messed up so much Mitchel," I mumbled
"No you didn't Nick, it was an accident, how were you to know that some guy was going to go the wrong way on the freeway?" Mitchel said giving me a kiss on the top of my head I pulled away from Mitchel's neck and sniffled while wiping the tears from my eyes.
"It'll be okay Nicky, things will be okay you'll see" Mitchel said giving me hug and rubbing my back
"Thanks Mitch" I said giving him a kiss on the cheek
When the funeral was over there was a reception but I wasn't going, I didn't want to I wanted to be alone. I walked aimlessly through our hometown to the park Joe used to take me to when I was a little kid. I sat down on one of the swings on the swing set, tears were pouring down my cheeks. I felt so alone so empty without Joe, I remember when I got the call
Flashback
I was sitting on the couch making out with my boyfriend Mitchel when my cell phone rang.
"Don't answer it babe," Mitchel said temporarily breaking the kiss
"it might be my mom" I said breaking the kiss and reaching over and grabbing my phone off the table, I saw that it was my mom
"Told you" I said sending him a smile. I flipped open my phone and was greeted by my sobbing mother
"Whoa mom what's wrong?" I said trying to calm my mother down
"y-your b-b-brother w-w-was in a-a c-car a-accident" my mom sobbed over the phone
"wait, wait which one mom you gotta be more specific" I said
"J-j-j-j…" was all my mom said before she broke down sobbing. My heart break because I knew that I only had one brother whose name starts with a J and that was Joe
"oh god" I said shutting my phone and started shaking
"Nicky baby what's wrong" Mitchel asked me
"J-Joe was in a car accident" I stuttered out feeling the tears burst from my eyes
Mitchel held me while I cried before he suggested we head to the hospital
End Flashback
When we got there I found out that it was too late and that Joe had died on the way to the hospital and that there was nothing they could have done to bring him back. I broke down then and there on the swing, I sobbed my heart out until I though I heard Joe's voice
"Nicky…"
God I must be hearing things
"Nicky" I heard it again I looked around but there was no one there I sighed and turned back around
"Nicky, turn around" I turned around and almost screamed at what I saw. Standing behind me was Joe
"Joey?" I asked in a weak voice
"yeah Nicky it's me" Joe said giving me a sad smile
"how is this possible. Y-you're dead" I said reaching out to touch him only to have my hand go right through him
"I'm just a spirit now Nick, I just came down here to talk to you"
"About what?" I asked wanting nothing more than to jump into Joe's arms and tell him how sorry I was for everything that I did
"I want you to know that I accept the apology that I know you want to give me, I love you more than anything in the world" Joe said
"Knowing that you forgive me means the world to me" I said sending Joe the first genuine smile that I have given in weeks
"I know Nicky, I'll be watching over you and Mitchel. I realize why you picked him, I can tell how much you love him. I'll be watching you two through everything Nicky whenever you need me look up into the sky and call me and I'll come" Joe said
"I love you Joey" I said
"I love you too Nicky" Joe said, I could see that he was fading Joe leaned forward and I swore I could feel Joe's lips on mine
"You'll be in my heart always" were the lst words I heard before Joe had completely faded and I was once again alone in the park.
I knew that someday I would see Joe again and that anytime I needed him I could look up to the sky and call his name then I could talk to him. Someday we would be together again