Nightshade: A SimLit | Chapter 39: Apparition

Amelia sniffled as she stared down at the vase of flowers on her father's grave. Sometimes, she thought it was stupid to put them there. You take something so beautiful, and you pluck it from it's source of life, watching as it withers away, then you toss it out once it's dead. It was morbid to her. Or maybe she was just starting to view life as something far more sacred than she used to, now that she watched it disappearing around her every day as she lived on.

She began to murmur as she heard soft footsteps approaching her. "I can't believe it's been five years since he died... and three since mom..." her voice cracked and she fell silent.

A reassuring hand rested on her shoulder, and she felt every tense muscle in her body relax. His touch had a way of doing that to her. 

Onyx sighed and rubbed her shoulder lightly. "Why do you even bother to still call her that?" His voice was soft, yet stern. "She was no mother to you..."

Amelia turned to face him but didn't look up at him, not wanting him to see her watering eyes. "I know... but... sometimes I still miss her, and..."

Onyx's expression softened. "Sorry. I didn't mean to say it like that... but... it hurt me to see how much she hurt you, Amelia. She never acted like she loved you. But I know that you loved her..."

"I did." Amelia's voice was shaky. "I wish things would have been different." Taking a deep breath, she lifted her head a little, meeting his gaze. "But I really miss my dad. He understood me... he was the best father I could ever ask for. And... I know mom wasn't the best, but... she was the only mother I had, you know?"

"I know," Onyx said softly. "I miss my mom, too. She made a lot of mistakes... but... she loved me. I understand that now, even if I didn't understand then."

"Do you think... that my mom loved me?" Amelia asked, a tear rolling down her cheek slowly.

Onyx fell silent for what felt like hours before finally finding the right words. "I..."

He paused as he noticed Amelia lift her head and look over his shoulder, a confused expression on her face. "...Amelia? What's wrong?"

"That woman..." Amelia's voice quivered. She stared sadly off into the distance, her eyes filled with emotions she wasn't sure she had ever felt before. "She's... glowing. And she looks just like me..."

Onyx's hand fell from her shoulder and, noticing her surging emotions, his face turned to one of confusion. "What woman?" Onyx furrowed his eyebrows and turned to look in the same direction.

"Amelia..." Onyx paused. "There's no one there."

"What do you mean," she began slowly, a frown appearing on her face, "there's no one there?"

"We're the only ones here..." Onyx glanced at her and took her hand in his. "Are you feeling okay, honey?"

"You don't see her? She's right there!" Amelia exclaimed, her eyes brimming with tears. "She's right in front of you!"

"Hey," Onyx began softly. "Just take some deep breaths. Look at me." 

She slowly turned to face him, her lower lip quivering. "I'm going crazy... aren't I?"

He had begun to wonder if she was, and his expression was laced with concern. He placed a hand on her cheek, continuing to speak to her as calmly as he could manage to. "You're not going crazy. You're just upset and seeing things that aren't there. I promise you, there isn't anyone there..."

Amelia blinked back the tears she hadn't even realized were falling. "Okay..."

Onyx smiled and wiped a tear from her cheek. "Let's go home. You should lie down and get some rest, okay? You'll feel better tomorrow."

She felt herself beginning to calm down, and she didn't dare look back in the direction she was before. "Right. I'm just tired and upset. That's all..."

Onyx kissed her forehead. "You're right. That's all." He hoped she couldn't hear how worried he was.

She managed a smile and wrapped her arms around one of his tightly, feeling as if he was the only one keeping her sane. Reluctantly, she began to walk forward toward the gate leading out of the graveyard, and he followed at her pace.

'Why did she think she was seeing a woman that looked like her? She's never acted like this before,' Onyx thought as they walked. 'I can't help but worry...'

When she was sure Onyx wasn't looking, Amelia glanced over her shoulder one last time and watched as the woman faded away, slowly, until she disappeared.