Beep. Beep. Beep.

I heard my alarm going off, but for a moment I wasn't able to tell if it was just a dream. The beeping was something I had started to hear in my head for far too long.

Then, the phone call started coming through and seemed to get louder. I rubbed the heels of my palms against my eyes, getting ready to adjust my vision to the dark, and turned over on my side.

The clock on the nightstand read 3:00 A.M. It hit me. It's time. Shit!

Trill. Trill.

I nearly rolled off the bed to reach for my phone sitting at the edge of the nightstand, her picture filled up the screen. A sad, tight smile grew across my lips as I slid across the screen to answer. "Hello?"

"Hey parrot," she said on the other side with her light laugh. It always made my heart flutter every time I heard her laugh. God, how I missed it. "I was afraid you weren't going to answer."

"Hey, love. I always do. I won't forget." I promised. I never did.

Our little town was different than others you'd find on any map. Most people who find themselves in town rarely leave after the first time they get "the call." The one special thing that keeps us here - we are getting a second chance even if it's just for a few minutes. Why would anyone want to give it up?

She laughed softly and sighed relaxed. I could see her face - the exact expression that she was giving me. The small crinkles on the sides of her eyes, her lips curling up into her signature smile. Her lips wouldn't stay back for too long, they would find their home against mine.

"How's our son? He's doing okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah. He's asleep right now, but he's been doing well." I answered as I quietly walked down the hall and to Rafe's bedroom. I never closed the door, I couldn't bring myself to. A small fear was instilled in me fearing I would wake up to find him gone.

Our five-year-old was sprawled out on his bed. I grinned to myself, he never stayed in one position, just like her. "He's doing well in school. We aced the science project."

"Phew! That was always something I worried about."

"What? You didn't think I could do it?" I pretended to be offended. I strolled into the room and leaned down to kiss the top of his head. "We miss you, babe."

She paused. I didn't hear her, I thought the call dropped. It was too soon. "Isla?" I swallowed.

"Can I sing to him?"

The question rattled me a little. This was something she never asked me before. "I- Yes. Of course." I squatted down by the side of the bed and placed the phone down, putting it on speaker. I brushed our son's hair to the side of his face.

"Duérmete pollito, duérmete mi amor, duérmete pedazo de mi corazón."

I pressed my lips together, hearing her sing to him made me feel broken, the feeling of loss all over again. She would do this ever since Rafe was growing inside her. Now, the only way she could was through the phone.

Isla rubbed her belly as she stood in front of the bathroom mirror. I lingered outside in our bedroom, watching her quietly. My heart was warm as I saw her caress her belly. "Mi pollito. Grow strong. Okay? Mama loves you." She whispered to him and pulled her hair into a loose braid. She knew I was watching, we briefly gazed at one another in the mirror. She smiled sweetly at me. "What's up, parrot?"

I had no words. Nothing came to mind when she asked. This was complete bliss, this was heaven. She made her way over to him as I sat at the edge of the bed. She ran her fingers over my hair and kissed my forehead. At that exact moment, I leaned in and kissed her belly. "Te amo mucho, mi corazón." I whispered to our baby.

She took my face into her soft hands to lock eyes with me, she pressed her forehead against mine. A happy smile grew over her lips as she kissed me. "Todo el mundo." She murmured the words against me, she dragged her lips to the corner of my mouth. I could feel my body fill with heat. I put my hands on her hips and brought her down to straddle my lap.

"Todo el mundo" I echoed the same sentiments. The words we said to each other since we started dating, to our wedding day.

Rafe didn't wake up as she sang to him. His steady breathing continued. I held out my hand to place on his back. I noticed a small tear roll down from the corner of his eye. I leaned over quietly to kiss his forehead, I picked up the phone and held it against my ear again.

"Ollie?"

When she said my name, it felt like a sledgehammer was taken to my chest. I leaned against the wall outside Rafe's room. I started to slide down. "Yes, babe?" I wiped my eyes as I studied the hall with the pictures of us still hanging.

"I am proud of you. You're doing everything right."

I swallowed the thick growth of sobs wanting to burst. I wasn't going to cry - not now. I closed my eyes for a moment and pictured her sitting in front of me as she spoke. I could feel her warm fingertips against my cheek.

Isla dropped the first box labeled 'crap' when we arrived at the house. She tugged on the baseball cap I was wearing as I struggled to carry more than one box. She laughed softly when I nearly fell over. "Hoy, hoy," my attempt to stand stern was a big failure. I set the stack of boxes down and smiled at her. "Home?"

"I think we're going to have to update the paint, and new furniture," she pushed the sad recliner that was sitting in the living room. Dust filled the air, she swatted and coughed. "Yes. New stuff."

I smiled, coming up behind her and wrapping my arms around her. I kissed her cheek a few times. "Of course, we'll get it all done. I promise." I slid my hands hands down to intertwine my fingers with hers. I gave them a tight squeeze, then lifted her arms up and spun her around. She smiled lazily at me and bumped her hips against mine. Her eyes locked with mine and it made me melt. The way she looked at me, she knew me so well. The moment I met her, I knew I was going to marry her and give her anything she wanted.

"You better keep that promise, Ollie." She raised her eyebrows at me. I pursed my lips, nodding lazily as my hands trailed down her body and stopped at the waist.

"We're going to make a beautiful life here. It's ours." I kissed her forehead. "Todo el mundo." My fingers traced the words she had tattooed on her side. Her fingers teasingly crawled up my ribs and traced the same tattoo.

"Todo el mundo." She kissed me softly once then twice. Her thumb gently touched my lips. Her touches were always calming even when things got out of hand, she would find a way to turn it. She annoyingly saw the glass half full.

"Parrot. Something is coming."

My eyes shot open. "Isla?" I started to my feet and hurried to check the front door and back. There was no sign of anyone outside. There were no noises that were out of the ordinary. "Isla?" I desperately whispered to her. "Amor?"

The line was silent, I checked the phone to see if it dropped but it was still connected. She didn't hang up. Right? I could feel my breathing becoming rushed. It was as if I was being suffocated. I wasn't ready to say bye.

"Ollie. It's coming."

"Baby, how? Tell me how?"

I raised the volume on my phone trying to hear anything, something. But all I could hear was static, the white noise. "Isla? Dígame."

The line cut. "Isla? Isla!" I yelled into the phone but there was no response. I dropped to my knees and stared at my phone wishing it to ring.

I stared at the image I never changed. It was of the three of us at the beach. Rafe was 4 and was proudly holding a large piece of watermelon. Isla was wearing my favorite baseball cap as she kissed our son's cheek. I was smiling so big and happy as I held on to them - my family.

"Dad?" Rafe yawned as he slid his feet toward me. He plopped down on my lap trying to make himself comfortable. I put my arms protectively around him.

"You should be asleep, bubs." I rocked him a little just like Isla would do. His eyes started to become droopy.

"I heard mama. She visited me from heaven." He nuzzled his head against my chest. I nodded at his story.

"Duérmete pollito, duérmete mi amor, duérmete pedazo de mi corazón." I sang to him softly, fighting back the tears. Rafe hummed along for a bit before he completely passed out. I carried him back to his bed, tucking him tightly. I fixed the stuffed parrot he had on his bed so it sat close to him.

I returned to my bedroom, sat on the bed, and looked at the phone again. Nothing. What did she mean? What's coming? I wouldn't get my answer until a week. That's when they called. Once a week. It was uncommon for them to call again before then. There were rumors of something more happening, but they were only rumors. The old townies were bored, talked too much, and found it entertaining.

Knock. Knock.

I sat up quickly as soon as I heard the knock. I breathed in unsteadily, then carefully walked to the front door. The knock came again. I opened it slowly and sucked in a breath.

"Hi, Parrot." She smiled softly at me. I couldn't comprehend what was in front of me. Her name choked my throat when I tried to say it. I took a step forward and for a moment her face wasn't the same. It was covered in shards of glass embedded in her skin, blood was oozing out of the open cuts, she appeared the same way they found her after the accident. 

Then it all disappeared and she wasn't wearing the tortured mask. Her smile was bright, her skin showed no signs of cuts or scars, and there were no drips of blood streaming down her face. Her hair was tied in a loose braid that hung over her shoulder.

The scent of marigolds filled the air.

Marigolds (cempoalxóchitl) are known as the flower of the dead. The color and strong scent are believed to help guide the spirits of the dead home.