~A PAINFUL LEGACY~

~The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again~

- Charles Dickens

Song - Location by Khalid

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Aubrey pounded the pavement, his feet pounding out a steady rhythm as he jogged through the quiet streets. His earpiece was firmly in place, and the smooth, soulful voice of Khalid filled his ears.

As the opening notes of "Location" began to play, Aubrey's lips curled into a faint smile. He hummed along to the music, his eyes gazing out at the scenery around him.

The song was Sophie's favorite, and Aubrey couldn't help but think of her as he listened. He remembered the way she used to sing along to this song, her voice blending with Khalid's in perfect harmony.

His smile faltered for a moment, and he felt a pang of sadness. But as he continued to jog and listen to the music, he felt a sense of peace wash over him. He knew that Sophie was still with him, in spirit, and that she would always be a part of him.

Aubrey walked through the front door, his jogging shoes squeaking on the tile floor. He was sweaty and hot, but he felt invigorated after his morning jog. He made his way to his room, dropping his earpiece and phone on the bed.

He quickly stripped off his sweaty clothes and stepped into the shower, letting the cool water wash away the sweat and fatigue. He felt refreshed and rejuvenated as he stepped out of the shower and began to get dressed.

Aubrey pulled on a pair of comfortable jeans and a plain white t-shirt, then made his way to the kitchen. His stomach was growling, and he was looking forward to a hearty breakfast.

As he entered the kitchen, he was greeted by the warm smile of his mother. She was standing at the stove, scrambling eggs and cooking bacon. The delicious aroma filled the air, making Aubrey's stomach growl even louder.

"Good morning, sweetie," Emily said, giving him a warm hug. "How was your jog?"

"It was great, Mom. Just what I needed."

Emily smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm glad to hear that. Now, how about some breakfast? I made your favorite - scrambled eggs and bacon."

"Will do," he said, taking a seat at the kitchen table.

Emily expertly flipped the eggs and bacon, then slid a plate in front of Aubrey. He dug in, savoring the flavors and textures.

As he ate, Aubrey's mind began to wander. He thought about how Sophie's aunt still didn't know about Sophie's passing.

"Mom," Aubrey said, his voice serious. "I've been thinking. We need to go visit Sophie's aunt."

Emily's expression turned somber. "Do you know her?

"Yeah, I do. I accompanied Sophie one time she visited her."

"It's not going to be easy, telling her about Sophie."

Aubrey's face darkened, his eyes clouding over. "To be honest, Mom, I'm not even sure I want to go," he said, his voice low and rough. "Sophie's aunt... she was never very nice to Sophie. She was actually pretty wicked to her."

Emily's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh my gosh."

"And to be honest, I hate her for the way she treated Sophie. But despite all that, I think she still deserves to know the truth about Sophie's passing."

"You're right. We'll go together, and we'll tell her about Sophie. It's the least we can do."

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Aubrey and his mother pulled up to the small, rundown house on the outskirts of town. The once-white paint had faded to a dull gray, and the windows were cloudy with grime. A small, overgrown garden out front seemed to be the only attempt at beautification.

Emily turned off the engine and turned to him. "Are you ready for this?" she asked, her voice soft with concern.

Aubrey nodded, taking a deep breath. He had been dreading this visit all day, but he knew it was necessary.

They got out of the car and walked up the cracked sidewalk to the front door. Aubrey's mother knocked twice, and they waited in silence for the door to open.

After a moment, the door creaked open, and Sophie's aunt stood before them. She was a tall, gaunt woman with a pinched face and a scowl that seemed to be permanently etched on her features.

"What do you want?" she growled, eyeing Aubrey and his mother with suspicion.

Aubrey's mother stepped forward, her voice firm but polite. "Hello. You're Sophie's aunt, right? Sophie Jackson.

"Unfortunately, yes. Why?"

Aubrey managed to hold himself back, and breathe.

"We've come to speak with you about Sophie."

Sophie's aunt raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "What about Sophie?" she asked, her voice dripping with hostility.

Aubrey took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. "Sophie passed away," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "We wanted to come and tell you in person."

Sophie's aunt stared at them, her face expressionless. For a moment, Aubrey wondered if she had even heard him. But then, a flicker of emotion crossed her face, and she stepped aside, allowing them to enter.

As they stepped inside, Aubrey was struck by the stark contrast between the warm, loving home he had grown up in and the cold, sterile atmosphere of Sophie's aunt's house. The air was thick with the scent of stale cigarettes and decay.

Sophie's aunt led them to a small, dimly lit living room, where they sat down on a worn, velvet couch. Aubrey's mother took his hand, offering him a comforting squeeze.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this," Emily began, her voice gentle. "But Sophie was a very special person, and we wanted to make sure you knew what had happened to her."

Aunt Mildred listened, her face impassive, as Aubrey's mother explained the circumstances of Sophie's passing. Aubrey watched her, trying to gauge her reaction, but her expression remained stubbornly neutral.

When Aubrey's mother finished speaking, Sophie's aunt sat in silence for a moment, her eyes fixed on some point beyond them. Then, in a voice that was barely above a whisper, she spoke.

"I'm not surprised," she said, her words dripping with malice. "Sophie was always a troubled child. I'm not surprised she ended up the way she did."

Aubrey felt a surge of anger at her words, but he bit back his retort, knowing that it wouldn't do any good. Instead, he stood up, his mother following suit.

"We're sorry to have had to bring you this news," Aubrey's mother said, her voice cool. "But we thought you should know."

Aunt Mildred nodded, her expression unchanging. "Thank you for telling me," she said, her voice dripping with insincerity.

Aubrey and Emily turned to leave, but as they reached the door, Aunt Mildred spoke up again.

"Son," she said, her voice cold. "You can take Sophie's things with you when you go. Some of her things are still here, and I don't want them here."

"I can't believe you're Sophie's aunt," Aubrey said lowly, shaking his head in disbelief. "I'll take them, because I don't want her things lingering in a nasty place like this," he said, his voice cold and firm. Emily held his arm, trying to calm him down and he exhaled.

Aunt Mildred nodded curtly, then turned and disappeared into the depths of the house. Aubrey and his mother exchanged a look, then followed her.

They walked down a narrow hallway, the air thick with dust and the scent of decay. Aubrey's heart felt heavy, weighed down by the knowledge that Sophie had grown up in this cold, loveless environment.

Aunt Mildred stopped in front of a door at the end of the hall, then pushed it open. "Her room," she said, her voice devoid of emotion.

Aubrey stepped inside, his eyes scanning the small, cluttered space. It was a room that seemed frozen in time, as if Sophie had just stepped out for a moment. Her clothes still hung in the closet, her books still lined the shelves.

Aubrey felt a lump form in his throat as he gazed around the room. He walked over to the bed, running his hand over the patchwork quilt.

Emily came up behind him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Do you want me to help you pack up her things?" she asked, her voice soft.

Aubrey nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards his mother. Together, they began to gather up Sophie's belongings, carefully packing them into boxes and bags.

As they worked, Aubrey couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness. He was taking away the last remnants of Sophie's life, the last reminders of her presence in this world.

But he knew it was necessary. Sophie's aunt didn't deserve to keep her things, didn't deserve to be reminded of the beautiful, vibrant person who had once lived in this house.

Aubrey and Emily finished packing up Sophie's belongings, then carried them out to the car. As they drove away from the house, Aubrey felt a sense of relief wash over him. They had done what was necessary.

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