"Half of the time we're gone but we don't know where and we don't know where." - Simon + Garfunkel, The Only Living Boy in New York

~~~

School didn't interest me anymore, but I knew that I had to go. My grandma would've skinned me if I skipped a day. Technically, I had been absent for about a week, but I'd already discussed that with the counselor over email.

He replied to it giving his condolences. For once, I didn't feel trivialized by that word. He also used that same email to congratulate me on completing my hours for graduation. I felt a little at ease with that knowledge. In a way, that service requirement saved me.

If I had completed my hours in a different way and earlier than December, I would've never met Avery. I would've never had the delight of feeling her lips against mine. I would've never known what it was like to see life for what it was. I would've never learned how to defeat my me vs. the world mentality.

So, I'd like to thank Mr. Johnson.

One day, my aunt came and picked me up from school. I thought it was something in regards to the will and I guessed correctly. The will had finally been reviewed and confirmed as valid in court. Apparently, my aunt was supposed to execute the will and make sure that my grandma's financial burdens were taken care of.

Once we got to the house, she sat me down and sighed. She could barely stand to look at me.

"You know, kid," she breathed. "You're meant to be here."

I squinted at her, confused about what she was saying. "Be here?"

"Yeah. Don't think that just because this misfortune surrounds you, you're any less. I know I've given you a hard time, but you're gonna do something with your life."

I looked down at the table. "I'll try to do something, but no promises."

"With what I'm about to tell you, you better do something."

I leaned forward in my chair, prepared to listen intently. She pulled the multiple will pages from her briefcase. She flipped to what I thought was a random page, but it wasn't. It was the page that detailed the beneficiaries. I took a quick glance at it before she even laid it on the table. I was the only person on there.

"There were more, but after you turned eighteen, the will was altered." She pushed the papers in my direction. "You can read it."

I held the will in my hands, rubbing the paper between my fingers. As I read the first page, I was reminded of the guardian that I'd lost. Reading "I, Marlene Lawson," brought a tear to my eye.

My aunt noticed that I was becoming upset and took on a soft disposition. "You can just ski-"

"No, I'm gonna read the whole thing!" I insisted.

She sighed and waited until I'd gotten to the beneficiaries page. I saw the following.

Sole Beneficiary: Adrian Brennan

To my grandson, I bequeath ownership of the house and $200,000. Please use this money wisely for college and other expenses.

I looked up from the will, unsure of how to react. My anxiety increased. My heart rate quickened. I felt uneasy. I was given good news, but my body was physically reacting negatively. My hands began to shake so, I dropped the paper on the table.

"This can't be real," I exclaimed, laughing a bit at the end of my sentence.

A smile graced my aunt's plastic face. "It definitely is. There's a signature towards the end. I'd say you've got an angel or two watching over you."

~~~

I spent the next couple of days discussing finances with my aunt. Apparently, my grandma had been saving money as soon as she heard I was born. She managed to do so without my grandfather or parents knowing.

It had been decided that the $200,000 was to be used for its intended purpose. The house had already been paid off, but if anything unexpected popped up, part of my college money could be used.

I couldn't wait to tell Avery. I knew she'd been worried sick about what I was going to get if anything at all. I invited her over and she came.

"I got some news about the will," I informed.

"Is it good?"

"It's better than good. I got the house and I got money for college."

Her eyes brightened. Her elation couldn't be contained. "Are you serious?"

"Yes, I'm very serious. I reacted the same way. You can sleep now."

She rubbed her eyes and looked up at me. "What?"

"I've noticed that you've been yawning a lot. When you blink, the movement is sluggish. So, I'm telling you that you can go to sleep. I'm fine."

She smiled and kissed me before her head rested on my shoulder. "You're gonna be fine," she murmured.

I looked down at her, kissing the top of her head. I stared off into the emptiness of the house that was a gift to me. When I first came to this house, I wanted to leave it. It was foreign, cold, and didn't remind me of my former house at all.

Now, I thought I could make it a home.

I gave my grandma a lot of shit when I turned eighteen. I didn't think it to be a huge achievement. I remember telling her that being eighteen only allowed me to vote. I felt insignificant. My grandma said that aging another day is still valuable. She was right because aging another day was the difference between getting nothing and getting everything I wanted.

I was thinking about a way to make it up to my grandma. I knew that including me in her will required her to be deeply pensive. I had to thank her somehow. I thought about what I said at her husband's funeral. Guilt plagued me.

I knew what I had to do.

"I've got something to do," I mentioned, causing her to get off of me. "I've got to go to the graveyard."

There was a little bit of silence before Avery disrupted it. "Can I come?"

"I don't see the purpose, but sure."

"Well, I've never met your parents or your grandpa. Maybe I could talk to them if that's not weird."

"It's not weird, that's actually a beautiful idea. I think they'd like that," I said, staring into her brown eyes.

~~~

I hadn't been to a graveyard since I was seven. I knew that seeing my parents and grandparents' tombstones would raise some emotions, but they deserved to see me. Even my demented father.

My mom was buried next to my dad. My grandparents were close to my mom. I stood in front of the four structures, one of which I had never seen.

"This is Avery Jenkins," I introduced with my arm around her. "If you guys have talked to grandma, she probably told you a whole lot about this girl. I think she's amazing, but I'll let her say what she wants to say."

Avery stepped forward an inch. "It's a shame that I didn't get to meet you guys, but don't worry. Adrian's in good hands. I'd say you didn't do a bad job of raising him. Every one of you shaped Adrian into the person that I know and love today."

I smiled and looked down at the girl I loved. "See, I told you she was incredible."

I told Avery that I wanted to say something to my departed family members privately. She wandered off, looking at the tombstones that'd been neglected.

"Now, grandpa, I know we weren't really that close, but I'm not mad at you for that. You didn't deserve that eulogy. So, I hope that you can forgive me," I begged. "Make sure grandma gets her favorite book."

I looked over at the tombstone that I often ignored. I couldn't ignore it anymore. He was family.

"Dad, I know I've been mad at you. I used to wish every single night that hell would get warmer just for you. I entertained the existence of an afterlife solely so you could suffer after you died," I admitted. "I entertain it for different reasons now. Even though what you did was vile and gut-wrenching, starting today, I forgive you."

The next tombstone I ignored for different reasons. Looking at it only made me wonder how life could've been different. Looking at it made me wonder if life could ever be fair.

"Mom, I saw you get butchered by the man you loved. That made me think love couldn't be real," I voiced. Tears welled in my eyes and my lip trembled. "I just want to know, did you tell God to send Avery my way? Did you?"

My voice wavered so I inhaled and exhaled in an attempt to compose myself. "For a time, I think I didn't even like you. People spit on your name and I just let it happen. I'm sorry. When I see you on the other side, I hope that you can still love me."

The calm air was disturbed when the wind rustled. I took that as a sign.

I was mourning the death of the bitter me and celebrating the start of a new me; a better me.

A/N

See You on the Other Side has officially ended. Fun fact: I cried while writing the graveyard scene. I'd like to thank every single person who gave this story a chance. Even if you didn't vote or comment, I still appreciate my readers.

Also, feel free to leave any reviews of the book here!

Now, I will be working exclusively on my book Thoughtless so, if you liked this story, consider reading that one as well.

Love ya,
Laya B.