And our journey begins.

ROSE.
Each day has been the same.
Each day now is cold and lonely.

I think about it 24/7, the thought of never seeing her again, only in my memories. She was the definition of a perfect mother, and a perfect wife. She raised my older brother and I with everything she had, she gave it all too us.

I remember coming home from school, I would see her waiting for me. And now I'm seeing her lifeless body in a brown and silver casket, not a single breath left to breathe. Everything was perfect until now.

She's wearing my favorite dress of hers, it's a blue sundress with white lace. She wore it as many times she could. It's beautiful.

My eyes become blurry, letting the memories flush through my mind. My tears have become uncontrollable ever since. I'm such a mess.

I feel a hand on my shoulder, I look back to see my brother Levi. His eyes are pink and puffy, his brown hair crazy. I scoot over making room for him to view her. I've never seen him like this before, that's how I know this is real, the pain is real.

He sniffles. "Ar-Are you doing okay?" I look down at my feet trying to avoid the question. Every person I've seen has asked me that same question. How could he of all people ask that? His arm wraps around my shoulder, pulling me into a hug. My face buried into his shoulder.

"No." My voice muffles.

He squeezes my body before letting go, and then kissing my head, "I'm going to find dad, we're leaving soon." I nod looking back at my mom. Trying to capture the last few minutes I have with her to remember her face.
.
.
.
There wasn't one word spoke between the three of us. All of us horrified at the thought of going back to our now broken home.

We pull into our driveway, as soon as we park my brother is already inside.

I get to the front door and look back at my father, he was slumped over in his seat with his face in his hands. He is heartbroken. It kills me seeing my own father like this, he was always the tough man I grew up knowing.

My parents were married for 16 years, 16  full years. When your married that long and that person is suddenly taken from you. I can't imagine the horrid pain. You feel as if there is no other purpose. You've spent everyday dealing with that person, living with that person, loving that person. You'll never feel that kind of love again.

I finally walk inside and to my room. Passing by Levi's door, his music is blaring through these thin walls. I try to open the door and check on him but it won't budge.

All the energy I ever had is drained from this past month. I give up trying and carry on to my lonely room.
.
I get out of my depressed black clothing, throwing something on, something I could wear for a few days. I won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

I look in my vanity mirror. My eyes are pink, my cheeks are flushed. I've cried and cried hoping this didn't happen. Hoping that someone would come to my rescue and save me from this pain, someone, something that could distract me.

At the end of the day, my life is still dark and pitiful.

I really don't have anyone.

I lay back on my bed and continue to think, seeming it's the only thing to do. My bedside lamp was the only source of light illuminating the room. The light gets slimmer as my eyes slowly shut.
~
I hear something. I hear a voice calling my name.

My eyes shoot open searching the darkness surrounding me. My lamp isn't on anymore and my door is now open, someone is in here. I reach over switching on the light and something catches my eye.

I gasp and sit up pulling my legs towards my chest. My eyes go wide, looking at the figure sitting at my feet, and then releasing a breath. "Shit Levi! What are you doing in here?"

I rub my eyes trying to make the figure clearer. He looks smaller than usual, but that's probably from my lack of sleep. As I move in closer I realize this is not my brother. I can't believe my eyes as I stare at this person sitting before me.

"Wha.." Is all I can get to come out of my mouth. My heart dropping to my stomach, a lump forming in my throat.

The figure turns its body facing mine, showing the face that I've missed miserably. My jaw drops.

"Mom?" My breaths are now heavier, my throat swelling leaving me unable to breath. I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head saying to myself, "This can't be real. This can't be real."

It can't be. The room starts closing in around me, the walls getting closer and closer until something stops me from shaking my head.

My eyes shoot open revealing her directly in front of me, her hand pressed to my cheek, it is cold leaving bumps on my skin. I can't help but stare at her.

She is beautiful, glowing, alive. Her face is calm and I can finally see her hazel eyes. She finally speaks to me, her voice almost angel like.

"Rose. My sweet Rose." I sniffle as she wipes my tear with her thumb.

"Mommy?" I breath out. "What do I do without you? What do we do without you?"

I look into her eyes which are now dark and cold. A drop slides down her cheek, she is crying now too.

Holding her hand to my cheek I close my eyes, trying to conceal everything that's dying to come out. I feel her familiar kiss on my forehead and then her sweet voice again.

"Smart girl, the truth will rise." My eyes search her face for her meaning. Her hand falls from my face, and her finger pokes the tip of my nose. "You can find it."

She stands up with her gaze still fixated on me. My question on what to do is still unanswered, and I have no idea what she is talking about.

She finally walks to the door.

"Please don't go!" I try to get up and stop her, but I'm unable to move.

"I'm scared mom! What do you mean?"

My legs, I can't feel them. I struggle to get up, pushing myself in every direction to stop her from leaving. I don't know when I will see her again, if I'll ever see her again. Tears fill my eyes causing my sight to blur. Why is this happening.

"No. No. No. Please come back!" I cry out struggling to move my stiff body.

"Rose. Wake up. Rose, listen to me, wake up."
~
"Rose!"

My eyes open a second time, this time it's reality. Breathing heavily with tears coating my cheeks. I look straight into his brown eyes.

I can't believe it. None of that happened.

"It wasn't real?" I look up to my brother who saved me from my nightmare, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Levi.." Before I can finish his arms pull me into a big hug. My sobs fill the room, I am scared to let go. I finally calm myself and pull away.

"It was mom. I saw her." He hands me a tissue as I continue. "She was sitting right here." I point to where he was sitting on my bed.

"I couldn't move...I was so scared..and she didn't answer me..why didn't she answer me?"

My voice is cracking from shock. He sits there watching me with his red veined eyes, falling asleep slowly.

"Levi!" I hit his arm and he jumps. "Are you listening to me?!"

"Rose go to bed you're being ridiculous." He gets up and starts to leave. "It wasn't real fucking forget about it." His back turns to me as he walks away.

He slams the door leaving me alone and weak in my tears.

I curl into a ball under my blanket, scared of closing my eyes again. It was fake but why did it feel so real.

••••

You've just read the first chapter. How was it?? :')

Please comment and vote to let me know what you think... I love you so much and thanks for putting up with my stories. xo. Let me know if I should keep going.

4/2/17
10/20/17