They were back at the town pier. The sea salty air latched onto their noses, the wind made their hair dance, their eyes encountered beauty and the sunset that reflected a rainbow of colors over the water. Their leg dangled over the water and they could even make the tips of their toes touch the cold waters. Around them, people laughed and walked around. It was happy, and peaceful. The vendors stood beside them, taking a look into the breath of fresh air that was this moment. They held their ice cream. He liked it in a cup, and she liked a cone.
And there she was. Her favorite order of chocolate and cookie dough was spread all over her messy mouth, a smile of fresh white teeth that glimmered in the sunlight closed as she looked into his eyes. Her brown eyes looked at him gently, and her short black hair was in a ponytail. She wore her jean blue hoody and dark black pants, despite it still being the summer. Her smile meant everything. Her presense meant everything.
"It's good to be together again." He said, pondering as he looked back at the water. "Agreed." His sister, Lirah, responded. "I've missed you. It feels so good to be back." She nodded. "Maybe next time I'll win the race to Morris's ice cream shop. Until then, you'll get that five dollars next week." He smiled, and chuckled. "Sure will." She grinned. She always promised the five dollars, but she never gave them. He looked at his fingers, dangling them in the air. Something felt off, and he was reminded of the event once again.
Lirah looked at him, already knowing that something was off. "Don't worry. This doesn't have anything to do with you." But it did. Why was she here with him?
"Is it a nightmare?" Lirah asked. She clasped her hands together and took a deep breath, as her eyes trailed along the beach. A nightmare. Of course that's what it is. It all makes sense now. He nodded. "I-I had it last night." And the night before that, but he couldn't tell her. "I would rather spare you the details but it's you...dying in a car crash."
To his surprise, she laughed. "And I've had dreams of being murdered. Having a nightmare isn't a big deal. C'mon, it's no reason to be worried. I'm here, aren't I? It'll always be this way. Me, the odd sister, and you bro, the guy that seems to get all the woman. We're like a team straight from a comedy movie." But he hadn't been that kid for a month. And she hadn't been there. He looked back at the pier again. It was now dark, the night sky illuminating the world with it's millions of stars. The crescent moon was stationed in the sky to watch those still up. The pier had gone quiet. Was there anyone else here?
"Anyway. How's Mom and Dad been? Is Dad's new job going okay?" He frowned. They've both been stressed. Dad only got the job...because he couldn't stand to be in the house anymore. Not after Lirah died. No, she left. She's back from a vacation. To somewhere beautiful, like Croatia. "They've been fine." He looked her in the eyes. It was the same old Lirah. "They've missed you." Because she's dead. No, she can't be. Unless...it's a dream? He pinched himself. He still felt something. He stood up, the cold wood pressing against his feet. There was no one else around. And then he saw a brown SUV drive down the pier. And the memory hit him.
She was dead. She wasn't real. This was a dream. But he couldn't leave it. She was right there.
"Is everything okay?" She asked, still sitting. "Yeah." He smiled. He just wanted to be with her a little bit longer. He sat back down. "Are Mom and Dad okay? Are you lying?" He sighed. "They're fine. I told you already. You'll see them soon." She showed him her pinky, and the small ring on it. He held out his. "Siblings don't lie. Siblings don't lie to themselves."
Anger flared within him. This would end soon. Then she'd be gone, as before. Yet, the moment wasn't good. It wasn't normal. It wasn't happy. It was like all his fantasies had been shattered. "You're lying about school, about your job, everything." Fear set within her voice. "What else are you lying about? Why do you do it?"
A tear fell down his eye. "To keep you here. Just once. Not dead." Her mouth dropped. "Do I look dead? Where the hell are we? W-why are you saying that?" She frantically started touching herself and the floor around her, as if trying to prove she was real. Classic Lirah.
He almost smiled. But he still felt it. The sickening silence, endless pain and grief. Even if she wasn't real, how could he lie to her? How could he lie to himself, and only make the pain worse? "The truth is, we're in a dream. You did die."
Instead of what classic Lirah would do, trying to test if it was a dream, or saying something witty, she started to cry. "Why would you lie?" She repeated again. Tears streamed down her eyes. The tears hurt, even if they were fake. "I-it was painful to say goodbye. To only know that I would never see you again." He felt the world getting smaller, duller. It was ending, as he had foreseen. "But if you love someone, then you can let go of them. That's what they'd want. That's what you'd want." But he still couldn't help but hug his non-existent sister, even if it was going to happen for the last time. Even if the next night would be him seeing his sister die again, he wanted one last chance. But he could only have one.
Her warmth faded at every moment. She grappled her arms around his torso, and they hugged and cried, the darkness encircling them. "Goodbye. Love ya, sis." With that, the last of the warmth faded. The tears dissapeared and the weeping grew to silence. There was still more to mourn, but now they could their final goodbye.
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