Mocha 30 & CCM 11
Author: Casey
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy (NIEE) universe, Pre-NIEE
Challenge: Mocha 30 (till the bitter end) & CCM 11 (translucent)
Toppings & Extras: Butterscotch, Cherry (attention to keeping passive voice out)
Word Count: 649
Rating: G
Summary: Resh gets an unexpected nighttime visit.
Notes: Resh, and other mentioned characters, are from the same story as Sek, from yesterday’s piece. No background knowledge needed. Resh and Kenz have a long history together.
Resh stood by the open window, staring out over the darkened city. Night had long since come and most were already in bed, but sleep could be inconsistent. Letting out a long breath, he turned and climbed back into his bed, flopping on his back and staring up at the ceiling.
Before he knew it, sleep caught up to him and his eyes drifted shut.
They snapped open a few minutes later, certain he’d heard a familiar but impossible voice. He sat up, met her eyes and swallowed hard. “Kenz, you’re dead.”
She smiled, forever frozen in time as a fourteen-year-old. “I know, Resh. That is why you can see through me,” she said, holding up a hand in curious unconcern.
Resh stared at it, noticing how he could see the far wall through it, even if a bit blurrily. “So I’m dreaming?”
“In a manner of speaking,” Kenz said, nodding clinically. “Resh, it is time to say goodbye.”
“I have,” he said, sounding petulant even to himself.
“Then why do you still feel guilty for being with Alicia?”
Resh drew his legs up so he was sitting cross-legged, facing her directly from where she sat perched on the end of his bed. “Because you’re a part of me, Kenz. You always were and you always will be. I can’t ignore that.”
She laughed, the sound echoing strangely, reminding Resh it wasn’t real. “I would not want you to ignore it. I love you too. You know that. But you are alive and I am not and you should not spend your whole life without someone to spend it with because of that.”
“It was my fault that-”
“Resh, do not start this again. We both know it was not your fault I died. Alicia makes you happy.”
“Of course she does, but she’s...she’s like the anti-you.”
Kenz grinned. “I was unique, Resh, and so is Alicia. That does not make either of us wrong. I think the anti-me is just as good for you as I hope I was in life.”
Resh smiled crookedly. “You were so good for me, Kenz. You have no idea.”
“I think I have some idea of the effect I had on you.” She regarded him in silence for a moment. “I am sorry I went so early.”
“So am I. I always thought that we’d…you and me...that we’d be together forever. Us against the world. Well, with Sek, Andrew, Damien and Alex’s help.”
She giggled briefly before sobering. “You lived for a reason, Resh. You made it through all the terrible things that happened to you and your family. You need to continue to live, for everyone’s sake. You should have a big family with a wonderful woman and live life out to the end. Then, I will be here, waiting for you.” She smiled, trying to take some of the sadness out of the last statement. “Just do not dare name one of your children after me.”
“That’s okay, Alex and Sek already named their daughter Mackenzie,” Resh said and then smiled when Kenz groaned. “We will never let the world forget you.”
She looked ready to protest, but bit her lip instead. Finally, she spoke again. “You will be just fine. And I am okay with sharing you with Alicia. She is a good person and will make you very happy.” He reached out a hand and she raised her hand to meet his. “I am not really here.”
“I know,” he said and smiled, holding his hand out palm up. “Goodbye, Kenz.”
“Thank you,” she said and he imagined he could feel something brush his hand as she reached back.
Then, he blinked at the ceiling once again. “Oh, Kenz,” he murmured. “I’ll never stop missing you, but I promise I’ll move on the best I can.”
Out of the darkness, the wind seemed to whisper: You had better.
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy (NIEE) universe, Pre-NIEE
Challenge: Mocha 30 (till the bitter end) & CCM 11 (translucent)
Toppings & Extras: Butterscotch, Cherry (attention to keeping passive voice out)
Word Count: 649
Rating: G
Summary: Resh gets an unexpected nighttime visit.
Notes: Resh, and other mentioned characters, are from the same story as Sek, from yesterday’s piece. No background knowledge needed. Resh and Kenz have a long history together.
Resh stood by the open window, staring out over the darkened city. Night had long since come and most were already in bed, but sleep could be inconsistent. Letting out a long breath, he turned and climbed back into his bed, flopping on his back and staring up at the ceiling.
Before he knew it, sleep caught up to him and his eyes drifted shut.
They snapped open a few minutes later, certain he’d heard a familiar but impossible voice. He sat up, met her eyes and swallowed hard. “Kenz, you’re dead.”
She smiled, forever frozen in time as a fourteen-year-old. “I know, Resh. That is why you can see through me,” she said, holding up a hand in curious unconcern.
Resh stared at it, noticing how he could see the far wall through it, even if a bit blurrily. “So I’m dreaming?”
“In a manner of speaking,” Kenz said, nodding clinically. “Resh, it is time to say goodbye.”
“I have,” he said, sounding petulant even to himself.
“Then why do you still feel guilty for being with Alicia?”
Resh drew his legs up so he was sitting cross-legged, facing her directly from where she sat perched on the end of his bed. “Because you’re a part of me, Kenz. You always were and you always will be. I can’t ignore that.”
She laughed, the sound echoing strangely, reminding Resh it wasn’t real. “I would not want you to ignore it. I love you too. You know that. But you are alive and I am not and you should not spend your whole life without someone to spend it with because of that.”
“It was my fault that-”
“Resh, do not start this again. We both know it was not your fault I died. Alicia makes you happy.”
“Of course she does, but she’s...she’s like the anti-you.”
Kenz grinned. “I was unique, Resh, and so is Alicia. That does not make either of us wrong. I think the anti-me is just as good for you as I hope I was in life.”
Resh smiled crookedly. “You were so good for me, Kenz. You have no idea.”
“I think I have some idea of the effect I had on you.” She regarded him in silence for a moment. “I am sorry I went so early.”
“So am I. I always thought that we’d…you and me...that we’d be together forever. Us against the world. Well, with Sek, Andrew, Damien and Alex’s help.”
She giggled briefly before sobering. “You lived for a reason, Resh. You made it through all the terrible things that happened to you and your family. You need to continue to live, for everyone’s sake. You should have a big family with a wonderful woman and live life out to the end. Then, I will be here, waiting for you.” She smiled, trying to take some of the sadness out of the last statement. “Just do not dare name one of your children after me.”
“That’s okay, Alex and Sek already named their daughter Mackenzie,” Resh said and then smiled when Kenz groaned. “We will never let the world forget you.”
She looked ready to protest, but bit her lip instead. Finally, she spoke again. “You will be just fine. And I am okay with sharing you with Alicia. She is a good person and will make you very happy.” He reached out a hand and she raised her hand to meet his. “I am not really here.”
“I know,” he said and smiled, holding his hand out palm up. “Goodbye, Kenz.”
“Thank you,” she said and he imagined he could feel something brush his hand as she reached back.
Then, he blinked at the ceiling once again. “Oh, Kenz,” he murmured. “I’ll never stop missing you, but I promise I’ll move on the best I can.”
Out of the darkness, the wind seemed to whisper: You had better.