The Edge of Hope

Chapter 17

“I know what I saw. I mean what I felt. And heard.” Gabe saw the confused expressions on Dan and Carol’s faces and groaned.

“Look, I know this sounds crazy, ok, but it happened.”

Dan was just about to speak when Carol beat him to it. “Actually, no. They say spirits linger when they haven’t gotten closure or they don’t actually know they’re, well, spirits.”

“You really believe that stuff?” Dan enquired, genuine curiosity etched on his disturbed features.

“Yes. And even more so when Sal told me he experienced the same thing at the wake.”

“He did?” Gabe said hopefully. Maybe he wasn’t going insane.

“Yeah,” Carol smiled. “So no, I don’t think it’s crazy.”

Dan shifted in his seat. “So, let’s say for argument’s sake, that is the case, do you think she doesn’t know or?”

“She’s come to Gabe and Sal, two of the closest people in her life. Maybe it’s closure she’s looking for.”

Gabe shook his head at the absurdity and the scientist in him took over. “Alright, maybe we’re getting a bit carried away.”

Carol collected their mugs and walked to Gabe’s kitchen, saying along the way, “You obviously think there’s some truth to it.”

He turned to Dan, who still looked confused. “What is it?”

“Nothing, just… I don’t want you to get too caught up in it.”

“Did you say that to Sal, too?”

“And risk getting my head ripped off? No.”

Carol sat back down and put her hand up to stop the conversation before they could talk again. “Whatever this is, I do believe there’s something bigger at play here.” She had a finality to her tone and Gabe and Dan immediately kept quiet.

Things were still tense and the wounds on Gabe’s heart were still fresh. There were only so much of people talking about Hope that he could take.

Dan let out a small breath to try to ease the tension. “Should we put a movie on?”

Gabe wasn’t sure he could take anymore. He needed space. He needed to be alone. He needed Hope.

“Actually, I think I’m going to just have an early night.” Gabe just looked down at his feet, feeling guilty that he was chasing his friends away.

“But it’s only two pm,” Dan questioned. He suddenly yelped and Carol glared at him. “Oh, right. Ok. Well, phone us if you need anything.”

Gabe smiled and stood up to usher them out. “Sure. Thanks for the pastries, they were delicious.”

“It’s from Gelato’s actually. Hope loved them.”

An awkward silence hung over them. Gabe spoke up when he saw Carol’s face fall. “They were. And for good reason, too.”

She gave him a grateful smile and waved at him. “Bye.”

Gabe closed the door softly. This was going to take time. Not everyone would be in the same stage of the grieving process at the same time. Some people might find solace in talking about her, like Carol, and others, like himself, find not talking at all is better.

Still, he entertained her. He needed to help them as much as they were helping him.

As he was cleaning up the plates, he saw his notepad and pen lying on the kitchen counter. The memory of his last note crippled his heart.

He had rushed when he wrote it. It was cold and not like him at all. He had forgotten to remove it before he left that night and Hope had no doubt seen it.

He put the dishes in the sink and took the pen paper back to his office, where he sat down and readied himself to write something.

Gabe scoffed softly. “Nothing.” He threw the pen and leaned back in his chair. That’s when he noticed a water stain that wasn’t there before. “Goddamit, can I not get a break?” he hissed.

He quickly informed the landlord, as it was most likely the geyser leaking and they would have a look in the next few hours. Unlikely.

He spun around in his chair and stood up, wondering what to do. It was odd being alone again. Quiet. Boring, even. Usually, Hope had always some idea of what to do when they felt bored.

Maybe he shouldn’t have chased Dan and Carol away so soon.

Gabe picked up his phone. Just as he was about to press ‘dial’, his phone went dead. He hit it against his palm several times and swore. “What the hell?”

His frustration was evolving into anger at all the small inconveniences he was facing all of a sudden.

“Jesus, you’ve got to be kidding me.” He walked to his room and plugged his phone into the charger and the screen lit up. His battery was on zero per cent. Which couldn’t have been possible as it was fully charged not two hours ago.

He sat on the edge of the bed and sighed, rubbing his eyes. A notification showed up on his screen and he glanced and sucked in a breath at the name.

“No,” he whispered. But as clear as day, there was Hope’s name and a message underneath it which he couldn’t read from where he was sitting. He wasn’t sure he even wanted to read it.

Was this somebody’s idea of a sick joke? With a shaking hand, he held the phone and he felt sweat prickling on his temples.

‘Help’

Gabe dropped his phone and ran to the bathroom. He was heaving in the toilet but nothing was coming out. It was probably just the adrenaline making his stomach turn. How could anyone blame him?

Now he had to call Dan and Carol. He had proof.

*****

“This might be a prank,” Dan said carefully. “I mean, people have done worse.”

“Who would’ve got her number? And how would they have known she was… dead?” The word left a bad taste in Gabe’s mouth.

Carol was holding his phone in her hand, frowning deeply. She hadn’t said a thing since she saw the message.

Dan just shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. But with how advanced technology is today…”

“Don’t,” Gabe warned. “Something is going on.”

“You know Dan,” Carol quipped, “Gabe is a man of science, so for him to say something is going on, maybe we should take him seriously.”

“Why would she say ‘help’ then?”

“As I said, some spirits need closure. I think she’s trying to find that, but she may be struggling as she… it wasn’t a peaceful passing.”

Gabe squeezed his eyes shut. He didn’t want to know what she looked like with all her injuries. His stomach started turning again and he took a big gulp of water to calm it down.

“So what?” Dan inquired sarcastically. “Should we hold a séance?”

Gabe glared at his friend. “Ok, there’s no need to be rude to her. She’s just giving her input.”

“It’s a stupid one.”

Carol gasped and turned her head away. This was not working. Somebody was going to snap soon.

Gabe spoke up quickly. “Let’s just take a breath. We all have different beliefs. You guys haven’t experienced anything so I don’t expect you to believe me off the bat.”

Carol’s voice broke when she spoke. “Sal may be your best bet. He’s felt it, too.” It was clear she was trying desperately hard to not cry. Dan noticed and a flash of regret crossed his face.

She excused herself and rushed to the bathroom.

“Nice, Dan. You handled that like a pro.”

“f**k off. I don’t need you riding up my ass either.”

“What is with you?” Gabe lowered his voice, trying not to cause a screaming match.

“Nothing!” After a few seconds, Dan leaned back in his chair. “f**k, I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I’m just… she’s gone, man. I lost somebody I cared about and I don’t know how to handle it.”

“I know. It feels like it will never pass.”

Carol came back and sat down, her back straight and shoulders back. “I think we need to calm down. Gabe” – she pointed at him – “you go see Sal, now. And you” – she pointed at Dan – “you and I are going for a walk. I think fresh air will do us good.”

Dan simply nodded his head. He looked defeated and tired. “Ok.”

They all walked to the door and went their separate ways. When Gabe was halfway to the diner, he picked up his phone and tried Sal. He wasn’t sure if he would answer if he was busy.

“This is Sal.”

“Hey, Sal, it’s Gabe.”

“My son, how are you?”

“I’m not sure. Are you available?”

“For you? Any time. I’m at the diner.”

“Great. See you now.”

*****

Gabe liked that Sal was a straight-to-the-point person. It matched his introverted personality.

He pulled into the parking lot and rushed to the door, the message on his phone ready to go.

The doorbell rang and Sal immediately looked up from the kitchen window. He held up his finger and pointed to the table he usually sat at. Gabe nodded and sat down.

As he waited for Sal, he stared at the message on his screen. It was still there. So it had been real, at least.

A big coffee was placed in front of him and Sal squeezed into the seat across from him.

“These bloody things. Made for kids,” he grumbled.

Gabe just smiled. “Sal, I need to show you something. Just… keep an open mind, ok?” He pushed his phone to Sal and gauged his features.

Sal was blank and then suddenly his eyes were filled with unshed tears. He roughly pushed the phone back to Gabe, who had to catch it before it fell to the ground.

“What the hell is that?” Sal hissed.

“I don’t know. I got it earlier today.” He took a breath and slowly released it. “I’ve been… experiencing other things, too.”

Sal snapped his head up and frowned. “Like what?”

Gabe shrugged, trying to find a way to explain all of it. “At the funeral, the breeze was unusually warm and floral and I felt it again at Carol’s house. For some reason, my mind just kept telling me it was…”

“Hope,” Sal finished.

The two men just stared at each other. A silent understanding crossed between them.

“I was sitting on the bench. I was loving that breeze,” Sal reminisced. “And then I felt this touch, a warm feeling on my face and I knew. I knew it was her.”

Gabe let out a relieved sigh. “I felt it at the funeral when I was standing by her.” He felt a spark of joy at the fact that somebody not only believed him but they had experienced it, too.

“So you really think it was her? You think that was my Hope saying goodbye?” Sal looked at Gabe pleadingly. Now that he didn’t have an answer.

“I’m not sure. I don’t really believe in this stuff but I’m questioning that after everything that’s happened.” Gabe didn’t want to say the next part, but he had to face the truth. “Besides, if she was saying goodbye, it means she found peace. That doesn’t coincide with this message. Theoretically.”

Sal’s shoulders tensed. “Then we help her. Like she’s asked us.”

“How?”

Sal sighed in defeat. “I don’t know.”