The Edge of Hope

Chapter 18

Her heart broke, shattered into a thousand sharp pieces at Sal’s words. She remembered everything now. Sal, her father figure. Gabe, her soulmate. Both tried to figure out if what they experienced were real.

She didn’t believe it and she was the one trying to communicate with them.

She remembered the ring that Gabe was holding. The sadness overcame her. He wanted to marry her.

She tried to chase the ring around to show him that she knew now. And that she would have said yes.

He just looked scared. Which she understood. She always thought there was something beyond the living world but didn’t fully believe it. Not like Carol did. She didn’t feel a pull to her, that’s why she didn’t visit.

Her unfinished business remained with Gabe and Sal. Somehow she knew that. Perhaps because Gabe and she had a fight and they never got to fix it. Or maybe because of Alice… suddenly a thought occurred to her. She looked at Gabe and tried to get into his mind to confirm her theory.

“Oh, Gabe,” she whispered. He blamed himself. He thought if he hadn’t left that night she would still be alive.

She tried to move forward but her feet remained in place. She panicked as she realised it was happening again. This is why she asked for help. She couldn’t stay for too long. She would never get out of this limbo if she couldn’t stay longer than a few minutes.

She reached out for them, trying to get their attention but she was pulled under and everything went black.

*****

She sat across from Gabe, who had Pixie cuddled on his lap. She could see her. She often meowed and came to rub herself against her legs.

Gabe had noticed a few times that she was looking into thin air and he’d always brushed it off.

Pixie looked at her now and swished her tail around. Maybe she could use the cat to get Gabe’s attention. Slowly, she stood up and carefully trod over to him, trying to avoid those damned roots from taking her.

She had a theory that if the living person was denying her existence, she would disappear. Of course, there was no one to tell her. She was alone here.

Pixie made a soft purring sound and stuck her tail in the air. Gabe suddenly lifted his hands and frowned. “What’s it, big girl?”

Hope stuck her hand out and waited for Pixie to come to her. It would’ve been obvious she was rubbing herself against something. Or someone.

‘I wish I could just talk to you.’

She flinched back at Gabe’s thoughts going through her head. Had she just read his mind without knowing?

She watched him closely while peeking down at the ground, too. No roots just yet. This is when they usually showed up.

Gabe looked side to side and let out a humourless chuckle. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” He placed Pixie on the ground and steepled his fingers. “Ok, I don’t know if I’m just talking to myself, or if there is… if you are here.”

Hope stood dead still. She saw a small glow emanate from her hands. It’s like she had more energy running through her. Her theory may be correct.

Gabe then continued. “I don’t want to be that person that asks for a sign, but I’m going to. So, can you give me one?”

Hope couldn’t move and that light was starting to fade. A panic rose in her chest and she thought she was going to disappear. It was becoming difficult to fight it. She flailed her arms around as she tried to move her feet and legs.

“Hope, please. I just… I need to know that you don’t blame me.”

She stilled. The air stopped moving around her and it felt like time itself had slowed down.

“I need you to know I never stopped loving you, or I never loved you less when we would fight. I didn’t love you less that night when I left,” he choked. “I shouldn’t have left.” Tears flowed down his cheek and he ran his hands through his hair, fisting it tightly. “God, I should’ve f*****g stayed. I should have never taken it out on you. I should’ve never married Alice.”

By now he was wracked with sobs. Hope had never seen him like this. The light from her hands suddenly flared up and she realised she had solidified. She was no longer opaque like she had been.

He was giving her strength.

“Keep going, Gabe,” she urged, fresh tears falling down her face, too.

He suddenly looked up and directly into her eyes. She didn’t think he could see her otherwise he would’ve probably passed out. But it’s like he knew she was in front of him.

Her feet lifted and she quickly rushed forward, kneeling in front of him and placing both of her hands on his and holding tight. He let out another choked sob before he carried on.

“I never deserved you. I was so lost in my own world and my own failures. I kept screwing up and making you pay the price for it.”

“It’s ok,” she whispered and kissed his hands. “I know you loved me.”

Gabe furrowed his brows and looked straight at her again. Had he heard her? Hope said it again, louder this time. “I know you loved me. You always have.”

He looked down at his hands and a small smile crept onto his puffy face. “It is you.”

She let out a giggle and a breath, a weight lifted off her shoulders and she was certain she could go now. But when she stood up her feet were locked in place again and the ground below rumbled.

“No! No, no no,” Hope shouted, trying to get away. “I don’t understand!” The roots burst out of the ground and attacked from the top and grabbed her and threw her across the room.

She tried to scream for Gabe but he had an odd expression on his face. He couldn’t hear her, couldn’t feel her. Why is this happening?!

“Where did you go?” Gabe whispered. Hope tried to respond but the thorns had slid their way up her body and onto her face, leaving little cuts on their way. One root broke off and covered her mouth, muffling her cries.

She saw Gabe stand up and sag his shoulders. He walked away to his room and she heard the door slam shut.

Hope managed to wriggle her head free from the constraints and shouted, “Help me, please!”

But he didn’t come. Darkness took over her vision and the cold ground sucked her in.