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Authored by
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Post by Nu on Mar 22, 2018 3:53:53 GMT
394 Words
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supermarket flowers
Memories of a life that's been loved
Rose Spencer had always been a curious little girl. She was also observant in her quietude. With little spurts of exuberance interspersing her reserved nature, Rose was very much like her late father.
Well after her mother had tucked her in, Rose had switched on her nightlight to resume reading a book that her father had given her as a gift on her fifth birthday. Just before he passed. She'd clung to it every night since and wouldn't let her mother read it to her, insisting she could do that all by herself, thank you very much.
She always felt as though reading it brought her dad right beside her, reading with her in his soothing accented voice. She had always tried to mimic it, especially for her mother who just went around the house so listless since she moved out to London after the death. Sometimes, she could see her mother smile whenever she called her Angel, the endearment her father had called her mother when he was alive.
Rose knew her mother was trying her very best to be strong in front of her but she could hear her mother talking to herself and crying in her room practically every night, calling out to Will, Rose's father. She was only eleven years old, hearing her mother cry broke her heart.
But at night, Rose also had her own grieving process. She would try to imagine her father reading it to her. Sometimes, she'd nail his voice, his mannerisms; like he was actually there. Sometimes, she felt a little empty. Tonight, she concentrated on her father and his warm smile and kind eyes with his voice she sorely missed hearing.
At one point, she closed her eyes and she could have sworn, she heard his whispers. She opened her eyes and turned to where she heard it but no one was there. She sucked in her breath and pulled her blanket close to her chest before continuing to read.
And then the whisper grew louder until she practically felt it. It was her father. It had to be.
"Daddy?" She whispered, closing the book and turning to the sound of the whisper. She stared hard and for a moment, nothing happened. Until the space shifted and her eyes widened. She pulled the book close but stayed where she was. "Daddy, is that you?"
Spread your wings as you go
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Mar 22, 2018 15:55:34 GMT
555 Words
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The Monster
Everything I touch isn't dark enough
Six years of being a passing shadow, a cold shiver, just a presence was long enough to make anyone feel practically mad. That he'd had as long as he did was a blessing, truly. For someone who thought his life was over just as it was beginning, he'd been given extra time to witness something that he felt he needed in order to feel more at peace with passing. The moment Rose was born, Will knew his life was reaching its peak of happiness. He had a wife that loved and adored him, he was the father to the most beautiful little girl and everyone in his life was on their way to happiness. Behind his own happiness though, there'd always been the fear of it all being stripped away because of him.
When the end finally came, five years after he'd been told it would, he was reluctant, but accepting of it. As he passed on, it felt like a sudden burst of light erupted through him and then, well, he felt the same. Except as he stood there, he realized that he was looking out on the situation rather than being part of it. He had to see the grieving process from the very start of it and he'd made a promise to his family that he wouldn't leave them, not ever. Will just never expected it to be true. Maybe he had unfinished business because he'd left behind this beautiful five year old that was made up of the best parts of him and every part of his Angel. With the added bonus of being a ghost, he decided he would keep the promise he made and stay behind to observe and coax his own influences onto her in whatever way he could.
Since the moment she started reading his books, he knew it was working in some way. She'd shoo Cassidy off so that she could do it on her own and Will would drift towards their bedroom to give whatever comfort he could to his widowed wife, although it was never satisfying because he was always just out of reach. After a few moments, he would go back, sit on the bed in his spot that he'd had before he died, and he'd read along with his daughter. It'd become a routine and the older she got, the more he wished that there was a way to make himself seen or heard or something.
William was watching his baby girl with a light smile on his lips and he tilted his head to the side when she closed her eyes. She turned to face him and he frowned, willing her to see him there, "I'm here, love. Always here." She pulled her blanket up closer and he recited the book word for word as she read it. He carried on until she stopped and closed the book, calling for him. Will was not a believer when he was alive, but the way she was staring at him made him a little uncertain. He wanted her to see him, so badly, but it wasn't possible. Still, he answered, "It's me, baby. I'm right here."
I've turned into a monster and it keeps getting stronger
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962 posts
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Post by Nu on Mar 23, 2018 5:17:41 GMT
120 Words
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supermarket flowers
Memories of a life that's been loved
Rose hadn't expected a reply and when it did, instead of freaking out, she took in a sharp breath and reached out. She didn't know exactly what she was expecting to feel but she was still disappointed when she felt nothing.
A prickling sensation behind her eyes had her turning away from where she had heard the whisper. If her father really was there, she didn't want him to see her cry. She was eleven for goodness sake. She was a big girl and big girls shouldn't cry.
She calmed herself down, counting to ten, just like her mother taught her before turning back to the space beside her. "I'm just dreaming." She said to the space. "I'm just dreaming."
Spread your wings as you go
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Mar 23, 2018 16:23:10 GMT
306 Words
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The Monster
Everything I touch isn't dark enough
That she heard him was a miracle, that she reached out for him was heartbreaking. Will wanted so badly to grab her hand, to pull her close and never let her go again. It was one thing being out of reach of Cassidy when she didn't even know he was there, but this was worse. Rose knew he was there in some part of her mind and she was still just out of his reach. It felt like the universe was playing some sick joke on him, as if dying after having everything he wanted wasn't bad enough, lets torture the guy while he's already dead. Will was so frustrated, but he knew that it was a price to pay for seeing her.
She turned away and his eyebrows pulled together. He couldn't take her crying. She'd been so strong for them for so long and he knew that it was hard, but he couldn't take her tears. His hand reached out and he wished he could touch her, comfort her, make her know that he was still there, just on a different plane. His hand dropped and he sighed, it really wasn't any use for him to try so hard.
Rose repeated that she was dreaming and he could feel the sensation of tears filling his own eyes, although he knew it was nothing. His lips quirked up at the sides and he shook his head before quoting from the very author that she was reading, "'Dreams are true while they last, and do we not live in dreams?'" He wanted her to live in this dream with him, he wanted her to know that he was there.
I've turned into a monster and it keeps getting stronger
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962 posts
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Post by Nu on Mar 24, 2018 13:56:15 GMT
199 Words
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supermarket flowers
Memories of a life that's been loved
As she repeated the words, she could hear a faint whisper quoting Tennyson, her father's favourite poet. Rose's breath hitched in her throat and she sobbed. "Daddy." The emotion she was feeling overwhelmed her and the space that had shifted before came into focus again.
An outline of a body started to appear and her eyes widened. With her breath quickening, Rose clutched her book tighter. She wanted to call out to her mother but at the same time, a selfish part of her wanted to keep this to herself. Rose had never been afraid of much and if this was really her father, she was going to stay until she could actually see him.
She closed her eyes and started to remember what her father looked like. In his favourite t-shirt, smelling like her mother with how much he clung to her, and those soft jeans that she remembered sliding down on when she was younger. She concentrated hard, hoping whatever was making her see her father was actually reality and after a while, she opened her eyes. And there he was.
"Oh...Daddy." A hand covered her mouth as tears fell from her eyes. "Daddy it's you."
Spread your wings as you go
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Mar 26, 2018 13:46:14 GMT
243 Words
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The Monster
Everything I touch isn't dark enough
Will couldn't help but watch her, much as it broke his heart. She looked so much like her mother when she was upset which was probably the hardest part. He'd gotten so accustomed to Cassidy's sadness throughout their relationship, from the very beginning till the end. Rose looked so much like her that it only made him feel sicker. He wondered what it was about this time that he'd come to read with her that made it so hard on both of them. She was usually so good about it, but she'd never talked to him, never looked directly at him and she'd never known that he was there.
Her eyes slid shut and he folded his hands on his lap, waiting to see what she was doing. His little girl was so intuitive, he wouldn't have been surprised if that was why she had picked up on his presence nearby. At least she took what he said before he died to heart, that he'd always be there even when she didn't think he was.
Her eyes opened and her reaction shocked him because it was as though she could actually see him. Will's eyebrows pulled together and he sighed, "Baby, please don't cry. I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere. Don't cry, my little angel."
I've turned into a monster and it keeps getting stronger
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962 posts
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Post by Nu on Mar 26, 2018 15:32:19 GMT
159 Words
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supermarket flowers
Memories of a life that's been loved
Rose didn't dare blink even as the tears streamed down her face as she heard and saw her father reassure her that he wasn't going anywhere. This was beyond what she had imagined. She knew ghosts weren't real, she'd been brought up to understand that whatever went bump in the night were not malicious. But this, her father, he was actually there. He wasn't a ghost. She didn't know what he was but he was really there.
"I can't stop...I just...you're here! But you died!" She whispered in between sobs. "What's...what's even going on? Am I...going crazy? I can't be, it's you. It's actually you." She breathed before scooting over to the edge of the bed and reached a hand out gingerly towards her father.
"Please be real. Please be real." She whispered to herself as her hand went through her father's figure. She snatched her hand and bit back a sob. "What's going on?"
Spread your wings as you go
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Mar 28, 2018 2:28:30 GMT
283 Words
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The Monster
Everything I touch isn't dark enough
She reached out to him and he wished so badly that he could take her hand or something so that he could take away the pain that was in her voice and her eyes. Watching her cry was easily the hardest thing that he had ever seen. It was right next to watching Cassidy cry. All he wanted was to be real just like she pleaded for, but her hand went right through him and his heart broke with hers.
Will settled himself in front of her, close enough that had he been alive, his knees would have been touching hers. He ached to reach out to her, to touch her cheek and wipe away the tears that were flowing freely. Letting out a sigh, he frowned and his eyebrows pulled together, "I don't know, baby. I don't know. You're not crazy though, Rose. No crazier than the rest of our clan." He offered a smile to her, but it didn't reach his eyes. He was just so worried about her. She'd been such a happy little girl before, it was torture seeing what his death had done to his family.
It clicked after a moment of looking at her that the way things had happened seemed all too familiar. There was something about it that triggered a thought and suddenly he knew one explanation that he could give her. "I think I know, baby. I think I know what it is." The fact that the majority of her family was mutants had to mean something.
I've turned into a monster and it keeps getting stronger
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962 posts
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Authored by
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Post by Nu on Mar 28, 2018 17:39:35 GMT
114 Words
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supermarket flowers
Memories of a life that's been loved
She instinctively scooted closer to her father, laughing at his response through her tears. Even with how faint her father's outline was, Rose could see him struggling to keep his cool. He wanted to comfort her just as much as, if not more than, she wanted him to. His reassurance that she wasn't crazy didn't quite ease her worries, however, despite her laughter.
As she tried to compose herself, she saw her father go through his thought process, as though something clicked in him.
Rose quickly wiped at her eyes and took a deep breath, releasing it slowly and biting her lower lip. "What?" She asked in a strained whisper. "What is it, Daddy?"
Spread your wings as you go
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Mar 29, 2018 21:26:14 GMT
214 Words
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The Monster
Everything I touch isn't dark enough
Will had to consider the best way to explain it. She'd grown up around mutants, but he wasn't sure if she really understood much about them. Most of their abilities were mental and couldn't be seen or experienced. Will's had always been forced back and the twins couldn't explain theirs very easily. He pondered it for a moment before he realized that she had been around his uncle. James had one of the few abilities that could be experienced first hand. Seen, not just felt.
"You know how uncle James can move things without touching them? When he flips through pages without using his fingers and can make things sort of float over to him?" Telekinesis was probably the easiest thing to accept as an ability. "He's a mutant, you know? With telekinesis as his ability." His expression turned serious and he looked at her straight on, "I don't want you to be scared or worried because there's nothing wrong with it, but I think you may have an ability as well, baby. We won't know for sure until recruiters come, but I'm almost certain of it."
I've turned into a monster and it keeps getting stronger
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962 posts
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Post by Nu on Mar 31, 2018 13:57:47 GMT
452 Words
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supermarket flowers
Memories of a life that's been loved
The existence of mutants was now a well known fact and while she had known her family was full of them, even her extended family, she wasn't entirely sure what being a mutant actually meant. Now, hearing Will talk about her Uncle James, her eyes widened as she took in the information.
Rose wasn't sure if she was worried or scared, now that she knew what it could be. But now, all it meant was that she could see things other people couldn't see. Her schoolmates already thought she was strange, this new addition was not going to make her any more popular.
The idea of recruiters did scare her, though. "Oh no...no, no, no. Does that mean I have to go away?" her eyes were filling up with tears once more. As she was wiping them, the door was knocked upon and opened, revealing her mother.
"Sweetheart, why aren't you asleep yet?"
Rose sniffled and Cassidy softened, rushing to her daughter's side, ignoring the shiver that suddenly consumed her when she stepped through Will. "Love, what's wrong?" Cassidy asked, worry filling her. Rose shook her head as her eyes briefly glanced in the direction of her father's outline, now disturbed by Cassidy's presence.
"Nothing...nothing Mama. I just...I was thinking of Daddy." She whispered. It wasn't quite a lie but she still felt guilty as her mother scooped her in her arms and held her tight. It soothed the young girl as she clutched the back of her mother's robe. The idea that she would have to leave because of this ability she had just obtained made her even more scared than the ability itself.
"Love, it's okay. You don't have to cry. He's still here. He's always here."
Rose looked up at Will and gave him a sad smile before burying her face in her mother's neck. "I know." She said softly before pulling away and kissing her mother's cheek.
"Come on, let me tuck you in. You have school tomorrow." Cassidy said with one more hug before tucking her daughter in. Rose reached out to stroke her mother's cheek and smiled. "I love you, Mama."
Cassidy took Rose's hand and placed a kiss on her knuckle, smiling against it as she fought back tears. "I love you too, Rose." She whispered before placing a kiss on Rose's forehead and getting up to walk to the door. The cold disappeared and she looked to where she had stood earlier, thinking she saw something. She shook her head and as she closed the door, she whispered a goodnight to Rose.
Rose wiped at her eyes and turned back to Will. "Daddy, do I really have to leave?" She whispered.
Spread your wings as you go
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Apr 1, 2018 5:40:30 GMT
315 Words
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The Monster
Everything I touch isn't dark enough
The fear that seemed to settle onto her face was everything he'd hoped to avoid, but he'd never been very good at breaking news to people. Least of all complicated news. Just as he went to comfort her about the process of manifesting, there was a knock on the door before Cassidy entered. The moment she moved through him, he felt sick and a little dizzy, like something was off. He watched his daughter's face and his own mirrored the concern on his wife's face.
The comforting words that Cassidy gave their daughter made him feel even worse because she had no idea just how right she was. His lips quirked at the side when Rose gave him a smile and he looked away to keep himself together. Watching his two favorite girls, well, it was probably the hardest part of being dead. He could interact with them anymore, he couldn't hug them or kiss them or just be there for any kind of comfort. Will just felt like a fading memory that was only around now because his daughter had developed an ability that kept him closer. Cassidy would forget him soon enough.
Cassidy moved towards the door and he watched her, her eyes meeting his for a moment, despite him knowing that she couldn't tell. With the door closed behind her, Will turned to focus on his daughter again and her question made him frown. "There's a school in England, it's not too far away, but if you do have an ability, you'll need to go there." St. Bethany's had never been his favorite place, he'd quite preferred the American academy, however, he didn't think Cassidy would move back and he couldn't see Rose transferring either.
I've turned into a monster and it keeps getting stronger
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962 posts
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Authored by
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Post by Nu on Apr 1, 2018 16:27:20 GMT
137 Words
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supermarket flowers
Memories of a life that's been loved
Rolling on to her side, still staring at her father with tear-brimmed eyes, Rose sniffled. "I don't want to be away from Mama. What if I can't bring you with me? I'll be alone there, Daddy." She sighed and pulled her blanket tighter around her. "Does this happen to every-" she stopped herself and sighed when she realised that her Aunt Maya, Uncle Max and even Nana Eva weren't powered so her asking if this happened to everyone had an obvious answer. What if Jude didn't have it either?
"I really don't like this, Daddy." She whispered, wiping her tears away just as she started to yawn. She was fighting back her sleep so hard that Will was slowly fading. "No...please I don't want to lose you again." She reached out, wanting to grab Will's hand.
Spread your wings as you go
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Apr 2, 2018 20:08:12 GMT
197 Words
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The Monster
Everything I touch isn't dark enough
William was already shaking his head in response to her words, "You won't be alone, baby. I'm not leaving you and she'll only be a short drive away. You won't be alone. Jude could still manifest, too. You just have to be calm, baby girl. We've all been there, it's not so bad after it happens." Well, most of them had gone through it. The ones who hadn't at least had someone that knew what it was like. He stretched out on the bed beside her, propping up on his elbow.
As she yawned, his lips quirked at the side and he sighed, "I know, my love. I know." She reached out and he turned his hand over, wishing that she could actually grab it, but there was nothing. He frowned, "You're not going to lose me, Rose. I'm always here, just like I told you. Get some sleep, Angel, I'll be right here when you wake up. Even if you don't see me right away, just know I'm there."
I've turned into a monster and it keeps getting stronger
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962 posts
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Post by Nu on Apr 3, 2018 13:32:57 GMT
127 Words
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supermarket flowers
Memories of a life that's been loved
Rose's breath hitched as she tried not to let her tears consume her. She opted to believe her father but she still felt grief. Sleep was quickly consuming her. Her eyes fluttered shut and her hand fell on to the bed.
--
She woke up before her alarm and Rose looked around, searching for her father. Panic was her initial response but her father's words rang in her ear. Rubbing her eyes, she got out of bed and went to take a shower to get ready for school. It was when she was putting on her socks that she felt her father's presence near and she looked up. "Daddy?" She asked, not really knowing if it was actually him or not. Didn't ghosts typically come out at night?
Spread your wings as you go
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