Travis got up from his blue covered bed and made his way to the black covered bed of James. Once in front of the sleeping twin, he reached his hand out to his shoulder. Though froze halfway, then noticing the stuffed bear that belonged to their sister. "How...?" Travis questioned to himself.
Travis looked to James' face to see the peaceful look. He was now tempted to just let him sleep and let him skip school for once. James never looked peaceful in his sleep. He always looked like he was going to kill someone. Travis retracted his hand and slowly made his way out the door. He need to talk to his sister and or father about this... the young boy made his way down the hallway to the kitchen to see his father at the dinner table reading the newspaper and Lila across from him, eating a bowl of cereal. Neither had noticed his presence until he spoke. "Why does James have your teddy bear?" he asked.
Both family members looked over to him with confusion. "What teddy bear?" Chad asked. Lila smiled and looked at her father. "Mr. Teddy!" she said happily. It was now the boys turn to look at Lila. "You gave james your teddy bear?" Chad asked.
Lila continued to smile and giggled with a nod. "When and why? You never give anyone Teddy," said Travis, walking into the kitchen and stopping by the dinner table.
"Papa and you would always say that James was going through a tough time. And whenever I go through a tough time, Mr. Teddy helps me. So I thought that if Teddy can help me, he can help James too!" Lila cheered.
"But when did you give it to him? James went to bed before you and I was there when you went to bed with Teddy," Chad said.
"Last night I couldn't stop thinking about what you told me and got up to give Teddy to James. I didn't wake James up because he already was and so I gave him Teddy," Lila explained.
Tavis and Chad looked at her surprised before looking at each other. Why would she-? Said teddy bear was then thrown on the table next to Lila. Everyone snapped their heads to see James himself, dressed and ready for school. He didn't say a word as he made his way into the kitchen and made himself some breakfast. "Morning James!" Lila said happily.
A dismissive wave was her reply as the owner of said hand sat at the opposite end of the table and silently ate his cereal. Chad and Travis gave each other worried looks before dispersing to do their separate morning routines.
After three fights, six detentions, and two suspensions for James, a month passes and the Nelson family is leaving their home for another in Alabama. James was still unhappy about the fact and his temper tantrums were not helping ease the stress of it all.
Lila skipped up to her father with a happy smile on her face. "Hey Papa!" she cheered.
Chad looked down to the young girl and smiled at seeing her happiness. "Hey sweety. Ready for the big move?" he asked sweetly. His reply was, "Yes I am!" He chuckled at his daughter's enthusiasm.
"Hey Papa?" Lila asked. "Yes Lila?" Chad said.
"Do you think Travis and James are ready for this kind of change?" she asked.
Chad looked down to her. What does she mean by that? How does she know what that means? "Uh... Not sure. I guess we'll find out, huh?" he said with a small smile.
Lila gave a worried look to her father. "I know that Travis is a little excited and won't really mind it but... James doesn't look like he likes it at all. I once heard him yell that this move was going to make him look weak to his school bully. I don't think James wants to move Papa."
Chad looked at her surprised. She was right but how is she figuring all this out? She's only five. Chad nodded his head in agreement and looked to the ground. He sighed and said, "I know James doesn't like the move but I don't want him to get into anymore fights or just trouble in general. Plus, I think being in the house hurts him more. He grew up here and was always by your mother's side. And since the accident, it causes more pain on him. I know he doesn't want to move, but it's for the best. Whether he likes it or not."
Lila nodded in understanding and saw her eldest brother on the house steps by himself with a black hoodie on, hood up over his head. She thought for a moment before walking over to him and sitting next to him. "Hi James!" she said cheerfully with a smile.
James said nothing as he turned his head away from her. Lila frowned at her brothers anti socializing and tried to think of something to get him to talk. "What do you think the new house will look like?" she asked.
"I don't care what it looks like," was James' bored toned reply.
Lila then had a thoughtful look on her face. "What do you think the new school will be like?"
"I don't care what the school will be like."
"How about the neighborhood?"
"I don't care."
"The people?"
"Don't care."
Lila pouted and angrily looked at her brother. "Do you care about anything?"
"No. Not really."
"What about dad and Travis?"
"Meh."
"What about me?"
James didn't reply for a moment before turning his head to the side. In truth, he did still care about her. She was the only one that showed kindness like their mother. Lila reminded James of Rosey like she was reincarnation of her. Sweet, caring, social, and knows how to use words to make others think about a situation. Just like now.
"Well? Do you or do you not?" came Lila's voice, breaking James from his thoughts.
"Yes. I do care."
Lila smiled and hugged her brother, burying her head into the side of his chest. James flinched from the sudden move but put an arm around her waist, still looking around with boredom. "You can think of this move like a new chance at life. You can make new friends and be a new person. It will be better for all of us," Lila said happily.
The five year old then let go of her brother and walked off towards the car where their father stood. James sat on the steps thinking about what his sibling said. Yes, it was a chance at a new life. But no, he didn't want to take it. He wanted to stay. Besides, their mother's grave is here and if they move, how will he visit her everyday on the way home from school? James shook his head and continued to watch the movers put boxes into the moving truck.
Five hours of driving have passed and now the small family of four are at a motel to stay in. The movers won't be leaving until tomorrow for the nine hour drive to the new house. The motel room they rented consisted of two rooms that connected by a bathroom. Lila and Chad were in the left room while Travis and James were in the right. Two beds were in each room with a black colored wooden nightstand in the middle. On the nightstand was an alarm clock and lamp, with a single drawer under it. A dresser was on the far right wall and a closet was placed next to it. On the opposite side of the room was a window with navy blue curtains.
Travis, Chad, and Lila were all in the left room socializing as James was in his room looking out the window, being anti social as usual. James looked out at the stars and thought about his mother.
"James! Come brush your teeth! We're going to go to bed!" called Chad.
James looked at the bathroom and sighed. He then begrudgingly got up and walked over. He quickly brushed his teeth and got into night clothes before walking back into the room and climbing in bed. Travis walked in shortly after and copied the actions. Chad then came in and said a small 'goodnight' before turning off the lights.
"Hey James?" came Travis' voice through the darkness.
"What Travis?" was James' annoyed voice.
"Can you open up the window? It's kinda hot in here," Travis asked.
James got up from his bed, rolling his eyes, and walked over to the window, opening it just enough to let the gentle breeze come through and cool the room down. A sigh of content was heard from Travis. "Thanks," he said.
"Sure." James went back to his own bed and laid down once more. He looked out the window to the stars for a few minutes before closing his eyes and falling into the land of light slumber.
The red letters of the alarm clock hit 12:00 and a small wind blew through the open window. Chad, Travis, and Lila were all deep into their sleep, dreaming of fantasies that kept them calm during the night. Though the right room of the twins began to glow a light blue as a see-thru figure of a women began to appear. The spirit was at the edge of the bed closest to the window were James slept.
"James" it called in a faint, ary voice.
Said boy it called to moved in his sleep from uneasiness do to the ghost.
"James dear. Wake up. I need to speak to you," the spirit said again.
James finally opened his eyes and drowsily looked around the room with annoyance, groaning as he did so. He sat up in bed and his eyes landed on the blue glowing ghost, before widening in fear and surprise.
"W-What are you?!" James nearly yelled.
"Oh dear. I couldn't have been gone long enough for you to forget me. Though you also had the pictures too."
"W-What are y-you talking about?!"
"Sweetheart. It's been too long..."
Now James was more confused than ever. Who was this, what was it, and how did it get here?! James swallowed the knot his throat and shakily asked, "Who are you?"
"I'm your mother James," it said with amusement.
"What? No! That's not possible! I watched her die!"
"Calm down James. You don't want to wake the others, do you?"
James closed his mouth and looked at his 'mother' like she was going to kill him.
"Please don't give me that look. It makes me feel like you're afraid of me."
"Because I a-am."
She frowned and glided towards the crawling boy who backed up the headboard. She lightly traced her cool hand over his cheek and thoughtfully looked at his fear filled face. "I'm not going to hurt you my child. I never did and never will," she said.
James brown eyes looked into ghost ones and an image of his mother flashed through his mind. They looked exactly the same... James reached his hand out and tried to touch the side of his mother's head. Whether he believed it or not, it was his mother's spirit , Rosie, that came back.
"How?" he asked.
A small smile went across blue lips as now knowing owner of said lips had knowledgeJames quickly stopped his tears and wiped them away with his sleeve. He sniffled a few times and laid back down. Though he didn't go to sleep as he thought about the different things to change. And he was going to start tomorrow. Tomorrow was another day. Tomorrow was a different day.
Tomorrow, James Nelson, will be a brand new person. of her sons gained truth of reality. "The window," she said.
James was confused. "What?" he asked.
"The window. It's like a doorway from heaven to the real world. That's how I was able to come to you," she explained.
James looked over at the open window. The curtains moved from the wind blowing thru before looking back to his mother. "Why did you come back?" he asked.
"Because you needed guidance."
"What do you mean?"
Rosie frowned and sadly looked at James. "You've been mourning over me for the past three years James. You even become violent and don't pay anymore attention to your father and siblings. It has made me sad. I know you miss me, and I know that you blame yourself for the accident, but it's not your fault and you need to move on. No matter how much it pains you from misery, the rest of our family has moved on. You need to do the same and catch up with them. It's not fair that the others can move on while you stay behind and mourn. Lila has already given you ideas on how to move and create a new life. I think you should take those suggestions of hers and put them into actions. Travis and your father have nearly given up on you. You need to show them that you're stronger than what they think and that they can still have hope for you. Please, though I know you may think it'll be hard, move on from what happened. Not only for you, but for your father, Travis, and most of all Lila."
James took in all the words that were said to him and nodded while lowering his eyes. "I will. I promise."
A smile began to form on Rosie's lips once more and she cupped James' cheek. "Thank you James," she said.
The blue glow started to fade from the room as the spirit disappeared with it. Once fully gone, James burst into tears. He thought of how he had hurt his family and deceased mother by mourning over something he couldn't change. He looked over to his brother's sleeping form and tried to calm his breathing. Like what his mother practically said, he needed to be strong for his family. He shouldn't be crying over something like this. He needed to move on and change his life.
James quickly stopped his tears and wiped them away with his sleeve. He sniffled a few times and laid back down. Though he didn't go to sleep as he thought about the different things to change. And he was going to start tomorrow. Tomorrow was another day. Tomorrow was a different day.
Tomorrow, James Nelson, will be a brand new person.
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