Chapter 68 – It visits the afterlife (II)

Home. Family. Mother. Daughter. Father. Reunited. Filled with love.

Laughter. Happiness. Warmth.

It watches.

The father looks directly at It. It should not be visible in this plane.

Anomalous.

It stopped.

The father smiled. The father should not be able to speak to It. It heard the father’s voice.

Anomalous.

“…Thia?”

. “It wonders how this is possible.”

“Because you’re my daughter and I know everything about you.”

“It has no rebuttal.”

“Come talk to dad? It’s been a while. Let’s go sit on the porch.”

. . . “It accepts.”

“So how’re you doing, kiddo? Is everything okay over there?”

“It is confused.”

“Dad knows… dad knows things are confusing right now… that you’re going through changes that even you might not understand… but I really want you to know that mom and dad have always loved you, and we’ll always love you. And Little Thia, too. She really loves her super smart big sister who knows everything about everything.”

“It is still confused.”

“It’s okay to be confused, Thia. But one day when you figure everything out, be sure to come back and tell dad, okay? You have Amy with you now, and she loves you just as much as mom and dad and Little Thia do. Probably even more. So you’ll never have to be alone any more, because your family will always be here for you. You’ll never have to figure everything out by yourself, because all of us people around you—who love you and care for you—will always be there to help… if you’re willing to let us.”

“It accepts the premise. Continue.”

“Thia… dad would really love to keep being with you here forever and ever and ever. I really would. But there’s another daughter that dad’s really, really worried about right now, too.” Dad sighed. “How’s Amy doing? Dad doesn’t know how long it’s been over there, but dad has a feeling that Amy is worried sick about you, and she’s probably lost, and grieving, and crying her eyes out. That girl’s always been so sensitive and empathetic to everyone… even though she always tries to play it off like nothing, and that nothing ever bothers her. So, as much as dad so, so, so badly wants for you to stay here so he can be with you every step of the way… dad thinks you need to go back and be with Amy.”

“It has comforted Amy. Dad has been in the afterlife for four mortal days. It will return to Amy in five mortal seconds.”

“That short, huh…? Well… that’s a relief. That’s really such a huge relief for dad. Thank you, Thia. You’re such a good kid. I’m really proud of you. And I’m so glad that you and Amy have each other to rely on now. Dad knows that everything will be just fine, and that you can get through anything as long as you’re together.”

“Understood.”

“And even though we’re gone now… just remember that dad and mom will always be there for you, too. We’ll keep watching over you forever… so if you ever get tired, or if life ever gets too much, or even if you just randomly feel like it… you’re always welcome to come back and visit. We have a room in the house just for you, so drop by any time. Any time at all. Even right now, if you want. Well… depending on how long those five seconds are here.”

“Understood.”

“Dad knows you don’t like change, so I tried to make your room as close to the room you had back at home… but dad’s not perfect. So you’ll have to come by and make your own adjustments so that everything’s just the way you like it, okay? Don’t blame dad if it’s not 100% right.”

“Understood.”

“This is your home as much as it is ours… so drop by any time. Really, any time. Again, even right now would be good. We’d love to have you. And think about mom and dad once in a while, okay? And don’t forget about Little Thia. She really, really loved spending time with you, and she says she wants to be just like you when she grows up.” Dad laughed. “She keeps driving mom crazy with hundreds of questions that mom can’t answer… so remember to visit lots. Mom will give you all the strawbies in the world if you can placate Little Thia. So remember to visit lots. We really miss you. And Amy, too. But we know she can’t visit like you can.”

“It accepts the premise. Continue.”

“Oh, kiddo… Dad wishes he could just give you a magic hug that makes everything instantly okay… That makes everything make sense.”

“It accepts the premise. Continue.”

“Dad loves you.”

“It accepts the premise. Continue.”

“Dad loves you a lot.”

“It accepts the premise. Continue.”

“Dad really, really loves you.”

“It accepts the premise. Continue.”

“Dad loves you 9000.”

“It accepts the premise. Continue.”

“Dad loves you infinity.”

“It accepts the premise. Continue.”

“Dad’s running out of ways to say that he loves you, but just know that dad will love you for always and forever. And dad knows that you’ll figure everything out for yourself, because you’re the smartest and most insightful person dad knows.”

“It accepts the premise. Continue.”

“…Do you want to come in and say hi and fix your room up?”

“It cannot at this Time. It needs to be with Amy, but It will return.”

“Sure thing. When you next visit, then. Love you, kiddo.”

“It accepts the premise. Continue.”

Dad smiled.

“It wishes happiness for Dad, Mom, and Thia in the afterlife and their lives thereafter.”

“Take care, Thia. Visit any time.”

“It will.”