22

Kol floated in white fuzziness for a moment, hearing nothing but wind as it blew across his face. He opened his eyes and standing before him was a meadow of green. Vibrant green grass that swayed from side to side like the ocean waves on high tide. Colorful flowers poked out of the ground in no specific pattern or order; everything was free and beautiful. The next thing he saw made tears gather in his eyes.

His family.

His father was at the left, smiling with his warm brown eyes and glasses. His brown hair fell in waves to end short just below his ears. He still had small wrinkles and looked just as he did when he was living. Kol's heart warmed and instead of freaking out or crying because he was there, he was filled with light and warmth as his father smiled at him.

Beside him was Sophie, looking as if she aged with Kol, though she was no longer living on Earth. Though this was a dream, it felt real and felt like they were really here. She smiled at him, her green eyes mirrored with happiness and her lips a light peach, as if a natural gloss covered her mouth.

Standing next to Sophie was Daniel, Kol's younger brother, his eyes a brown that mimicked their father's. His hair fell in bangs that ended just above his eyebrows and the color was an almost-gold. Just like his mother's. Daniel always smiled with his eyes; but this time both his eyes and mouth were curled up into a happy smile.

His mother. Kol trembled as he stood up, looking at her. She looked lovely as she always had; but what she was doing was humming the tune of the nursery rhyme she always sang to Kristopher when he was little.

"Day is done

Day is done, gone the sun

From the lakes, from the hills, from the sky

All is well, safely rest;

God is nigh."

Kristopher's mom smiled with her green-emerald eyes too, her hair dark like his own. She had small wrinkles as well, but it didn't matter. She was beautiful. Kristopher thought she always was.

"Mom," he whispered, taking a step toward her, tears streaming down his face. She reached a hand out and caressed her son's cheek, wiping away the tears, and Kristopher couldn't keep himself away. He rushed into her arms, hugging her so close to him, smelling Mom like he always remembered her scent when he was little.

"My child," she whispered. And he felt tears drip onto his forehead. Puzzled, Kristopher looked up at his mother, who was crying silently as well. Kristopher openly cried, his arms holding his mother close. His mother pulled away slowly, her eyes slightly red from crying. "Greet your brother." She whispered, her lips trembling. Was he dreaming his family were here, or were they really in his head, visiting from Heaven?

Kristopher nodded and wiped at his eyes, only to have more tears drip down his face when he bent down to hug Daniel tightly. Daniel smiled, his eyes watering as well as he patted Kristopher's back. "You look great, Buddy." Daniel whispered into Kristopher's ear. Hearing his brother's voice after so long made Kristopher choke up and sob, hugging his brother tightly to him like he had his mother.

"I love you so much, Danny." Kristopher choked out, rubbing Daniel's back. Daniel nodded and pulled back with a smile and teary eyes.

"I love you too, Kristopher." He whispered.

Kristopher stepped down the line, looking up at his sister, at his wonderful Sophie. Tears were already streaming down her face as she was probably watching Kristopher with his other family members. "Kris," she whispered with a watery smile.

"You saved my life." Kristopher choked out. "You sacrificed yourself to save me, Sophie." He whispered. Sophie leaned in and kissed his cheek, which felt unmistakably real.

"And I would do it again, brother." She said, and wrapped her arms tightly around Kristopher's neck. He closed his eyes as more tears spilled ou, and hugged his sister back tightly. She smelled like home; they all did. He yearned to go back home with all of them and leave everyone. Except for one person, who he'd bring with him.

"I love you." Kristopher whispered. Sophie nodded and said the same, and Kris looked up at his father who he approached.

"Son," His father said. His voice was gentle, and soothing. Tears were falling down his cheeks as well, and Kris ran into his dad's arms, hiding his face in his dad's chest and crying, hugging him so tightly that it choked him.

"Dad," Kol whispered, his heart racing with remembrance of all the things his father did for him. He built him a boat from his own hands when Kristopher had always played with his siblings, pretending to be pirates. He watched over his son like a hawk, yet let him have all the freedom he could have. Talked and taught him valuable things. He was an unforgettable parent. Just like his mother.

More arms went around Kris, and he looked around for just a moment to see his whole family joining in to hug everyone in one massive hug. They cried quietly together for a long while, before releasing each other. Kristopher's mother grinned at her son, and glanced at her husband before looking down at Kristopher.

"Kris, honey," she started, bringing her hands to Kristopher's cheeks. More tears fell down his cheeks as he covered her hands with his.

"Yes, momma." He whispered.

"What are you doing, sweetheart?" she asked him softly. "With that girl." Kristopher's eyes lowered and her mother guided him and the rest of the family to a picnic table that Kris hadn't noticed before. They all sat down, Kristopher feeling his heart throbbing with joy that he saw his family.

"I'm protecting her, momma." He whispered. Mother only shook her head.

"There is nothing to protect her from." She said softly. Sophie and Daniel were nudging shoulders with each other, occasionally letting out a giggle and smiling at Kristopher as a way for them to remind themselves that their brother was here. "You are strong, and courageous. You have a big heart full of kindness. Do not lead her to believe otherwise." His mom pressed the palm of her hand to Kristopher's heart, hammering with happiness. "You know who you are."

"But I met her before." Kristopher whispered, "After you guys-" he choked off and looked away. Even with them in front of him, actually there, he couldn't bring himself to say those words.

"We saw." His father said softly, resting a hand on Kristopher's arm. "We know what happened. And we know what you feel."

"Those letters you've been writing to us…" Daniel started softly. Kris never imagined they'd actually see the letters. Tears fell down his cheeks; they saw him. From above, in a happy place.

"You love her, don't you?" Sophie whispered, leaning in on the table, resting her chin on her hands, and her elbows propped up on the table.

"I thought I couldn't love again. After losing you guys, I couldn't feel anything. I went sour and kept everyone away from me." Kristopher admitted.

"And you have only made the pain worse for yourself." His mother said softly. "End this act now, son. You need to tell her the truth before it is too late." Kristopher nodded slowly; hesitantly. "Do this for yourself. For her."

Kristopher nodded, hugging his mother tightly, and then his father. He hugged everyone again tightly, so tightly that it hurt but neither one of them pulled away the slightest bit.

"We have to go." Sophie whispered, glancing up at the sky before standing up. Kristopher began to sob.

"Don't go." He whispered. "P-please don't go. Don't leave me." His lower lip trembled as his mother put her hands on his cheeks, tears slipping out of her eyes.

"Listen to me." She said, her voice shaking as Kristopher began to cry harder. "We see you. We watch over you all the time, honey. We always have. And we forever will. You will be okay." She wiped away the tears from her son's face and kissed his cheek. "I want you to have this." She said, pulling a ring off of her finger and handing it to him. It had an emerald gem on it, and it was a skinny ring with slight designs and the name of each one of his family members on it. He never knew that's what was on this ring. "You will realize this wasn't just a dream. And you will realize that for us to be happy and proud, you need to go after what you want. And you want her." Kristopher held the ring tightly in his hand. "Okay?" He let out a nod, hugging her to him tightly again.

He hugged his whole family for a while, crying hard and saying goodbye. He wanted so badly to stay with them, but they were slowly fading as Kristopher woke up from his sleep. They all told him they loved him, kissing his cheek and hugging and doing all they could. Kristopher waved, crying as the family took each other's hands and walked, their backs toward him, down the meadow until they disappeared, Sophie glancing back at him, smiling, her eyes bright. And the blackness took over Kristopher. And he slowly woke up.