Choking on the never-ending snapshots of him flitting through my mind, I close my eyes and cradle the car in my palm. “I made you a promise, Dom, but I lost you to keep it. And looking back, I don’t feel it was worth it. As selfish as it is, I would trade everything we’ve done, just to get you back.”
Always brothers.
I hear him speak the words so clearly that my knees hit the sand. It’s as if he’s whispered them in my ear. Closing my eyes, I pray it keeps him with me just a little longer as every hair on my body stands on end.
“You were so fucking intuitive, but did you…did you really know?” Swallowing, I let hot grief stream down my face. “I fucking miss you. Every single day. Every goddamn day. And if I’m destined to live a long life without you, I guess the least I can do is thank you. Thank you, Dominic. Thank you. Fuck,” opening my eyes, I gaze out to the rapidly darkening sky. “I g-guess…I guess if you can hear me, save me a place in the passenger seat.” I think of my parents and how it seems like a lifetime ago that they existed—a different life. “I hope you’re with them. I hope you’re…” I let the grief take over as the wind kicks up. I open my hand to see the car roll back and forth on the flesh of my palm as the white foamed waves crest in and snatch away the shoreline. A stronger breeze follows as if urging me to my feet, and I dust my pants off and walk over to the sea wall and set his dove atop it.
“I’m tired, Dom, so help me watch over us, okay?”
Starting my walk up the cliffside, rain begins to pelt my face just as thunder sounds at my back. Another gust of wind has me hastening my steps toward my future, but I can still feel him, and so I speak once more.
“We did it, brother.”
The End