Chapter137

Chapter137
Skylar

Fifteen months. He’s been gone for fifteen months now, and every month end, right on time, they showed up. All of them, every single one. Lana, Mateo, Mathew (sometimes his wife and kids joined him), Eli, and Olivia. They didn’t stop searching for him; they didn’t complain or procrastinate; they just did it. Samuel and Lion were right there with them.

Last month, Freya and Chris got married. She had contacted her uncle and aunt and asked her uncle to walk her down the aisle. She was hesitant because she had wanted Asher to do it, but I told her it was okay. They both refused a big, grand wedding. They both agreed to something simple, small, and intimate with just close friends and family. Miles was the best man, and I was the maid of honor.

Eli and Mateo had the bright idea of making Adriel the ring bearer. When I asked them how he was supposed to walk, they smirked. Freya had asked Grace’s daughter to be their flower girl, and their son would bring Adriel. Freya said that way, a part of her brother would be with her on her special day, so I agreed. One afternoon, I found them all fighting over a suit for him. I left them.

Adriel was our only source of happiness. Lana was here almost every other weekend with toys and clothes. Miles was no better than her. Mateo and Freya were over the top too. I wanted to yell at them, but I left them. I realized they lost a brother and a friend, and this way, they felt they found him again. I spent many nights looking at him sleeping and crying silently because I missed him.

He had Asher’s eyes and hair, even his complexion, and his smile was just like Asher’s; it was almost as if Asher came back to me.
Today was Adriel’s first birthday, January 7th, and it marks eighteen months since Asher has been gone. I stood on the patio looking at them. They were all here; they became family. Adriel was in his highchair smashing a cake with his hands. Day by day, he looks more and more like Asher.

“It’s been a hell of a ride, huh?” Miles asked from beside me. Over the course of the time, Miles had grown. He was still my nutcase, but he’s become much more. There wasn’t a thing he wouldn’t do for me and Adriel. When I had once asked about him getting married, he said he didn’t have time. Liam had asked me if he could propose, and I said yes, it was time.

I turned and looked at him. “Miles, you know I love you, right?”
“Of course, I do,” he said in his usual “I know” tone.
“Good then, accept it, live, Miles. I want you to live and be happy. Adriel and I will be fine, and if I ever run into trouble, you’ll be the first one I’ll call. It’s time for you to let go,” I said, stepping aside.

“Miles.” When he turned, Liam was on his knees with the ring.

“You are the first person that saw me, and I mean me, not the money or anything, but me. I knew you were the one I would spend my life with. You’re selfless; you put others before you, and the way you protect Adriel and Skylar shows how amazing a person you are. You’re also crazy and spontaneous, and I would be an idiot if I didn’t make you mine. I will love you, cherish you, and spoil you for the rest of your life. Will you marry me?” Liam said, and Miles looked at me, and I nodded.

“Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you, you big lug,” Miles said, and they started cheering. They partied throughout the night.

On Monday morning, I went to work; the others went back home. Hilda took care of Adriel, with Freya and Daphne stopping in occasionally. My days blurred into one; my only happiness was Adriel. When Friday rolled around, I was tired.

Adriel never wakes up during the night, and I was thankful for that because today was a long day. After a shower, I got into bed and turned the light off. I was asleep instantly. I heard him.

“I missed you, bunny.” It was a dream; it was the same dream, over and over. He would come to me like he normally did, and he would always sit on the bed beside me, caressing my face and telling me he loved me and how much he missed me. He was so proud of me, and every time I opened my eyes, he would disappear. I always cried.

“I miss you too. Why did you leave me? Our son won’t ever get to meet you,” I said to him as always.
“Yes, he will, love. I’m right here,” he said.
“No, you’re not. Every time I open my eyes, you disappear,” I said with tears.
“Open your eyes this time; I promise I won’t disappear,” he said.
“No, I don’t believe you; you say that every time, and you leave me.”
“I promise you I won’t,” he said.

Somewhere in my sleep, I heard Adriel cry, so I opened my eyes and sat up. When I did, I almost passed out. I was left staring.

“I told you; I wasn’t going to disappear,” he said. “
Asher,” I said. i said in awhisper.

I grabbed onto him and held him and cried. He held me as I cried. He was real; he was here. He pulled away from me, kissing me the same way he used to.

“I promised you. I will never stop trying to come back to you, ever, love. I missed you,” he said, kissing me again.
“Why did you take so long?” I asked through tears.

“I promise you, never again. I’ll never hurt you like this ever again, baby. I’m sorry, please forgive me,” he said, holding my face in his hands, and I nodded. I heard him cry, and he heard it too, and he looked at me. I stood up and went to the crib and looked at him.

“You sleep through the night, so why are you awake now?” I asked, and he smiled at me. I felt him behind me.
“Asher…” I didn’t know what else to say.