Enlightened

by Charlotte Michelle

  I could have slept the day away and awoken the next morning. I would have if it wasn’t for the feather touch on my cheek.

  Twitching, I open my eyes to see Kayla’s hand is no longer under my head. Instead, it is lightly tracing my jaw. I nearly jerk from her touch, sitting up straight as my eyes instantly connect with her hazel ones. They are slightly duller than normal, but I don’t care.

  She’s awake.

  I lean forward and rest my forehead against hers, my heart squeezing tight as tears roll down my cheeks. “You’re back,” I whisper, running my hand over her head, fingers gliding through her dark hair. Kayla’s hand rises and grips my bicep, her fingers gently probing my muscle.

  I close my eyes and let out a shaky breath. “What happened?” her voice croaks. I back away and take a seat on the bed, grabbing her hand to hold in both of my own. I gently rub her fingers.

  “Mikey shot you.” Kayla frowns as she looks over at her left shoulder where a white bandage is in place. “You’ve been out for six days. Mikey is imprisoned. It’s all over, Kayla.”

  Kayla bites her bottom lip as she looks at the door of the hospital room. I can see her eyes watering, but she’s able to hold the tears back. She is silent for a while, and I wonder what is going through her head.

  Is she scared? Relieved? Does she blame me?

  I blame myself.

  “Kyle?” she asks. My eyebrows come together, not understanding what it is she’s asking.

  Was she asking if I chose Kyle over her?

  “Is he at peace?” she clarifies.

  I feel ashamed that I hadn’t asked myself the same question. Honestly, I haven’t thought much about Kyle. It was hard when all that seemed to consume my thoughts was Kayla.

  I shake my head, not knowing the answer to her question. I haven’t seen Kyle or heard from him in what seems like years.

  “Soon.” My eyes lift to see Kayla as she smiles like an idiot. She rises in the bed, sitting up straighter as her eyes connect with the person at the foot of her bed. I stand to my feet and face Kyle, who has his hands shoved into his jean pockets. His blue eyes meet with my identical ones, and he nods his head. “You look like hell,” he says to me.

  My lips quirk into a soft smile, and I shake my head. “It’s been a while, Kyle,” I say. We haven’t seen him since Naper Lights, almost a month ago.

  “It has.” He walks over and sits beside Kayla, who opens her arms for him. He quickly wraps his arms around her neck and allows her to squeeze him close. I watch for a moment, smiling before the smile vanishes with a thought.

  This is it.

  When Kyle pulls back, he looks over at me. I almost choke on a sob when I see tears roll down his cheeks. His blue eyes are shimmering with sadness, yet also with bliss. I know he is ready. I know he’s ready to be beside God, but I’m not ready to say goodbye. I will never be.

  I step forward and place a hand on his shoulder. “Are you finally at peace, Kyle?” Kayla asks, running her hand through his tousled hair. He doesn’t shake her hand off, as he always did whenever our mother touched his hair.

  Instead, he allows her to mess it up. It would be the last time Kayla would touch his hair. It would be the last time she speaks to him.

  I gulp, cursing myself for wanting his answer to be no.

  We are selfish beings.

  And at this moment, I am consumed by my selfishness. I want nothing more than to keep Kyle here, with us.

  “Yes,” he whispers. I close my eyes, allowing a tear to fall as I let out a shuddering breath. He’s at peace. “It’s time to say goodbye.”

  I open my eyes to see Kayla and Kyle clinging to one another again. Kayla’s sobs are quiet, but I can still hear them. “I love you, Kyle.”

  “I love you, Kayla.”

  He steps away from her and then turns to walk over and embrace me in a hug. I grab the back of his neck, holding him in place as I hold my little brother desperately. “Thank you, Kyle. For everything. I owe everything to you. I love you so much.” I ruffle his hair, stepping back to look at him.

  He’s a good-looking kid. He would have grown up to be a heartbreaker. Girls would have fallen in love with his smile. They would have given their heart to his selflessness. He would have surpassed me in basketball. He would have had a wonderful life.

  He should have.

  “I love you more than anyone, Dallas. I always have.” My stomach is so heavy. I feel as if the four bowls of soup I’ve eaten want to empty from my stomach. Tears roll shamelessly down my cheeks. “But I have to go now.” Kyle steps back and smiles at the both of us.

  I can see that he’s ready.

  “Oh. And Dally. You lost to a girl. You lost your heart to Kayla. And that’s okay.” Kyle gives me a warming smile before he nods his head to Kayla in goodbye.

  We watch, one last time, as Kyle disappears in front of us, blowing away like the wind.

  I look over at Kayla and let out a soft cry.

  I lost to Kayla.

  And it’s okay.

  Epilogue

  *Kyle*

  December 25, 2025

  It all seems timeless.

  The last time I saw Dallas and Kayla was the year 2016. They were both so young and full of love. They had solved my murder. Mikey was sentenced to life in prison. He was getting what he deserved, and I had said my final goodbyes to my brother and my best friend.

  I love them both, more than one could express.

  We all believed that I had found peace. That with Mikey being placed behind bars, I was finally free and able to find myself before the pearly white Gates of Heaven.

  However, with what feels like a blink of an eye, I find myself standing knee deep in snow. The chilly December air touches my exposed arms; however, I am hardly cold. I am still dressed in my red shirt and dark jeans. My hair is perfectly gelled upward, and I am wearing my favorite black Nikes…however, they are buried in the Illinois snow.

  If I was in Heaven, I would not be wearing this outfit. I have grown tired of wearing it…it represents the day I died and the endless amount of time of being in limbo. Of not being able to rest beside God, my Father.

  So apparently, I am still not at peace. But that doesn’t make any sense…why wouldn’t I be? Mikey is in prison. I said my goodbyes to Dallas and Kayla…I am ready to be gone from this Earth. I am ready to be in Heaven.

  I hear light laughter, and I lift my eyes from the snow to gaze into a window. I clench my hands into fists as I stare inward, seeing a brightly lit Christmas tree. A fire is burning in the fireplace; an assortment of gifts lies scattered on the floor. Beautiful decorations adorn the walls, the mantle, even the railing of the staircase.

  It’s Christmas again? Is it the year 2017? Why am I back?

  Wait, what house is this?

  I take a step back and look at the large blue-gray house with white shutters before me. It has an elegant porch with white columns and railings. There is a balcony on the second floor outside of one of the bedrooms.

  Looking around, I notice I am basically in the middle of nowhere. There is a vast amount of trees and land; however, I can see the lights of a neighboring house half a mile away. There is a large white, wooden fenced-in yard behind the house. I can see a barn through the snowy air.

  A loud neigh brings a smile to my face.

  This is the house Kayla described to me on one of our Dairy Queen outings.

  The thought evaporates my smile, and I jerk my head back to the window, letting out a soft gasp as I gaze in at the family sitting on the ground.

  A little girl with bright blonde, braided hair, dressed in a red Christmas dress, sits on the floor with a pile of Christmas gifts before her. On her left, lying on the ground with his head on her lap, is a large German Shepherd. He has a red bandanna around his neck.

  The girl is talking animatedly to someone, causing me to turn my eyes to a woman sitting, leaning against the couch. There is a cup of steaming hot coffee in her hands as she smiles brightly at
her daughter. Her hazel eyes are so brilliant that I can see them from outside. Her brown hair is twisted into a side, messy bun, and she is dressed in a simple red sweater dress.

  Even now, she is still a simple tomboy.

  “Daddy!” I hear the girl yell, and I watch as she jumps to her feet. The blonde bundle of joy runs over to the man walking into the room.

  Dally…

  My brother is dressed in a pair of khaki pants and a red polo. His blue eyes are just as luminous as they have always been. His blond hair has darkened with age, yet he has managed to get broader. I wonder, did he pursue his dream of becoming a basketball star?

  Looking around the room in an answer, I feel a tear roll down my cheek as I see an NBA MVP trophy sitting on the mantle, behind Christmas decorations. I squint my eyes, and from the distance I can read, “Dallas Perkins, Chicago Bulls.”

  He did it. He not only made the team, he won MVP.

  I look back to my brother and notice a small present in his arms. He must only be a few months old, his eyes closed as he sucks on a pacifier. His dark brown hair is thin, and I can’t help but wonder if he has his mother’s eyes as well.

  Dallas hands the baby over to Kayla, who cradles him close to her chest while he sits beside her. His arm slings over her shoulders before he places a kiss to her head.

  “Open your gifts, Kyle,” I faintly hear him say. The blonde bundle starts tearing through her presents, and I let out another gasp.

  Kyle.

  They named their firstborn after me.

  Tears roll down my cheeks as an overwhelming sense of happiness runs over me.

  I stand there, watching as the girl named after me squeals with delight at the various gifts she opens. Even when she got a simple shirt, she would proclaim her gratitude and fling her arms around her father’s neck and then kiss her mom’s cheek.

  A loud bark brings me to alert, and I jerk my eyes over to see the large German Shepherd at the window, barking. It’s not vicious, just a warning.

  “What is it, Ragnar?” I hear Kayla ask the dog. I look back at her as she scampers to her feet and walks over to the window. I take a wary step back and watch as she gazes out.

  I let out a breath. She can’t see me.

  “Oh my—Dallas!” she screams. I freeze, my eyes as wide as hers as she focuses in on me. Dallas runs to the window and looks at me, his mouth falling open with shock.

  “Kyle,” I read from his lips. The three of us don’t move, just look at each other until Dallas tells me to wait. He bolts to the door and rips it open, allowing the December air to fill their house.

  He runs over to me, through the snow, dressed only in his slacks and polo. “Dally…” I whisper, cut off when he grabs me and crushes me into a hug. I let out a breath.

  “I love you. I love you so much, Kyle. You were always my best friend, and I am sorry I let basketball get in the way. I am sorry I was selfish and put our relationship on the sidelines. I am sorry I never told you how much you meant to me. I am sorry I never thanked you.” Dallas pulls back, his large hands on my shoulders as he looks into my eyes. “Thank you for being my best friend. Thank you for loving me through all my flaws. Thank you for bringing me Kayla. Thank you for everything, Ky.”

  Tears shamelessly roll down his cheeks, and I reach up to brush them away. I smile and look over his shoulder to see Kayla jogging toward us, her small child in her arms, tucked under a coat she is now wearing. Sobs shake through her as she hands the baby to Dallas.

  Dallas holds tight to the baby, trying to keep him warm. “Kyle.” Her voice breaks as she throws her arms around my neck, clinging tightly to me. “I love you,” she whispers in my ear.

  “I love you too. Both of you.” I step back and look at the baby boy in my brother’s arms.

  “Lee Perkins,” Kayla says, reaching over to rub her child’s cheeks, smiling. I look at her and let out a hiccupping sob.

  Lee is my middle name. Both of their children are named after me.

  “Thank you,” I whisper, looking at the both of them.

  Kayla smiles and nods her head.

  She steps closer to Dallas, seeking warmth from him, and as I watch the both of them staring at me with smiles on their faces and a child in their arms, a sense of peace washes over me.

  I let out a deep breath and close my eyes. I feel as if a weight is lifted off of me, and if I wanted, I could fly. As many times before, I feel my presence slipping away from them.

  But this is it.

  “I have to go,” I whisper, opening my eyes to look upon them one last time. Tears roll down both of their cheeks, but there are none from me. I am no longer sad or distressed. I am happy.

  I am at peace.

  It was never because of Mikey. I was never lost and stuck because of Mikey’s betrayal. It was always them.

  I wasn’t ready to leave. Not until I saw that both of their dreams were fulfilled. Not until they were both happy and at peace themselves.

  It was always them.

  Now, with them living out what they always hoped and dreamed, I am at peace.

  And now, I can go and live out the rest of time with God.

  “Goodbye, Kyle,” Kayla says.

  “Thank you, Ky,” Dallas whispers.

  I offer a bright, wide smile. “I love you,” I say, one last time.

  As I fade before them, I leave Earth with certainty that the many years ahead of them will be happy and full of love.

  Love that lived on against all the odds they faced.

  Love that started with one gunshot.

  Acknowledgements

  When I was young, it was a trying task for me to read. I would sit and stare at the pages with a blank expression. The words never reached my mind and I couldn’t grasp the meanings. I thank my seventh-grade teacher for recommending the Twilight Series, for it transported me into the world of reading and writing.

  In eighth-grade, I began writing poorly written stories with my friend as a joke. However, I grew to love it and continued to pursue my passion. I want to thank all my high school friends (you know who you are!) for always reading and supporting my books.

  I want to thank the crew from Limitless Publishing. You guys have made this process easy. Thank you for always being quick to answer questions and making my dream a reality!

  I want to thank my cousins, Ruthie and Keller, for being strong advocates of my work. With every chapter updated, I could practically see them pulling out their phones to read my material. Without their support and constant praise, I might not have had the drive to continue writing.

  I want to thank my brothers, Bradley and Michael, for never doubting me or my dreams. They always supported the fact that I wanted to be an author and never told me to dream a little smaller.

  I want to thank my Dad for being a provider for my brothers and me, allowing us to pursue our dreams.

  All my fans have most definitely contributed to my direction in writing. All their comments and reviews have left a large impact. I thank each and every one of them for reading the material that I post and giving great feedback. My main purpose for writing is to impact the lives of my readers, and to be given fan mail saying I am doing just that encourages my creative heart and mind!

  We all have role models in our lives: a celebrity, a historical figure or most commonly a family member. My grandfather, Ken Hyde, has always been my biggest inspiration. His story, filled with trials and tribulations, have taught me to never give up. We may be in a valley, but the good news is that we will soon stand atop a mountain. My grandfather has a strong passion for literature and writing, and I am glad I had him to be my first editor! My breath was practically out of my lungs as I awaited his thoughts for Enlightened. It was as if an actor was awaiting to see if they will have a callback! Thank you, Ken Hyde, for loving me and my books.

  The last person I would like to thank and acknowledge is my mother. There is not a doubt in my mind, that without her constant love and support, that I would not be
where I am as an author. She has read and edited every chapter of every book I’ve written. While writing Enlightened, we would stand around the island in our kitchen and I would ask for her advice with the smallest of details. My mother never failed to job at the opportunity to help me. All I am is because of you, Mom. I love you, Forever!

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  About the Author

  I live in Oswego, Illinois. I am a shift manager at Starbucks and I am participating in the Starbucks Achievement Plan through Arizona State University to get my bachelors in English. I began my writing career in middle school, where a friend and I shared stories we had jokingly wrote. I grew to love the momentary escape, and creating characters people can relate to and fall in love with. I now find inspiration for my writing in nature, specifically in the mountains. Lately, I have focused my writing on touching the hearts of young men and women all around the world.

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