Threat

“It’s all your fault.”

I shut my eyes.
I covered my ears.

But…

“This is all your fault.”

She was still visible.
Her voice still echoed clearly.

“What are you going to do when I’m dead, Tyler? How are you going to live with yourself, knowing that you played a part in my death?”

“I didn’t mean for you to get hurt! You were supposed to come back home and forgive me, like you always would…!”

“This is your fault. I won’t forgive you.”

I shut my eyes tighter.
I pressed my hands harder against my ears.

“I’ll never forgive you. I’ll never forgive you.”

Words piercing through.

“I’ll never forgive you.”

Familiar hands at my throat, slowly cutting the oxygen off from my lungs.

“I’ll never forgive you, Tyler!”

I didn’t protest.
I didn’t struggle.

Tighter and tighter until—

“Tyler!”

My eyes shot open as I frantically looked around, rapidly breathing.

“It’s okay. It was just a nightmare. You’re okay.”

A hand on my shoulder – I looked at it before tracing it to its source.

Michael.

My breathing subsided as I looked around again.

We were still on the plane, miles above ground.

I let out a shaky breath, relaxing slightly.

The hand on my shoulder moved to my hair, gently messing with it.

“Michael—”
“Don’t worry about her. She’s going to be fine.”

I could only nod and look out the window.

“Don’t let me fall asleep again…okay?”
“…Alright.”

He didn’t realize how his hand in my hair was defying my wish.
But I didn’t want him to stop.

Then again, I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep again with all of the thoughts in my head.

“Michael…”
“Hm?”

“Do…Do you think Mom is mad at me?”
“I doubt it. She just really misses you. Everyone missed you.”

I bit down on my lip.

Only three more hours.

| x | x | x |

“Are you nervous?”

I hesitated before nodding.

“Don’t be. She’s gonna be so surprised and happy.”
He gave me a reassuring smile before ruffling my hair.

As we inched more and more towards Michael’s house, I grew more and more anxious.

Through the driveway. Up the stairs to the front porch.
A knock on the door.

“Mommy! Micah’s here!”

I couldn’t help but smile at the sound of Sarah’s voice.

My heart skipped a beat when the door opened.

“Welcome back Michael—”

She stopped when she saw me, eyes widening before tears filled them.
She didn’t hesitate to pull me into a tight hug.

“My God…! Tyler...! My baby…!”

I hugged her back just as tight, tears falling from my eyes too.

“Hi, Mom.”