"I came home" I say, sniffling as I sat on my knees between my parents' graves.

"I've been staying with Nana and Pop for a while, but I have enough money to move out now. I don't want to be a burden, and I can't stand the thought of them seeing their dead daughter when they look at me," I said, letting out a sad laugh.

It wasn't much of a laugh, but it was something.

"I got hurt, Momma," I choked out, a sob escaping as the memories flooded back.

"But I'm safe now. I'm home. He won't find me," I said, trying to convince myself.

"I saw Everest, Daddy. He's all grown up, and I don't know who he is anymore."

"Whenever I see him, I know it's him, but he's changed... I guess we all have," I added, scratching at my chest, trying to catch my breath. Another sob escaped.

"I miss you and love you both so much," I whispered as I laid flowers on each of their graves.

I stood up, wiped my eyes, and sniffled as I started walking back to the truck. I needed that. A good cry. To take away just a little bit of the pain. The weight of everything.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, letting the rain fall on me as the sky wept.

"Avery?" A voice called, snapping me from my thoughts.

"Bonnie?" I turned and walked over to her, standing under the tree.

"I saw you visited your parents," she said with a gentle smile.

"Who did you visit?" I asked, and she looked down at the only grave near us. I read the name and instantly knew who she was visiting.

A big smile spread across my face as I looked up at her. "I think she was the funniest person I ever met," I said, and she laughed, making me giggle too.

"She was, wasn't she?" she said, and we both laughed together. When the laughter subsided, there was an awkward but comfortable silence between us.

Bonnie's older sister had been amazing—beautiful, kind, caring, and a light in every room she entered. No one disliked her. But cancer changed all that. The disease took her too soon, and everyone attended her funeral, even the Sons.

"I know it's rude, but I couldn't help overhearing that you're looking for a job?" Bonnie asked, her voice gentle.

I cleared my throat. Did she hear everything I said? But I nodded. "Yeah, I don't want to be a burden to my grandparents."

"We both know you're not a burden, Avery. You're their only granddaughter. You're all they have left." A tear slipped down my face, and Bonnie wrapped her arms around me in a hug.

I hugged her back. "I heard through the grapevine that you got your nursing degree."

"Yeah," she replied.

She took a step back, looking at me with confusion. "Believe it or not, I actually have a normal job outside of the club. I'm a secretary at the ER," she smirked.

"I might have to take you up on that offer," I said, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.

We talked for a little longer before eventually parting ways. I headed home, thinking about what I wanted to do next.

I sat my grandparents down and told them I planned on moving into my parents' house.

"Hey, dear, are you okay?" Nana asked, concern in her voice.

"Yes, I've just been thinking about something and want to run it by you both before I do anything," I said, looking at them across the table.

"Well, spit it out, before Nana has a heart attack," Pop said, half-joking.

I took a deep breath. "I think I'm going to go back to my parents' house." They exchanged confused looks before turning back to me.

"I have to face reality. I need to go there, but I don't plan on making it permanent. It's just something I feel I need to do," I said, almost pleading with them.

"Well, okay, honey... if you think it's what you need to do. It is your house now," Pop said.

Nana grabbed my wrist and held my hand, kissing it. "We love you and support you no matter what."

I smiled, resting my head on her shoulder. "So, when do you want to go?" Pop asked, a straight face.

I stood up, wiping my sweaty palms on my sides. "Actually, I was thinking of going over there tomorrow," I said, nervously.

••••••••••••••••

That night, I packed my things, but for some reason, I couldn't sleep. Maybe it was the storm or the anxiety of what tomorrow would bring. Either way, I stayed up, staring at my ceiling.

As the sun peeked through my bedroom window, I went into the kitchen to make breakfast and poured myself a cup of hot tea.

While waiting for my grandparents to wake up, I read a book. It was an interesting read—Death of a Salesman. If you've never read it, you should. Just saying.

"Jesus, did you not sleep, dear?" Nana asked, walking in wrapped in her fluffy robe.

I handed her a cup of coffee and put the book down. "Yeah, I'm just an early bird, I guess." Liar.

Before she could ask more questions, Pop walked in, and I handed him his coffee as well.

"You sure you want to go today?" he asked as he took the hot cup.

"Yeah, I think I'm ready to go home," I said with more confidence than I felt.

God, Avery, why are you lying to them? Why are you lying to yourself?

The morning passed quickly, and before I knew it, I was loading my things into the back of the truck, heading toward the house I once called home.

When I pulled up, I just sat there in the truck, staring at the house. From the outside, it looked unchanged. I took a deep breath, sighed, and climbed out of the truck. Walking up the sidewalk, I stopped to look at the light blue paint chipping from the porch. I took the first step onto the porch, but quickly jumped off as the white bench seat creaked in the wind.

"It's okay, Avery. You're okay," I whispered to myself, slowly walking to the door.

I fumbled with the keys, taking deep breaths as I found the right one. When I heard the door unlock, I grabbed the knob and turned it slowly, closing my eyes tightly as I pushed the door open.

As soon as I opened them, memories rushed in. The house was spotless. It felt like no one had ever lived here, as though nothing had happened. I walked into the living room, pushing open the curtains to let the Florida sun fill the room. I ripped the plastic off the couch, and there, hidden in the corner, was a small speck of blood.

I shook my head and moved on, running my hand across the kitchen island. I opened the cabinets and saw the dishes, just like they had always been. The junk drawer was still the junk drawer. The photos hanging in the hallway were still straight.

Before I went upstairs, I stopped at the molding where my parents had marked my height over the years, stopping at my 16th birthday. I ran my hand over every line, then looked up at the stairs. I stepped forward, and for the first time in years, the stairs didn't creak. I remembered when they had first been fixed, after my dad called Gary for help. I remembered the night we slept on the couches while they worked on them.

I looked down the hall and decided to visit my parents' room first. The door opened slightly, revealing the bed neatly made and a basket of washed clothes still sitting on the dresser. My mom was a neat freak; nothing was ever out of place except for my room, which she always kept closed.

I opened the closet and a neatly wrapped yellow box fell out. Hesitantly, I untied the bow and lifted the lid. Inside was a leather jacket with the Sons of Silence logo on the back—a skull with angel wings and a devil's tail.

I smiled through my tears as I read:

The Daughter That's Never Silent.

I hugged the jacket to my chest and sat on the floor for a while, holding it close. Eventually, I stood up, folded it back into the box, and placed it back in the closet, sorting through the rest of the clothes.

I left the room, feeling a little better, and walked to my own room. The yellow and white walls, my dreamcatchers still hanging above my bed, the vanity with all my unused perfumes and lipsticks—it all felt so familiar, but so different.

Brooke came over later, after she called to check on me. She helped me get settled in, going through all my old clothes that no longer fit. We ended up with three garbage bags full.

"You sure you don't want me to stay?" she asked as we loaded the bags into her car.

"Brooke, I'm sure. You have class tomorrow, and I still need to clean up a bit."

She nodded, giving me a big hug. "I'll be over tomorrow. We can go out. It's Friday, and I think you could use a good night out." I scoffed.

"As if last time wasn't enough," I teased.

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, shut up, you're just mad you didn't get laid."

We laughed, but a sharp pain hit me.

"Ever since... New York... sex hasn't been my thing," I said, shrugging.

"Mhm, whatever you say, girl," she said, closing her trunk before getting in her car. I waved goodbye as she pulled out of the driveway.

Back inside, I went upstairs, grabbed the box I had been filling with my things, and checked my phone. There was still time before the sun set, so I figured I had time for a quick trip.

I grabbed the box and my keys, locked the door, and jumped in my truck. The box sat in the passenger seat as I drove off.

She Was Grand

The flowers envied her

And so did the sun

So rare, so beautiful

And grand representation

Of what a woman should always be

Though some claimed she was damaged

She meant everything to me.