Set Free

Set Free

"Jake, she's lovely but…" I heard Mrs Drostfurn say. I was not eavesdropping, not exactly. They spoke loud enough for me to hear even though they were clearly trying to be quiet about it.

When your boyfriend invites you over for dinner to meet his parents and they pull him aside for 'a little chat' after the introductions, it couldn't mean anything good.

They left me in the entrance hall which was a sight to behold. Complete with two grand staircases leading to the top floors. I would have been blown away from the sight if I wasn't so busy listening to the conversation happening in the next room.

"But what mom?" Jake asked, sounding defensive. He always acted like it was me and him against the world but I was surprised that that attitude was also extended to his parents.

"Calm down son." His father said with a calm voice. "I think what your mother is trying to say is that, as lovely as Jade seems, maybe you should find someone who…. Well, who wouldn't be put out by us."

"Like Bertha! A normal girl to date in these circumstances." His mother added.

Bertha? Who's Bertha? And what circumstances?

"Bertha isn't in the least bit normal. And neither are we. Jade is the epitome of normal." Jake said in a controlled voice. 

"I wouldn't say we weren't normal." His mom said, sounding sad and desperate for his son to understand. "Just unconventional. Not everyone can deal with that."

"She won't have to." Jake's voice sounded closer now and I cautiously took a few steps back when I noticed that I had been subconsciously leaning forward. "Please, just give this a chance. I love her."

Butterflies erupted in my stomach. He'd never told me that before. 

The room went quiet for a few seconds. I wondered if they were having a staring match of some sort or just started talking so low that I couldn't hear. 

"I cannot base my life around him. He doesn't want that. He knows that he could leave at any time, then where does that leave me and all the sacrifices I've made?" Jake suddenly said, sounding so burdened that I wanted to run in and hug him. 

I didn't though. 

Instead, I raked my mind trying to make sense of their conversation. Who was Bertha? What was unconventional about them and why was Jake making sacrifices for someone who would end up leaving?

"You look troubled." A voice suddenly said, making me yelp and jump. 

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry, you scared me. I didn't see you approach." I said, hand on my chest trying to ease my fast beating heart.

It was a boy who looked to be around fourteen. Dirty blond hair like Jake's but blue eyes instead of green. The resemblance was an obvious one though.

"No, forgive me. I have a habit of scaring people without wanting to." He said sounding so polite for a kid his age that it shocked me.

"Are you.." I hesitated. Jake had not mentioned that he had a brother, so maybe he was a cousin. It wouldn't make sense for him to hide a brother. "Are you Jake's...brother?" 

He nodded with a smile confirming my suspicions and by doing so, confusing the hell out of me. "I'm Pauly"

"Jade." I replied holding out my hand for him to shake but he just stared at it.

"I don't like being touched." His voice sounded strained when he said this and I dropped my upheld hand. 

I was going to ask why but was cut off by the footsteps of Jake and his parents coming out of the room which I now realized was an office. 

"Jade, you'll have to forgive us for taking so long, we just had some things to sort out. I hope you weren't too bored?" The mother said approaching me with a smile.

As hard as it was to smile back after what I heard, I still managed a small one. "I wasn't bored at all. The view is grand and I was just having a conversation with Pauly." 

I looked behind me to where Pauly was standing, but he was not there anymore. How did this kid do that? Ninja skills?

I looked back at them confused to find them staring at me with shocked faces. But Jake was starting to smile.

"You talked to Pauly?" The dad asked me dumbfounded. 

I nodded. "I wanted to shake his hand but he told me he doesn't like being touched, why is that? And he's got some mad ninja skills too, appears and disappears like he's an air walker." I chuckled but no one seemed amused except Jake. The parents just looked shocked.

"But, but that's impossible." His mother said with a flaky voice. I frowned, confused. Was confusion the theme of the day? 

"He's a weird kid babe." Jake cut in putting his arm around my waist and pulling me close. I felt awkward because we were in front of his parents. "He's going through that phase where he doesn't talk to anyone, playing mute. Barely comes out of his room and also the no touching thing. We haven't heard his voice in months."

Months? 

"Yeah, weird kid. No offense." I quickly added the last part. You know how families are okay about bad mouthing each other but freak out when someone else does it?

"None taken." Mr Drostfurn said smiling weirdly. Okay…..

"Dinner this way." Mrs Drostfurn said in a cheery voice and led the way and we followed.

Being in this house was mentally exhausting.

-

It's been about two months since I first stepped foot in the Drostfurn mansion and my visits had become more regular. 

The first conversation I overheard about them being unconventional was starting to make less sense everyday. They were a perfectly normal family, except for Pauly.

I enjoyed spending time with the kid, he had wisdom beyond his years. We spent most of our time together in the garden or the library.

The family marveled at our connection. I noticed though that not much dialogue passed between them. Mrs Drostfurn babied Pauly a lot, always asking if he needed something and always getting a shaking head in response. Mr Drostfurn joked a bit which Pauly liked. But Jake, he barely ever exchanged words with his brother. They were hardly ever in the same room. 

Pauly liked being alone and the no touch rule still stood. What baffled me was that as jealous as Jake could be, he always pushed me to spend time with Pauly. Always spoke so fondly of him and yet never seemed to spend anytime with him.

The last time I visited the Drostfurn mansion, I found Pauly in the rose garden. Jake was swimming with his friends and I seized the opportunity to disappear for a while. 

"Hey Pauly." I said approaching him. He looked up at me and smiled, patting the space next to him on the stone bench.

"How are you Jade?" He asked with a soft smile. This fourteen year old boy had the gentleness of an old man. I could always see such great wisdom in his eyes.

"I'm good and you? Do you ever do anything normal kids do? Like watch tv or play sports?" I asked humorously. 

He scoffed. "I'd prefer not to. I rather like sitting here and talking to the plants."

"What about your brother?" I couldn't help but ask. It was bugging me and I had never been any good at hiding my curiosity. "You guys don't talk much. Did something happen between the two of you? You're a bit too young to be holding a grudge."

Pauly laughed. Something he didn't do often. "I love my brother and he loves me very much. I know that our relationship baffles you, but that is his story to tell. I assure you that I hold no grudges. Actually, I feel free. He's happy and so are my parents. Your presence has been a blessing. I trust you, and so I'm free."

"What do you mean 'free'? The confusion was back, tenfold.

He smiled. "You'll soon understand. You are a great person. A great friend and girlfriend. I'm glad I got to know you."

"Stop being weird." I rolled my eyes.

I heard Jake calling me and stood to leave. 

"I'm not weird." He said amused.

"Yes you are!" I shouted back while walking away. "What type of fourteen year old says 'baffled' and 'assure'.

His laughter followed me as I turned the corner.

_

I knew something was off when Jake called me at five in the morning telling me to go over immediately. 

I rode my bike over, paddling as fast as I could. My heart was pounding against my chest. Something was wrong.

I got up to the mansion and found the gates and the front door open. The house felt empty but surprisingly light.

I walked into the kitchen to find Mrs Drostfurn seated by the counter. She was dressed beautifully in a white dress and her hair was cascading down her back in waves. She looked beautiful, but her eyes were red and puffy and silent tears ran down her cheek.

"Mrs Drostfurn?" I called out to her. She looked up at me and smiled through her tears. A genuine smile, and as usual, I was confused. 

I walked up to her and she enveloped me in a hug letting out a quiet sob. I just hugged her back, trying to be as comforting as I could be.

"Go to Jake, he's been waiting." She said letting me go. I didn't need to be told twice. I ran up the stairs and barged into his room without knocking.

He was seated at the edge of his bed, head bent into his hands, dressed in a white shirt and white dress pants. All white, again. What was going on?

Then it hit me. I don't know how but I just knew. The realization made my shoulders drop and tears appear in my eyes. I might not have known the details, but I was sure.

"He's gone." I whispered but loud enough for him to hear. He looked up at me, eyes red like his mother's and nodded slowly. 

My tears were released and I just stood there staring at him. He got up and hugged me and I fell into the embrace. I didn't understand, could someone make me understand?

As if hearing my thoughts, Jake took my hand. "Come with us, I need to show you something."

The car ride was quiet. All of us in our own worlds. But all sad. Me, sad and confused. When we pulled into the gates of the grave yard, my heart dropped. This was serious.

I remained quiet as we walked amongst the graves. The sun had just risen and I marvelled at how beautiful the place was. A place filled with sorrow and yet so beautiful. 

Mr and Mrs Drostfurn walked a bit ahead of us so when they stopped at a tombstone, I also stopped walking. Staring ahead at them, my hand held by Jake's, I didn't want to see it.

"My boy, my beautiful beautiful lovely boy." Mrs Drostfurn cried, touching the grave stone. The lump in my throat intensified and the tears ran freely.

Oh Pauly. I just knew.

I watched as Mr Drostfurn hugged his wife, whispering comforting words in her ear. He said something to her and she nodded, then in turn, he nodded to us before pulling her in a different direction. 

"Come on." Jake said tugging at my arm but I didn't move. I didn't want to. It couldn't be.

"Jade please, you'll understand. You'll finally understand."

That propelled me forward. I wanted to understand so badly. When we stood in front of the grave stone, I felt as if my heart stopped. Eyes wide as I read.

 Here lies Paulson Richard Drostfurn

A son, grandson, friend to all.

A loving soul and gentle mind 

May his soul rest in peace 

1990 - 2004

I looked back at Jake in shock. And he seemed to barely be keeping it together. 

"Jake, how?" I said softly. I could not find it in myself to say more.

He sat on the grass and I joined him. Wiping the tears that had fallen. 

"Pauly died when I was six." He looked at me for a reaction but I didn't have any. I was numb. "He was fourteen. That rose garden you always found him in? He loved it. That's where he was found. He had an anaphylaxis allergic reaction to a bee sting. I didn't understand. I went looking for him about thirty minutes later. I thought he was sleeping."

His voice cracked. "I asked him to wake up, shook him. Told him that he had promised to teach me how to swim. I scram. I cried, but he didn't wake up." 

I moved closer to him. Touching his face to comfort him. I was shaking though and he noticed but continued. 

"After the burial, it still didn't register. I was six, I didn't want to believe that I lost my brother. After a week, I decided to go up to his room, they hadn't touched it, everything was just the way he had left it. I just wanted to see him again, so badly, and I went in convinced that I would. And I did. He was seated on the bed waiting for me."

I don't understand 

"I played with him for the first few days. My parents were too sad to notice my happiness or the fact that I talked about him as if he were still around. My mom…" He hesitated  "My mom has always been… gifted."

"Gifted?" I knew what he meant though.

"She's a medium." He confirmed. "She was convinced that Pauly had passed on to the afterlife because she couldn't see him. But he had not, he just didn't want to show himself to them. He stayed for me, he was trapped because he felt that my happiness was his obligation." 

I remembered what Pauly had said the last time we met, about being free. I made Jake happy, he could be free because Jake was happy.

"When he finally showed himself to mom, they had finally understood me. Dad saw him too, it was weird, he didn't have the gift. Mom made it her life's mission to set him free, she loved him, but she didn't want him to remain a trapped soul.

"I grew older. And we lived life as if he were alive but of course it had been anything but normal. Mom brought in other mediums to help her figure it out, but no one could see him. Then there was Robertha."

Bertha. I shifted on the ground, feeling uncomfortable. I'd finally know everything. 

"Bertha was gifted too, daughter of my mom's friend. She didn't see Pauly, but she heard him. I was sixteen. She was my first serious girlfriend and she thought she could set Pauly, set me, free."

"But she couldn't." I said softly.

"We thought she did. She was tired of how obsessed I was with him. I didn't engage in anything outside. I had no social life, I dedicated my life to Pauly. They had an argument. She told him that he could leave, that he was just blocking me and slowing me down from the things I actually wanted to do because I pitied him.

"Pauly disappeared after that argument. We thought she had pushed him to go to the afterlife. I should have been happy but I wasn't. I couldn't take the grieve, I became depressed, I despised Beatrice and broke up with her. My parents were about to put me in therapy but then he came back, weeks later."

"You weren't happy, he couldn't leave." I said and Jake nodded. 

"He told me that as much as the argument had hurt, Beatrice was right. I was alive and he wasn't. I had to live my life. Learn to be happy and not depend on him because he wouldn't always be there. He made me promise. I did. But it also hit me that I'd have to come to terms with losing him again."

"He loved you Jade. He trusted you. You set him free."

I couldn't help but sob, hard. Jake embraced me and I just cried harder. I realized that we were crying over a ghost. I saw a ghost, I talked to one, got attached to one, loved one. A thirty year old ghost, trapped in his fourteen year old self. And I set him free. This was his second funeral, the last one.

"I'm so sorry." I cried, not really sure what I was apologising for.

"No." Jake said, lifting my face to look at him. "This is everything we've ever wanted. For him to be freed, not trapped amongst the living. Even though we cry because we'll miss him, we are happy."

"How, how could I see him?" A new sort of confusion. I wasn't a medium, was I?

"We don't know." He answered standing up. He put his hand on the gravestone and sighed. "Rest easy big bro."

He took my hand and before going I looked back at the gravestone, wiping my tears. Remembering his laughter as I walked away from him the last time. 

Rest easy Pauly. You weren't too weird after all.

[Word Count: 2920]