The Opposite Of Good

E P I L O G U E

She chuckled "First of all, nice suit there Jus, and secondly, I don't need to inform you when I'm coming. In fact, you should be happy to see me."

I sighed "Okay fine. What're you watching? And where are my parents?" I asked as I took off the jacket of the suit and threw it somewhere on the couch. I adjusted my tie and rolled up my sleeves.

"Your mom went to the mall for some missing ingredient and your dad is in the bedroom or something." She finally let go of the remote after putting the tv on some reality show.

She exhaled loudly before turning her head to me. "So am I invited to your book release next week Jus?"

"Don't you have work to get to?" Tiffany works part time at a bakery that her mom owns while she's studying in Juilliard.

She gasped "So you were not gonna invite me because you assumed I have work? Well, it's my mother's place so I can take a day off anytime, it's not like she will fire me or anything. And I wouldn't miss your book release for the world, incase you don't know that already."

I rolled my eyes playfully "I wonder why that is."

She poked my arm "Because you Jus, are the best author I know."

That time I only have one book out so far.

"Yeah whatever. I need to go shower now." I utter before standing up.

Tiff laughs before turning her attention to the television when I leave.

I head upstairs, into my bedroom before using my bathroom to shower.

My body feels much more relaxed and more appreciative once I'm done. I wrap my towel around myself before exiting the now steamy room. I put on some dark gray sweatpants and a white long sleeve Calvin Klein t-shirt that Tiffany got me for my twenty first birthday earlier this year. It's very cold and snowing outside but the thermostat keeps the house warm so sweaters aren't really necessary.

My eyes catch the big framed picture I put on the wall of my room. A picture of Amara and I. There's one next to the desk too, where I mostly sit and write. Her picture is close by, stuck to the wall because I like to think about her whenever I write. I don't need a picture to remind me of her but having it there is just for me to see her in front of me.

I hear a soft knock on the door before it pushes open and Tiffany walks in.

She has been in my bedroom countless times before which was to mostly pester me.

"Your mother is back and guess who's here too. Nicholas."

"You can just call him Nick."

"Yeah but Nicholas is much better. Besides, I don't like shortening people's names." She counters and I laugh. This girl has to be out of her mind.

"That's actually funny because you shorten my name and you once asked me to call you Tiff instead of Tiffany."

She smiles "Don't believe everything I say, for half of my speech is false."

"Stop quoting my book."

"Hey that's a pretty phenomenal line Elias says there."

"Let's just get out of my room now, I need to see my brother." I say and gently push her out of my bedroom.

The night is spent with us having dinner, laughing at some jokes and watching some movies together before going to sleep.

******

"Jus! Jus wake up! It's Christmas!"

Maybe I was dreaming, but feeling my shoulder constantly being shaken shows that I'm definitely not.

"Go away Tiffany, Christmas comes every year." I groan before tucking myself in more under these warm blankets.

"No you have to wake up now. We have to open the gifts." She says and takes the blanket off my body. Cold engulfs me.

I sit up and glare at her.

"What the fuck? I'm still sleeping Tiffany, you're not four to be jumping on my bed this early Christmas morning. Seriously, grow the fuck up." I say feeling annoyed before getting off the bed and shutting the door once I'm in my bathroom.

My sleep is gone so I run the shower, feeling something on my chest. I take more time than necessary and when the water starts getting cold, I turn it off.

The heaviness in my chest still hasn't gone away once I finish showering.

I really don't know why I'm feeling this way but I feel so empty right now.

When I enter my room, Tiffany is still seated on the bed. I hear light sobs coming from her and I frown.

Did I make her to cry on Christmas?

I walk over to her and gently place my hand on her shoulder. She tenses and I see her hand quickly wiping her face.

"You're crying?" I softly ask.

"No. I wasn't. I should probably leave and give you space to change." She notices I'm only wearing a towel when she turns and gets off the bed. I hold her wrist when she begins to walks away.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier. I'm just feeling not in the mood, the fact that it's Christmas is setting me off."

She turns to look at me with concern. "Why?"

I sit on the bed "I miss her so much. I never even got to spend just one Christmas with her. The universe took her away from me before I could have that feeling of sharing Christmas with her, or more days than the ones we've spent together."

Spending any holidays was hard because they are a time to spend close to those you love. I don't have her with me anymore.

Tiffany's hand rests on my shoulder as a tear escapes my eye and I quickly wipe it off. I hate breaking down.

"She's still with you even though you can't see her. Remember?"

I nod.

"I'm just saying I miss her so much. I'm gonna miss her all my life." My voice sounds like a whisper.

Tiffany wrapped her hands around my neck and sat next to me, pulling me to her. We stay like that for a while until I start feeling cold.

"Just know that she's missing you too." She mutters and I chuckle.

"Yeah, I'll be alright."

I move from our position before getting up to get dressed. I walk into the closet and wear some warm clothes before getting out with an extra sweater.

"Okay I'm all ready for all the Christmas duties and what not." I say and hand Tiffany my sweater. When she wear it, it's too big on her but she looks cute. She loves oversized clothes anyway, most of her clothes don't fit her.

She smiles brightly "I have this amazing gift I got for you, wait till you see it. You'll love me forever Jus." She says excitedly as we walk out of my room to the living room where everyone else is.

The room is warm, not in terms of temperature but in terms of love as everyone hugs and wishes each other a merry Christmas. I love my family, I love Amara, and I love my life now.

It was shit in the beginning, but now it's sort of making up for all the things it put me through, except it can't bring back my only love but I'll live.

You know when they say that there's light at the end of the tunnel? I think I'm in that tunnel now.

* * * * * *

Thanks to everyone for reading. You deserve a freaking gold medal for getting through this story and I hope you enjoyed it. Ily.

-Jass.
❤