Gone

"It's okay, it's okay...Don't look down, just look at me."

"Jack...I'm scared!"

"I know, I know. But you're gonna be alright…You're not gonna fall in."

Mary walked over to the frozen lake. The sun reflected off of the smooth surface and the surrounding snow making it sparkle in the sunlight. She stood at the edge of the lake and a cold breeze blew through the air, a light trail of snowflakes flew through the winds. She sighed. Winter was Jack's favorite season.

She sat down on a log and stared at the lake that laid in front of her. The last place she saw her brother before he…

Mary wiped at her eyes before the tears began to fall. She couldn't do it. She wouldn't. She wouldn't face the horrible truth that her beloved brother was gone. It had been a year since he had saved her from falling through the ice, and Mary still couldn't—wouldn't—believe that he was gone.

Mary's friends had tried their best to comfort her. She was grateful that they were trying to help but the empty space in her heart and family would never be fulfilled. It was just her and her mother Irina now. Her father had died when she was only one.

And then Jack had to go next. And too soon.

Jack had been the man of the house ever since their father died, but now he was gone. Mary was ten, and she did her best to help around the house. Her mother was tired and weary after a long day of working, but the other villagers had been so kind to them to help out, but still, things just weren't the same without Jack around. Mary remembered how he would always make her laugh, how he comforted her when she was sad or scared, or how he was always there for her and her mother. Mary buried her head in her hands. She missed him. She missed him so much.

That empty space. The space that Jack fulfilled with his love and laughter...was empty.

Why did he have to do that? thought Mary. But she already knew the answer. It was because he loved her, and he was her brother. It was his job to protect her. He wanted her to live a long, happy life.

"What kind of a brother would I be if I didn't take care of you?"

"A bad one!"

"Exactly."

Mary looked up and stared out at the lake. Even just going there, she could feel as if Jack was sitting right next to her.

"You have to believe in me."

"Jack...I miss you. We all do," said Mary in a quiet voice. "I just can't believe you're...Gone."

Mary felt the tears run down her cheeks but she kept going.

"I know you're probably doing great up there with Papa...So...Tell him I said hi and that I love him, okay?"

The wind whistled around Mary and the branches swayed. Fractals of frost crawled across the lake's surface and Mary couldn't help but smile. Winter was a beautiful season, and Jack always said that it was his season because he was born during the wintertime.

"I should probably get back," said Mary. "But I'll come visit again soon. Promise." she paused and then added, "You'll just have to believe in me."

Mary stood up and it began to snow. A single snowflake nipped at her nose and Mary felt an overwhelming feeling of joy wash over her and she laughed. It had been the first time she had laughed in a long, long time.

"Bye, Jack!" cried Mary happily out to the lake, and ran down the trail that led back to the village and toward her house.

And even though she couldn't hear or see him, a white haired boy with cerulean blue eyes standing on top of his shepherd's crook in the center of the frozen lake, laughed back.