Black Parade

"I GOT IN! I GOT IN!"

We all ran into Blue's room and I wasn't surprised when we saw her jumping up and down. It's been a few weeks since Mint got out of the hospital and thankfully, she was back to normal now thanks to Mark and his blood.

"Where did you get in, sweetie?"

"Astral. I'm going to Astral now, mom. I passed the exam and interview!"

I smiled and watched them congratulate Blue. I was really happy that I had to witness her success and she was finally moving away to a better city to fulfill her dreams. I am really glad and happy for her. Tears were almost falling from her eyes in glee.

Just like that, she was set to leave three days later. We were in the airport together as we wait for her flight and when it was time to say good bye, I couldn't help but feel sad all of a sudden. The time I spent with her was enough to build the relationship I didn't have with my older sister in my Earth. I lost her on my Earth and now I'm losing her in this Earth too.

"No crying. The person who cries won't receive any package by the end of every month." Blue said but I couldn't help but feel the sting over my eyes so I try to stop it. I chuckled but my heart was sad in reality. Sending off someone you really got close to is the most devastating thing in the world.

After the long hugs and heart-warming messages to her, she turns to me. "Take care of mom and dad, and Mint, okay? I won't be around anymore so be responsible."

I nodded and smiled before she hugged me for the last time.

Blue walked away with her luggage waving at us. Mom couldn't stop crying and Mint and I were obviously stopping our tears from falling. It's already a sad scenario so we shouldn't make it sadder than it already is.

"The problem we're going to run into in creating a 'plausible' portal in the space time continuum - we don't actually know what spacetime is." Mrs. Dee said shaking her head.

"But spacetime exists. We know that it has properties. We know that it can be curved and twisted by sufficient mass." I said trying to lift her spirit up. I wanted to build the portal with her. I needed to get back to my own Earth but I have to find Black before anything.

"Yes, and if you get enough mass in one place, you can create what is essentially a discontinuity in the universe - a place where two parts of the universe are causally disconnected from one another."

I nodded. "A black hole."

"The only thing we know to be able to manipulate spacetime is mass. All mass causes spacetime to curve, and a spinning mass causes a kind of twisting motion in space as well." She draws a circle in her notebook.

"Frame Dragging,"

"If we're going with what is known to exist in the universe, the only way to create a tear in spacetime is with enough mass, spinning fast enough. The amount of mass would be truly immense - far greater than a galaxy."

Like any other Saturday, I head out to continue my search for Black but I still couldn't because I barely know Berklin now. If I leave here without Black, it would hurt my pride to leave her lovely family in here without a daughter. They already lost Blue so they should at least get Black back – I have to get Black back.

I was still awake that night finishing a floor plan when the door from downstairs opened. I went down and saw my father collapse. He looked tired so I went to the kitchen to make him coffee. When I did, I went back to the living room and gave it to him. "You're still up?" he asks and sits back up.

I nodded. "I'm finishing my floor plan, dad."

He nods and takes a sip of the coffee. "Don't tire yourself too much okay? Again, we only need you to be healthy. We're not asking for you to be the best at everything."

I smiled and bobbed my head.

He pats the space next to him so I sat and turned to him. "You're very special, you know that right? You don't have to change for people to accept you because people will accept you for who you are."

I looked down.

"You know, sweetie, you don't have to be alone all the time. You always have your mother, your sisters, me. You can talk to us anytime about anything and we'll always listen to you. Remember that. We love you, princess." He kisses my head and gives me a tight hug.

"RON! RON!"

My eyes shot up when I heard my mother screaming. I looked at my wall clock and it read 3:14 in the morning. I rose form my bed and ran to where mother was screaming so loud. I scanned the room and she continuously shook my father's body.

"Ron, please! Wake up! Ron!"

That moment, I was just frozen in my place unable to move. I was terrified of what was happening right before my eyes. I didn't know what to do.

"Go get help! RON! RON!"

Mint and I ran out of the house and knocked on our neighbors' door for help. I was running out of breath and I didn't know what was happening. All I could think of was my father. My hands couldn't stop trembling from the worry I was feeling. I was so scared of thinking about unpleasant things.

A man I didn't know examines his body and he lifts up my dad to his car. We drove to the nearest hospital and they transfer him in an emergency bed. I held my hands together to stop them from shaking but I couldn't stay still. I was so nervous of what was happening.

"Black, will dad be okay?"

I turned to Mint, body feeling cold and shaking. "He will. He's strong. He's our dad after all."

We both stand up when mother walks out of the entrance crying, shaking her head. "He's gone. He's gone. Ron's gone. He's gone..."

My heart squeezed tight and I couldn't explain the feeling I was getting in my stomach. I hugged mother and cried when she starts crying. My heart felt like it was stabbed many times and I couldn't come to accept that he's gone just like that while I'm here as Black.

I stood in front of my father's tomb crying. Suddenly, memories I had with my dad on this Earth came flashing in my head and I couldn't help but let my tears freely go down my face. I still couldn't believe that he was gone – he died without any warning and to think that I never really told him I loved him – which I'm sure Black never did before as well – is making me so guilty.

I should have told him I loved him. I should have told him that he's important to me too like that way he made me feel. I should have done the things that daughters and father's do. I should have at least danced with him for the last time. "Dad,"

I freely let go of the black balloon I had with me and watched it fly away and gone into the bright blue sky. I hope this reaches you, Dad.

I was spacing out during my class when tears fell down my eyes all of a sudden. Ally and my friends didn't talk to me that day too because I knew myself I needed time for myself. I was just sitting by the bench alone and miserable.

"Your dad wouldn't like to see you like this."

I turned my head and saw Mark. "It's strange because he's not my real father but it was really painful when I personally had a talk with him before he died."

He sighs and sits next to me. "Because he's still your father. Whether you're from this Earth or not, he's still your father."

Every time I remember dad, I couldn't hide the pain and my tears just roll down my face. I know I shouldn't be this affected but the connection we had even if we're not really related on this Earth, is strong. "He cared for me unlike my real father and that little time we had was enough for me to feel what it's like to have a father."

I looked at him when his hands made their way to mine. "Black never cried like this before." He squeezed my hands tight. "Stay strong. Everything will be okay, Violet." Black was a stronger girl than me, I guess.

"Losing a person like that— Why is it so sudden? He doesn't deserve to die. Why did they take him away from this family – my family? Black's family."

Mark pulled me in for a hug. "You still have your real father in your Earth. That's why you need to figure out how your teacher built the portal. You still have everyone in your Earth. Be strong for your father, Violet. Be strong for your own family."

I nodded and tried to stop crying.

"You remind me of the reasons why I first liked Black so much but every day, she just keeps getting worse. Every day, she transforms into a different person. I almost forgot how much I liked her as Violet before she began calling herself Black."

I stared at Mark unsure if it was even the right time to be talking about things like these. I gulped and looked away awkwardly.

He looks at me then smiles. "That's why I'm very grateful that I was at least given the chance to meet you again, Violet."