The man in the photo

A few days have passed, and the mysterious stairs remained silent gathering dust and Bethany and Gertrude hadn't discussed moving any further, but was going a head without conversation. Reluctantly Bethany was helping to clear out old rooms that hadn't been used in a long time; dust was flying everywhere as they opened trunks and began taking objects out from within. An old lamp with a broken bulb, candelabras, bed sheets and a bunch of paperwork.

Going further into the trunk she found pictures and began inspecting them

"who is that?"

She asked hoping to liven up this cleaning spree

"That was my god mother, she was best friends with my mum from childhood to death"

Content with the reply she flicks to the next photo not needing to ask again, she new who that was staring back at her

"You can keep that, I know your mum would want you to have her wherever you go"

Placing the old photo of her mother in her 20's into a separate pile away from everything else and goes to place the remaining photos on top of her aunts godmother photo when she stops and jumps up and starts tugging on Gertrude's dress sleeve.

"Who is that?"

Bethany starts bellowing

"That was my brother. Your uncle. He died years ago. Never quite new what he wanted to do with his life. Wasn't the best sort of person."

Bethany stood wide eye at the notion of the man in the photo being dead and a bad person when he is exactly the man from upstairs, granted he had eyes that looked as if he could see for miles away, but it was him.

"if your brother was alive what would you say to him"

Asking and eagerly waiting for her response.

"Oh, I don't know, that I miss him"

As if she was expecting more her face turns to almost disbelief

"and that's it?"

Gertrude fed up with this line of questioning snaps

"what more can I say, he is dead, and I can't imagine him being alive. I'm not like you I don't see what there isn't, stop trying to change how things are"

Gertrude exits the room heading for the staircase when she is halted once again by a tugging at her dress sleeve.

"What if he were alive?"

She repeats trying to sound earnest but ends up sounding irksome

"Stop it, just stop it!"

Gertrude spins around to face Bethany

"you don't understand, I'll show you"

Trying to grab her aunts hand but is swiftly rejected, Gertrude proceeds to step back while avoiding all attempts at being whisked away by her niece's hand.

The chiming of the hall clock rings a moment of truth as Bethany realizes the situation that is about to transpire in front of her. There stands Gertrude teetering on the stair way steps, ding went the next chime as she is now rolling; chimes continue ringing in Bethany's ears as she is stuck watching.

Suddenly the chimes stop and staring down at her is the motionless body of Gertrude.

"Oh no, no, no, what have I done"

Running down the stairs stumbling to her aunt's side, she tries to resuscitate her but is fruitless in her attempts. Running up the stairs heading for the mysterious stairs unsettling the dust that has accumulated in her absence. Clinging to the walls for support as she lugs herself up to the not so distant room hoping someone will be on the other side.

"Please help"

There the man stands, just standing; How can a man look so bright yet the sky behind looks extremely dark as a storm starts rumbling in. One tear can be seen glistening on his cheek as he stares blankly right through her towards the stairs.

Was he completely ready to leave these four walls that have become his home, his entire world?