The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller

by L. B. Simmons

  My heart rate picks up, and before I know it the hanger is hooked over my finger and I’m heading to my room with a ridiculous smile on my face as I bounce off the balls of my feet. Kinda like how Quinn does constantly.

  Shutting myself in my room, I take a deep breath and drape her gown across my bed before turning to glance in the mirror of my dresser. My reflection isn’t much different than when I left the salon, with the exception of makeup applied to my face. My hair is still very blonde, and my cheeks are rosy and warm. Reaching up, I push my bangs away from where they shadow my eyes, surprised at the life that emanates from them—life that I never thought I would find the courage to allow myself to experience.

  Yet, here I am.

  My eyes drift to the left and land on the picture frame on top of my dresser. I pick up the photograph of Kaeleb, Quinn and myself, and my mind reels when I think of how much my life has changed over the last year.

  I remember the day the picture was taken like it was yesterday. Blackened hair with blue ends, those freaking cat-eye contacts, blood red lipstick with my eyes caked in black putty-like shadow, and my face expressionless with the refusal to let myself smile.

  My mouth falls as I set the picture aside, saddened by the person captured in the image. I’ve denied myself so many experiences, so many innate emotions and connections, so many things that constitute…life. So much energy wasted fending off every single thing that was needed to nourish and sustain my soul.

  Hope drowns out the sorrow with one very important conclusion drawn as I look back into the mirror.

  I was dead.

  But now, I am very much alive.

  My eyes rake over the navy dress on the bed and I find myself smiling again because I know for certain that Kaeleb McMadden is the reason. He saved me.

  And he’s on his way over here.

  So I need to get dressed.

  Shimmying out of my cargos and yanking my T-shirt over my head, I jet over to the bed and grab the dress, only to pause in question.

  Does this go over my head? Or do I step into it? And what about my underwear? And bra? What about shoes?

  “Quinn!” I screech. “Help!”

  I’m approaching full panic mode when she finally decides to make her appearance.

  “You okay in there?” she asks through the door.

  “No, I’m definitely not okay. How the hell do I get this thing on, and more importantly, what do I wear under it?” Jesus, who knew being normal would be so difficult.

  “Are you decent?” The knob on the door turns, and I quickly snake a towel off the floor to cover my pitiful excuse for a bra and panty set.

  Quinn enters my room with a freshly filled glass of champagne…laughing at me. But not before handing me a box wrapped in yellow birthday paper with little party hats and slices of cake all over it, topped with the biggest bow I’ve ever seen. Setting the flute on my bedside table, she yells, “Happy birthday…again!”

  “Quinn, the salon was more than enough. I can’t take this from you.” I shake my head and press the present into her pink terrycloth robe, only to have her push the gift back in my direction.

  “You can and you will. Open it.” Sighing outright to note my protest, I tighten the towel around my chest and then take a seat on the bed next to the dress. The bow unfolds slowly as I pull one of the edges and I lay the ribbon beside me before peeling the paper off the box. The solid pink lid and the alternating pink and white stripes of the box underneath it tell me all I need to know.

  Glancing back at her, I give her a shy smile before looking back down and removing the lid. Sitting right on top is a simple cream-colored bra with matching lace lining the edges. I hold it up by the straps, eyeing its beauty. I’ve never had anything so…feminine.

  “What about the straps?” I inquire, still in awe that my friend was able to get my sizing correct without asking me. Which most likely means she raided my boring array of white cotton everything.

  “You can take them off, dope. Look.”

  She takes the bra from my hand and removes the straps, before confirming my suspicions when she strides over to my undie drawer and drops them in. I narrow my eyes in her direction, then lower my stare to the box on my lap. Coordinating panties lie on top of the white tissue paper, and when I pull them out, I’m surprised to find there’s no back to them. Just a half-inch wide piece of fabric.

  My eyebrow rises when she giggles. “Time to try something new, Aubrey. They’re more comfortable than you think. You get used to them,” she adds, grabbing the champagne off the table and handing it to me before stepping toward my doorway.

  “Put them both on under the dress. Then step into the dress.” Her laughter is unconcealed. “Pull it over your hips, and then call me when you’re ready. I’ll zip ya in.”

  She blows me a kiss and disappears before I even have time to thank her.

  I sit in silence for a while, deliberating, before deciding that Quinn is right. It’s time to try something new.

  So after hooking the bra over my chest and situating myself into the panties, I step into the dress and slide it over my hips as instructed, clamping the top underneath my arms before calling her once again.

  After taking another sip of champagne, I fluff and finger through my hair while I wait. She finally returns with a suitcase full of make-up and her own flute of bubbly.

  After tossing the make-up on my bed, she quickly steps behind me and zips me in before I turn to face her.

  She’s fully dressed herself, and I take in her appearance with appreciation. She’s absolutely stunning.

  Her make-up is still the same as earlier, her long, blonde hair twisted in slightly-tousled, relaxed curls, and the light pink dress from before is actually on her body instead of the hanger around her neck. It flows beautifully, the satin hitting her knees as she walks over to my bed.

  It’s no wonder my best friend is the reigning Miss Collegiate America. My face falls as my heart breaks—she can’t see what everyone else does, but inside and out, she’s truly the most beautiful person I’ve ever met.

  Taking a seat on my bed, she curls her feet underneath her legs and points to the space in front of her. “Sit.”

  Schooling my features, I do as I’m told and brush the hair off my shoulders as I take in a relaxing breath. She digs through the mountain of cosmetics in front of me, setting aside an eye shadow palette along with a tube of mascara and lip gloss. She pushes the box aside and scoots closer to me.

  “Close your eyes. Chin up. Don’t move.”

  “Okay,” I breathe, suddenly nervous because I’ve just seen my alarm clock.

  Kaeleb will be here in less than five minutes.

  Breathing anxiously, I shut my eyes and try not to blink when she dabs shadow along the top and bottom of my lids. Her finger brushes lightly against them before she applies more in the crease of my eye. After smudging it a bit, she exhales. “Okay. Open.”

  My eyes open and flutter a bit before settling on her smile. “Gorgeous,” she says before tilting my head back. “Now, don’t blink.” A mascara wand makes its way to my face, and not long after, both sets of lashes are coated with what must be at least the third coat of the day.

  “Perfect.” She pumps the lip gloss a couple of times before giving my lips a healthy application, then sits back and appraises her work.

  A very pleased smile crosses her face as she nods. “You. Look. GORGEOUS!” she shouts as she hands me a mirror. “Kaeleb is going to shit himself! I can’t wait!” She jumps off the bed and grabs her champagne.

  As I examine myself, I have to agree. She did a beautiful job. My eyes look sultry but natural with their shimmery, light-brown shadow, and the deeper brown at the corners make them pop a brighter blue than I ever remember them being. My lips shine with a nude gloss just like hers, and they lift into a relieved smile before I set the mirror aside and accept the champagne she offers.

  “Thank you so much, Quinn. This day has been…unbelievable. And I o
we it all to you. You have no idea.” My voice trembles a bit with the admission, because she really has no idea what she’s done for me today.

  I feel normal.

  A normal girl, about to have a normal birthday celebration with her friends, in a normal (albeit spectacular) dress, with normal hair and make-up.

  The only thing that’s missing is a pair of normal shoes.

  “Shoes! I need shoes!” I exclaim.

  “No, you don’t.” Quinn giggles and reaches for the knob of my bedroom door.

  “What? Why wouldn’t I need shoes?”

  That makes no sense.

  She’s drunker than I thought.

  That’s it, I’m officially hiding the champagne.

  “You’ll see,” she says just as there’s a knock at the front door.

  She winks. “Trust me. Just, stay in here. Don’t come out until someone comes to get you.”

  After Quinn quietly shuts the door behind her, I remain seated. As the sounds of Kaeleb’s murmur filters into my room, a nervous excitement flitters through my belly and spreads into my chest. My joy takes flight and I breathe in deeply, contentment pumping enthusiastically with each thrumming heartbeat.

  Damn, it feels good to be alive

  .

  I don’t have to wait for long. After a very loud squeal from Quinn in the other room, there’s a knock at my door. My pulse kicks up and I rise from the bed, smoothing out my dress. With a glance in the mirror, I pluck a couple of sections of my new hair with my fingers and set them back into place. “Come in,” I remark, turning in the direction of the door.

  The handle turns and as Kaeleb pokes his head around the corner, his eyes find mine. His eyebrows rise as his mouth falls slightly open, and he breaks my gaze as his focus shifts to take in my hair, my exposed neck and the line of my dress. He holds his stare briefly at the crystalline sash lining my waist, and then slowly drifts down to my smoothly-shaven legs and perfectly painted toenails. The left side of his mouth quirks up as he clears his throat, frozen in place. He tears his scrutiny away from my feet to fully step into the room, then turns away from me to shut the door.

  I take advantage of the 1.5 seconds his back is turned, and survey him from head to toe. His light-blue button-up is folded to his elbows, displaying the prominence of the flexed muscles along his forearms. As he places both palms on the door and leans into them, his shirt rides up enough for me to see the designs on the back pockets of his dark jeans. They hug his ass perfectly, and for the first time in my life, I want to slide my hands right into those pockets just to feel the hardness of his toned body.

  My fingers itch with the need to touch him, but I maintain control while Kaeleb braces against the door, inhaling and exhaling deeply. He stays planted there for a few more seconds until I suddenly begin to feel self-conscious. I run my hands over my hair and dress to make sure everything is as it should be.

  Just as I start to ask him if he’s all right, he whips around with a full smile on his face. A few long strides later, and he’s standing right in front of me. Raising both hands, he traces the tips of his fingers along the sides of my cheeks, leaving a scorching trail as they run down my neck and thread themselves into the hair at my nape. With his thumbs underneath my chin, he tilts my head back and looks me directly in the eyes.

  “You look amazing, Sunshine. Truly breathtaking.” His head dips slightly and he runs his lips tentatively along mine, the movement so sensual I can’t keep my hands off of him any longer. Fisting his shirt in my hands, I pull him into me and press my mouth hard against his, the need to taste him overriding my caution. A whimper rises in my throat and escapes into his mouth as his tongue slides in between my lips, slowly and deliberately, taking his time to stroke and caress mine. His hold tightens as his fingers curl deeper into my hair, the tinge of pain sending shockwaves of pleasure coursing through my body until they land right in between my legs, the throbbing sensation growing with each strike.

  After another gentle sweep of his tongue, he lessens the kiss and pulls back slightly. His lips brush against mine before they slide over to the corner of my mouth, up along my cheek, and then rest them against my ear as he breathes, “Happy birthday. The dress is phenomenal.”

  I smile, and as his cheek presses into mine, I know he’s smiling too.

  “Thank you,” I reply, my voice deep and throaty. His chest shakes as he chuckles, finally releasing me and taking a step back. His fingers are warm as they trace the skin of my neck and journey down my arm, leaving a rash of goose bumps in their wake. Once they glide over my wrist, he takes my hand into his, lifting it in the air as he twirls me around.

  Silence fills the room as I spin slowly. As I finish the turn and our eyes meet, he breathes out a sigh and lowers my hand but doesn’t let go. “Damn, Bree. I just can’t get over it. You look—”

  “I know,” I cut him off. “I look like Aubrey again.”

  “No,” he stutters, “I mean, yeah, you do. But it’s just…the girl I lost all those years ago is standing right in front of me. It’s a bit surreal.”

  A blush creeps into my cheeks as I instinctively run my fingers over the material of the dress. Fanning it out at the bottom, I respond, “I’m pretty sure I didn’t wear dresses like this when I was eight years old.”

  He shakes his head and laces his fingers through mine. “No, you didn’t.”

  Tightening his grip, he draws my body flush against his and nuzzles his nose into my neck. His lips tickle my skin as he adds, “But you should’ve. It would have been a nice change to see you in something other than your ratty jeans and oversized Super Mario Bros. T-shirt in my dreams.”

  I remember that shirt. I wore it all the time.

  My nose crinkles and I pull away from him as an inquisitive grin forms on my face.

  “Really?” I ask. “You dreamt about me?”

  He nods slightly as his eyes rake over the dress before meeting mine. “I did.”

  His hand tightens around mine before he speaks. “You were my best friend, Bree. My only friend.” I watch as his peaceful expression transforms into one tinged with regret. “That night, the night you were taken away, wasn’t one I could forget. You just weren’t the girl I knew any more. Your eyes were so…empty. Not the eyes that I recognized. It was like you were gone before they even took you.”

  I allow his words to flood my mind, successfully expelling the memory as soon as it emerges.

  Kaeleb shrugs innocently. “I was worried about you. I needed to know that you were okay, but unfortunately, I never got my answer. I think a part of me held to that need because sometimes, over the many years, a little girl with blonde hair would sneak into my dreams wearing a very familiar Mario Bros. T-shirt, with her big blue eyes full of life and smiling like she used to. Like I remembered. Like you are now, in fact.”

  Right on cue, a smile breaks across my face and I watch as his troubled features morph into a comforted grin. “That’s what I can’t get over. Because in this moment, you are quite literally my dream come true.”

  A gasp lodges in my throat, his words stealing not only my breath, but my heart. Casting me a knowing look, he adds, “Like I said, absolutely breathtaking.”

  Still unable to speak, I do the best I can to demonstrate my gratitude for his beautiful words. Pressing up on my tiptoes, I kiss him heartily on the mouth, just as another weird yip comes from the living room. I drop back down onto my heels and continue to smile as I ask, “What’s going on out there?”

  Kaeleb laughs and finally releases my hand. He drapes his arm over my shoulder as he guides me to the door. As he reaches toward the handle, he leans into me, and his breath fans my ear as he whispers, “Ready for your present?”

  My grin stretches from ear-to-ear as I look up at him and nod. After a quick brush of his lips across my forehead, he gives me a wink and opens the door. Removing his arm, he takes both of my hands in his, and pulls me so that I’m forced directly behind him. As we exit, Quinn’s giggles fill th
e air as we approach her, and Kaeleb drops his hold with a slight squeeze to indicate that I should stay put behind him.

  “Boo! I wanna play!” Quinn pouts as she hands him what I assume is my gift, and I watch as Kaeleb’s head dips a bit, nestling what is now in his arms. He pivots slowly, turning on his heel, and when my eyes fall to what he’s holding, a breath stills in my throat.

  Because there, cuddled up ever-so-comfortably in his arms, is a puppy.

  But not just any puppy.

  This puppy is the spitting image of Walter.

  A lump forms when I try to swallow and my eyes spring tears as I look him over. Same golden fur, same deep set brown eyes, same black whiskers poking out of the fur-covered bumps on his cheeks. Same everything.

  And as I stare at him, one single realization crosses my mind.

  Kaeleb not only gave me life again, but it seems he unknowingly brought Walter along for the ride.

  Talk about surreal.

  Moisture continues to build in my eyes with the thought, causing Kaeleb’s brow to furrow deeply. “Are you okay?” he asks, as I lift my trembling hand to stroke the puppy’s soft fur on top of his head. He nuzzles my fingers with his cold nose before opening his mouth to gnaw on the tips. I wipe away the tear that runs down my face before giving a sniffle, and tear my burning eyes away from the puppy and direct them at Kaeleb. His head slants slightly to the left, clearly not understanding my reaction.

  “Can I hold him?” My voice is shaky and unsure as I extend my arms. Kaeleb, still a bit thrown, silently hands him over, and once he’s comfortably situated I draw him close to my chest, hugging him back and forth as he licks my mouth and nose. A giggle escapes me and I smile back down at him.

  Puppy breath.

  Love.

  Once the puppy is done bathing my face, I kiss him gently on top of his head and look up at Kaeleb, who’s still watching me curiously.

  “He’s…perfect,” I say, waterworks still brimming in my eyes. Kaeleb’s brow dips as he wipes another tear away from my cheek.