Kalum's Grave

**Aileen POV**

Another month passed and I had barely heard from Devon. He was constantly busy and I knew from our phone calls he was hiding something from me. Instead of spending all my time sulking around the Hemmer household, I decided to visit the man who has always been there for me. Today was the perfect day.
Today was the first day of Spring. In my dimension, the first day of Spring would be equivalent to a major holiday here. A huge celebration was always held welcoming change and warmth. A festival was also held for all citizens of Lutz. Every year all the other kids grew restless waiting for candy apples, pretty banners, special sugar drinks, and the parade of the royal guard and family. None of that was what excited me the most this day each year.
I walked up the grassy hill to where Father had shown me Kalum was buried. In my right hand was a small basket and in the left a little purple blanket. Sure enough, on top of the hill laid Kalum's tombstone. I was a little upset he would rest here for eternity rather than home. After Lena and Tom return, I would be unable to visit him for five years. Could people in heaven watch down on their loved ones in different dimensions? That bridge my body was flung through all those years ago; perhaps the souls of the deceased could pass it at will? I chose to believe yes. Mother and Kalum would find each other on the other side of the pearly gates. They would both be watching Father and I from the other side.
It amazed me even as a child how an entire life could be summed up in a small passage engraved into a slab of stone. With me being trapped with Shiuku, I had no way of knowing what was written on his tombstone until today. Everytime I asked Father, he would smile and tell me to read it myself. So here I was, on the first day of Spring, seated on a soft blanket reading Kalum's legacy; all this dimension would ever know of the incredible man resting six feet below this very spot. My fingers traced each letter etched in the stone.
'Sir Kalum, a selfless friend to all and amazing Father to one. Anyone would have been blessed to know him. He left this world protecting those he loved. May Kalum find everlasting peace and love in Heaven.' Before I had even gotten here, someone had left flowers and a letter on his grave.
I smiled rereading the engraving over and over again. It took me a dozen times repeating the words in my head for me to continue.
I brought out the little basket and pulled out two small glasses. Carefully, I filled them with juice. Next I grabbed two plates and put a couple of sandwiches and cookies Mrs. Hemmer had made for me.
I whispered to his tombstone, "I remembered all these years later Kalum." My mind went back to the memory of Spring Festive Day after my sixth birthday. "Do you remember? You escorted Mother, Father, and I to Spring Festive Day. My family all waved at the large crowd in the Inner Capitol. Soon after we arrived Father met with Lord Fredrickson. That was the first time Mother's illness showed too. We all assumed that she just had a common weather shift illness. We had know idea how bad it would get in the years to come. I was really upset at the time because Mother had to be escorted to the Lord's mansion and Father was with Lord Fredrickson. All the other kids were enjoying sugar drinks with their parents and I was alone. I was already having spells of depression inside the castle walls. Being around other kids having fun with their parents made everything worse. Do you remember what you did?"
I paused as if he could actually answer me. Despite not being hungry, I took a nibble on my sandwich for old times.
"You grabbed my hand and led me to a merchant selling sloppy gooey sandwiches and 'candy water'. You told me to keep quiet since Father would never permit me to eat peasant food. I was supposed to wait until the banquet the Lord was holding for us. We went up on a hill and ate sneakily. I was so happy and carefree. Do you remember how many times I thanked you after hugging you?"
The answer was six. "Every year after that we promised to sneak away from the royal family and nobles. Every year we were successful. We would go to a booth, get something greasy or sugary and sit together. That was one of the first things I missed when I got here. The first Spring here, I cried in my room and refused to come out. Eventually Trevor got annoyed with my 'rude' behavior and sat the information out of me. And yeah I mean he literally sat on me, threatening to unleash disgusting deadly farts, until I told him. That led to one of the first nice things my brother did for me. The next few years, we went to the park and watched the change of the seasons together with a small picnic; just the two of us."
A gentle breeze blew my hair back. It was probably my imagination, but the wind almost felt like Kalum was holding me; just as he had so many lonely nights when I was a kid. I brought a hand to my heart and smiled sweetly. Real, or not; I could feel the security being near him always offered.
"I wish you were here to see how much I've grown. You know, I'm no longer trying to copy Father. I finally decided to be my own person." Kalum had told me several times as a child how great I could become. He would tell me that my strength and Father's were completely different. I knew he was disappointed every time I pretended to be someone I wasn't. Kalum always believed in me and how great I could become. Well, after ten years I have finally taken his good advice.
A lone tear ran down my cheek. Quickly I wiped it away with the sleeve of my jacket. I had mentally promised myself that I wouldn't cry today. All I wanted was to enjoy a last Spring Celebration with my dearest friend and Father figure, Kalum.
"I was able to defeat Sir Alaric at last too. While I'll never be completely rid of his voice, I can now fight back. He no longer cripples me, nor do his friends. I did it, Kalum. I actually did it."
There were words I could never say to him back then that I just had to now. There were so many depressing days where I longed to tell him, but was too broken myself to speak. Honestly, despite what the maids told me, I think what happened to me was the reason Kalum started taking 'Flower Happiness'. It was to cope with a failure he didn't make.
"I was the one who didn't listen to you. You had a bad feeling about Alaric and I still wanted him to be my personal guard. I know that you told Father you didn't trust him. After you two spoke, I told Father that you were just jealous that you weren't my personal guard. He really did have me fooled though. I can't tell you how many little dolls and sweets he bribed me with. There was nothing more you could have done to prevent the inevitable. Besides, you were the one to pay the ransom and escort me back home. You holding me close was the only thing that kept me sane."
So many times Kalum had been the one to comfort me. I could always rely on him. If anything, I should be the one feeling guilty. His death was directly because of his relationship with me. He wasn't blood related and Shiuku knew Jacob killing him would fill me with rage. "Would you have wanted me to avenge you? I let Jacob live. You were never one for revenge, so I hope you can understand a bit."
So many had suffered because of me. Sekai informed me Devon was abused more frequently when it came to Shiuku's attention that I was his true love. Father had been injured gravely twice because of me and Sam had been abducted. That's not to mention the girl Sam was with at the time. That girl is dead.
Father's words surfaced to the top of my brain. 'Guilt is the heaviest of emotions. You cannot carry it with you everyday or it will sink you before you gray.' Father was an advocate for moving on. Nothing stops time, nothing stops a member of the Lutz royal family.
"Kalum, you were an incredible man. What is that saying? The good die early? Well you were taken up to God's realm too soon. You will always be missed and loved. I'll carry your memory in my heart. I won't let you fade."
The Spring sun was warming my cheeks, making my face red. The light breeze blew particles that stung at my eyes.
Memories of all the times Kalum had made me laugh flashed one after the other in my mind. The times he pretended to be a mighty dragon, so I could slay him, the times he read to me when my parents were busy, and all the secret lessons in self-defense he gave me behind Father's back; all of them were precious treasures to me.
"I love you Kalum. Thank you for everything." I kissed the smooth stone above the graving of his name.
I was so lost in my memories of Kalum and I; I hadn't realized someone had come up behind me.
A soft hand touched my shoulder. I cocked my head to the side only to see Devon. He was no longer in a wheelchair, but instead was supporting himself on crutches.
For once Devon cut me off before I could speak. "I need to speak with Kalum first. Then we can talk."