her favorite bench
Chapter 1: Her Favorite Bench
Hi, my name is Aubrey James.
I come from a small town called Willow Creek, tucked away in California. It’s quiet — too quiet sometimes. Trees line every street, and everyone knows your name, whether you like it or not.
I live with my family — my mom, Melissa James, my dad, David James, and my older brother, Ethan James. He’s just one year older than me, so not much of a big deal.
We fight a lot — about snacks, the remote, whose turn it is to take out the trash — but at the end of the day, we always come back to each other.
He’s the best brother I could ever dream of.
Of course, I always wanted a little sister… but instead, I have something just as close.
My cousin, Rachel, has lived with us since I could talk.
She moved in after her parents passed away.
Her mom — my aunt — died during childbirth, and her dad — my uncle — died in a car accident not long after.
It was the kind of heartbreak you don’t forget.
But my mom made a promise to her brother — Rachel’s dad — to take care of his family no matter what.
And she did.
She never treated Rachel any different from Ethan or me.
To me, Rachel’s not just a cousin.
She’s my sister.
And my best friend.
We’ve been through everything together.
But when we turned 14, we lost someone else.
Grandma.
She was our last living grandparent — and the heart of our family.
She used to bake with us on rainy days, sneak us chocolate before dinner, and braid our hair before school.
She always said, “Dying is just a vacation for the soul — and I plan to rest with peace and style.”
It didn’t help much when she was actually gone.
I didn’t sleep for a week.
I didn’t want to start high school.
And tomorrow… it starts anyway.
“AUBREY, RACHEL, ETHAN! Dinner’s ready!”
Mom’s voice echoed through the house like always — strong, full of love, and just a little annoyed.
I got out of my room and walked downstairs.
First me. Then Dad. Then Ethan.
We were all waiting at the table — except Rachel.
Mom called again, “Rachel, honey! It’s a school night. It’s getting late!”
Still nothing.
“I’ll check on her,” I offered.
“Thanks, honey,” Mom said softly.
I made my way toward Rachel’s room, ready to knock, but paused.
Her door was slightly open.
Clothes were scattered on the floor.
And then I saw her — outside.
Sitting on Grandma’s favorite bench.
The one near the front porch, under the old tree that still smells like lavender in the fall.
I stepped outside and sat next to her quietly.
“Hey,” I whispered. “What are you doing out here?”
She didn’t look at me. Just said,
“Tomorrow’s the first day of high school.”
“I know,” I whispered.
Rachel’s voice cracked.
“Remember how Grandma used to do our hair for the first day? Pick our dresses? She promised to drive us…”
She started crying, her voice small like the wind.
I leaned closer.
“She’s still with us, Rachel. Just not in the way we’re used to.
You remember what she said — dying is a lifetime vacation.
She’s probably watching us right now, rolling her eyes at our outfits.”
Rachel smiled a little, but then shook her head.
“Well, if she’s in a better place… how do we know there’s even a Heaven?”
Before she could finish, I wrapped my arms around her.
“Don’t say that,” I said.
“She was kind her whole life.
And you’re not alone. You’ve got me.
Mom. Dad. Ethan. All of us.”
She pulled back slowly and whispered,
“She was the only family I really had.”
I stood up, shocked.
“What do you think we are?” I asked.
“Aren’t we family too?”
She didn’t answer. Just stared at the ground.
It made my chest ache.
“You think I don’t miss her too?” I said louder.
“She was the one who helped me through my illness.
She told me I was normal when no one else did.
She made me feel like I mattered.”
I started shaking, barely able to breathe.
When Rachel tried to reach for me, I stepped away.
“Don’t touch me,” I said.
“You act like I’m a stranger.
Am I just a stranger to you now?”
The world blurred.
I couldn’t breathe.
And everything…
just
started
to
break.
✨ END OF CHAPTER 1 ✨
