The days that followed were marked by a palpable tension in the house. David no longer knew how to react to what he perceived as manifestations of Jules. He had always liked to believe that ghosts were creations of the imagination, remnants of a past one refused to let go. But after the recent events, he could no longer hide behind that illusion. Something, or someone, was disturbing his life, and it was coming from Jules.
Caroline, too, felt the presence of her son, though in a different way. She sensed it in the air, in the little things: the way objects moved imperceptibly, the temperature that suddenly dropped, the strange murmurs that seemed to slip through the walls. But, unlike David, she wasn't ready to accept that Jules had returned as a spirit. She tried to remain rational, looking for explanations, even though deep down, she knew something inexplicable was happening.
Julie, for her part, had distanced herself. After her encounter with David, where she had confessed her own experience with the child's silhouette, she stopped answering his calls. She didn't revisit her words. She felt more and more like a stranger to this story. For her, it had become too frightening. She began to doubt her place in David's life, wondering if what she had with him was doomed to failure because of Jules' persistent presence.
That morning, as the sun tried timidly to break through the clouds, David got up early, determined to understand what was happening. He had to put an end to this discomfort once and for all. He was convinced that Jules was still there, but he was determined to understand why he was acting this way, why he was rejecting Julie, why he seemed so fiercely determined to protect a memory from the past.
David went to the living room and sat in the armchair that Jules had often used when he was still alive. He closed his eyes, trying to focus, to hear that presence he felt without quite being able to grasp. Then, in a trembling but firm voice, he spoke to the air around him.
— "Jules… I know it's you. I don't know why you're doing this, but I want to understand. Why are you keeping Julie and me from being happy? Why are you acting this way? You're my son, and I love you. But it's time to let go of what we've lost."
The silence that followed was almost unbearable. David felt the room fill with a heavy tension, as if the air had thickened. He then stood up and turned toward the corner of the room where an old photo of Jules sat, a picture from a happy day, before the accident, before everything changed.
He took it in his hands and stared at it for a long time. He felt as if Jules' gaze pierced him through this photo, as if his son was there, so close, yet invisible.
— "Jules, please, help me understand. I want to move on. I want everyone to find their place."
It was then that the temperature in the room seemed to drop suddenly, and a fine mist appeared in front of him, almost imperceptible, but very real. David felt a shiver run down his spine, but he didn't retreat. He waited for a response, a sign, something that would tell him he was right, that Jules was listening.
Suddenly, a faint voice, almost inaudible, was heard. "Don't let her in."
David froze. It was Jules' voice, he was sure of it. A soft voice but filled with desperate urgency.
— "Why?" he asked, his voice trembling with emotion. "Why do you want me to let her go? Julie loves me, Jules. She gives me what I lost. She lets me live again. Why do you want to take that away from me?"
Silence fell again, but this time, it was filled with pain. David felt his heart tighten. He understood. It was fear that inhabited his son, the fear of seeing him forget, of seeing him love someone else. Jules, in his childlike mind, didn't understand that love could take different forms, that it wasn't in competition with the memory they shared.
He slowly stood up, his heart heavy, and walked to the window. He placed the photo of Jules on the sill and gazed outside, his eyes filled with tears. Anger, pain, and confusion mixed within him. But a new resolve also emerged. He knew that in order to move forward, he had to let go of Jules, give him the chance to flourish in the beyond, far from fear and sorrow.
— "I love you, my son," he whispered softly. "I will never forget you, but it's time to free myself. We both need to be free."
A gentle breeze then blew through the room, like a fleeting caress, and the mist dissipated. The temperature in the room returned to normal, and the feeling of tension slowly faded. David felt exhausted but at peace. He knew that what he had just said had not been easy, but it was necessary.
He turned his head and saw Caroline, standing in the doorway. She was watching him in silence, her eyes full of compassion and sadness. She knew what he had just experienced. She knew that the love he held for his son was still there, but that he also had to know how to let go in order to move forward.
— "David…" she said softly, her voice filled with tenderness. "You've taken a huge step."
He looked at her, his eyes brimming with tears. He had never wanted things to unfold this way. But deep down, he knew he had no choice. He had to free Jules so that he could finally find peace.
Caroline approached him and took him in her arms, saying nothing but offering everything he needed: comfort, warmth, and understanding. Together, they had confronted the invisible, and together, they would begin to heal.
In the distance, a soft sound of wind rose outside. A light breeze, almost imperceptible, but carrying the promise of a new beginning.