Annabel and Jasper had spent some time in the park, she, being as oblivious as ever to what Jasper wanted, he had patience. She packed up her stuff and smiled at him, “The parade should be going through our street soon, maybe if I was less of a recluse, I could have found you. What do you think?”

Jasper managed to nod very slightly, If he had found her, he might not have been in this pickle, until he would die, no matter what, she would bring him back. I just have to wait for her to ask the question.

Annabel picked him up and started walking back to their street, people stared at her, one man even spoke up, “What are you up to this time, Annabel?”

She just grinned at him, “Nothing, kind sir,” she just walked away. She let out a deep sigh, “Oh my god, I have never felt confident enough to do that ever before. Thank you, Jasper.”

They made their way through the bustling crowd and looked at all the preparations that had been made, she knew it takes weeks for people to prepare, she never paid any attention to it before all of this. “The parade will start soon, are you interested, Jasper?”

His mechanical joints creaked, he answered with a broadcasted song about the Gambler and the Monk. How can I tell her, that she is being blinded by the happiness she feels because of me? She is not even considering her own thoughts, the morals of her experiment.

Annabel smiled at him, “You might be mute and distant, but you still try to communicate. Look, the parade is starting, everyone is waiting for them to come through our street.”

The parade kicks off with a grand procession through the main streets of New Albion. The participants, dressed in elaborate costumes, representing the Monk and the Gambler. Annabel did little hops of joy, “I have always wondered what the parade looked like, haven’t you?”

Floats glide through the streets, pulled by a hidden mechanism, Annabel took a few looks around and knew exactly how the mechanism worked. The air is filled with the scent of exotic flowers and the sound of lively music.

Spectators line the streets, eagerly anticipating the arrival of their favorite floats. It’s a time when the city comes together with a sense of wonder and excitement. Annabel looked at Jasper, “Did you ever see the parade before?”

He creaked his hand slightly and gave her a thumbs up. I am slowly getting the hang of this, I won’t be walking with these mechanical joints, but at least I am starting to grasp the basics.

Annabel beamed, “I would ask you what your favorite float is but, I think I need to keep it to yes and no questions for now. Look, there are street performers, and acrobats, there are even magicians. They just use illusions, I could explain in detail how they pull off their tricks, but I don’t want to spoil it for the children.”

Annabel saw a woman she recognized from the funeral, she had the same child on her arm. She pushed through the spectators with Jasper cradled against her, she had to tell them about Jasper. They would be thrilled to hear his music. She called out, “Jasper’s wife?”

She turned to looked at her, “Oh dear, the local recluse is actually in the parade,” she pushed Fay behind her, “What do you want, Annabel?”

She glistened with joy, “Look, I am not here to stir up trouble, I am enjoying the parade, but I wanted to tell you something, oh stupid me, everyone knows my name, but what is your name?”

While clearing her throat, she spoke up, “I am Sophia,” she adjusted her long brown hair, and double-checked if her dress was fancier than Annabel’s. “Now, leave my daughter, and me, alone, skulk back to your lab, husband stealer.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Annabel bit down on her lower lip as she inspected Fay, she had never seen her up close. A world of curiosity swirls in her unique violet colored eyes. She possesses an enchanting charm that captures the hearts of those around her. Her colored skin radiates a warm and inviting hue, reflecting the diversity that adds to the beauty of her appearance. She smiled at Fay, “I like your casual clothes, they are pretty.”

Sophia cleared her throat louder, “Stop looking at my daughter, is there a reason you sought me out?”

“Oh, yes!” She showed Jasper to them, “Look, I brought back your husband, I conquered life and death.”

Sophia started to laugh, “You want me to believe, that sad sack of an excuse is now a mechanical doll? He could not even earn us enough money. The only thing he was good at, was taking care of Fay, but, no he had to die.”

Annabel shrank back a little, “I thought, you would have been overjoyed, this is really him.”

Fay did a step forward, “Daddy?”

Jasper creaked his head to look at her, he smiled at her, he wanted to tell her, but he could only think of one thing. He searched the radio broadcasts, he found the song he was looking for and started playing Fay’s favorite song.

Sophia laughed, “Your piece of junk is just a radio that moves.” She walked away, “Come on Fay.”

Fay did not follow her mom, “Daddy? Why don’t you speak to me? Annabel, what is wrong?”

“I am not sure, I brought him back from Elysium, but he can only play music, do you like this song?”

“My dad used to sing it for me. He gave me a magic potion, to make sure I could talk like an adult. He grew the ingredients in his garden.”

Jasper cracked a mechanical smile, he remembered that moment, it also reminded him of how he had no time in the end to pursue his hobby. Making potions in his beloved garden.

Annabel smiled, “Would you like to hold your dad for a moment?”

Fay nodded, she stretched her hands and took him into his arms, “Hello dad, are you happy with being back in the land of the living?”

Jasper was, shocked by that question, he had not expected his daughter to ask him. He could lie for her, but that would give Annabel the wrong impression.

Annabel cleared her throat, “Ask him to play a different song if he wants to say yes.”

Fay nodded, “Please play a different song if you are happy being back from Elysium.”

Jasper felt as if he stabbed himself in the heart, he did not change the song. He wanted to go back to Elysium, he had gotten his last hug, he managed to do something, other people did not get to do, say goodbye after death.

Fay looked at Annabel, “I think he wants to go back to Elysium.” She gave Jasper back, “I am a very smart kid, but you are much smarter. Listen to what he is saying, listen to what he truly is saying.”

Sophia came back, “Fay, what did I say? Come with me and leave the hermit alone.”

“Mom, it is truly dad.”

“Nonsense,” she dragged Fay away, she waved to Jasper.

Annabel stared blankly at where they vanished into the crowd, it suddenly hit her like a brick. She stared at Jasper, he just stared back. “Do you mind if we go home? To my home?”

Jasper stopped playing the song, I am sorry to hurt you Annabel.

Annabel squeezed through the crowd and vanished into her lab, she gently put Jasper down on the workbench in the middle of her lab. She crashed onto the nearby seat. “Oh my god, what have I done?”

Jasper looked at her, He had just, crushed her. She had hope for the first time in her live, she was no longer a failure, and I ruined that, I took it away.

Annabel started to cry, “You were supposed to be my angel. You could have been my angel, be with me everywhere we go. But you don’t want me, I bet you also don’t want that piece of shit you call your wife.”

Jasper let out a deep mechanical sigh as he looked at her bent forward and crying. I am sorry, dear Annabel, the dead should not be among the living. I do have to thank you, you allowed me to see my daughter one more time.

Annabel wiped away some tears, she grabbed some notebooks and started writing, she looked at Jasper, “Do you want to die? Is it true that, you want to go back to Elysium?”

Jasper sang for her, “Elysium.”

Annabel nodded, “I understand now, I am so sorry, I did not mean to hurt you, I did not want to drag you away from freedom. I was looking for a friend, a man I once loved, I thought you wanted to be me with me too. To conquer life and death, to finally be a success. Just like my parents said, keep studying, don’t go hang out with other people. You were the angel I needed to be free, but in doing so, I took away your freedom, I can’t believe it took me so long to realize.”

Jasper creaked his mechanical joints as he stretched his hand towards her, she took it and nodded, “I will set you free, I promise.”