ocular rewritten

. character is managing their store and having a normal day
. character goes home after a long day and sits on the couch ready to watch a basketball game
. character’s phone vibrates in their pocket so they answer it
. a woman on the phone tells the character that their grandfather passed away in a car accident and says that he left the character his small house and everything in it
. cries, agony, insert character torture
. character goes to grandfather’s house with sister to poke around and see what he left
. sister sees chessboard in the basement and calls character down to come look at it — it looks pretty vintage and is strange that everything is set up
. character comes to examine chessboard, sister and character talk about grandfather
. sister has to leave for a work thingy, leaving character alone
. character decides to wrap it up too, but not before moving one of the pieces
. the next day, character and sister go looking around grandfather’s house again to get things more organized and notice the opposing piece on the chessboard has been moved
. character is super confused and slightly scared, then realizes grandfather might be visiting from the spirit world and the two siblings set out to find him
. character and sister come up with a plan to do a stake out after moving one of their chess pieces to see their grandfather
. he comes as a ghost figure to move his piece and the three reunite for the last time

Oliver looked up from his book when he heard the bell as a customer walked into his shop. He quickly put a bookmark on his stopping page and slid it in a desk drawer. “Hi there! Anything I can help you with today?” He asked cheerfully, closing the drawer. “I’m looking for a specific box of nails, do you have that type of stuff here?” The man answered. “What brand or type were you thinking?” “I don’t remember exactly,” he said with a laugh. “I’ll know ‘em when I see ‘em.” “Oh no worries,” Oli said, leading him to the hardware aisle in the corner of the store. A moment later, another set of customers walked through the door. “Could we get a small scoop of ice cream please?” They asked him. With a nod, he got out a few waffle cones. “What flavor?” “Two chocolates and a mint please,” one lady said. “Of course!” Oliver scooped up the frozen treat and handed them over. After ringing them up, with the man and his nails shortly after, no other customers showed up for a few hours so he decided to close up early.

Oliver opens the front door of his apartment and heads for the couch. “I might just be able to catch the last half of that basketball game,” he mumbles to himself, searching for the remote. After he finally manages to pull up the game, there’s only a few minutes left. He looks down at his bracket. “Yes! Orange is winning.” He grins at the tv, ready to send a message to his friend that his pick won. Purple was slowly catching up, one layup at a time. Oli tensed, his grip on the remote tightening. As the buzzer sounded, someone from orange shot a three pointer, and… SWISH! The crowd went wild, and so did Oli. He pumped his fists in the air. “Let’s go!!” A sudden vibrating of his phone stopped the excitement. ‘Probably just Max upset about his team losing,’ he thought, reaching for his phone. An unfamiliar number flashed on his screen, and he pulled it to his ear nervously to answer.
“Hello?” He asked, a look of concern on his face. “I don’t want any free car insurance,” he said with a nervous laugh. “Unfortunately, I won’t be offering you insurance,” the lady on the other end of the phone said somberly. “I’m calling to inform you that your grandfather has passed away. He died in a car accident earlier this morning, and on his will you are listed to inherit his house and all of the belongings inside of it.”
Oliver collapsed, landing with a hard thud on the dark brown floorboards below him. The phone flew from his hands, making its way underneath the coffee table. “I’m terribly sorry,” the voice on the phone said through the speakers. Oli wept, tears pouring from his eyes like a raging waterfall. All he could think of was the happy memories with his grandfather. Learning to ride a bike, having a glorious snowball fight and spilling hot chocolate all over each other afterwards. He remembered his grandfather’s wavy blond hair, slowly becoming more white as time passed, though he’d wished the time would’ve lasted longer. Oli sat curled up in a ball on the ground, weeping in the silence of the night. “Have a good night,” the woman told him, hanging up the phone to let him be. An hour or so later, Oliver’s sister, Calypso, pushed open the door slowly, her face as equally as tear stained as Oli’s. He looked up at her, and fell back to the ground, crying out in agony. Calypso sat down next to him and rested her head on his shoulder. “He’s gone, and I know it hurts,” she mumbled, tears running down her face. “But we have to stay strong. How about a little exploring tomorrow? Close the shop for a few days?” Oli nodded, feeling a sense of calmness in the presence of his younger sister. “I’m supposed to be taking care of you,” he croaked. “I’m sorry.” Calypso held him tighter. “Oh hush hush.” The two chuckled for a moment, and stayed with each other through the night, fear of letting the only one they had go.
The next morning, Oli awoke to birds singing in the park across the street and smiling neighbors as the city grew alive below his apartment. He grew frustrated with the happiness around him, wondering why he and Calypso had to suffer, while it seemed like everyone else was just fine and dandy. With a sigh, he slowly rose from his spot on the ground to make a bowl of cereal for him and his sister. In a couple minutes, she woke up too, and trudged over to the counter to eat. The cereal tasted bland and soggy, and it barely made its way down Oli’s throat without coming back up. “Why us?” Calypso asked softly, her too, thinking of everyone else’s joy. “I don’t know,” Oliver breathed.
After getting ready for the day, the two stopped at Oli’s shop to put a closing notice on the door, then drove to their grandparents house to see what he’d inherited, and to organize things. Once they’d arrived, Calypso opened the rickety blue door and smiled a sad smile. “I forgot how much I loved this place.” Oliver nodded, tracing his hand on the chipping wood. “Mhm.” They stepped inside, looking around at all the open boxes and little gadgets sprawled across the floor and hanging on shelves. Oli let out a little laugh. “Looks like Grandpa wasn’t the only unorganized one,” he said, looking at Calypso. Calypso gasped. “How dare you?” She exclaimed sarcastically. “I am totally completely not messy!” Oli rolled his eyes. “Mk buddy,” he said teasingly. They both smiled, clearly enjoying one another’s company. “Let’s get to work shall we?”
Calypso started with the hall, while Oliver went to work on the guest room, where their grandfather had crammed all of his miscellaneous doo-dads. After everything was sorted, the siblings met at the cluttered counter for lunch, then decided to go downstairs to conquer the basement after eating. While munching on tuna sandwiches, Calypso pulled out an old crinkled letter. “Look what I found,” she said, handing the letter to Oliver.
Dear Bentley,
life with you these past few years have been quite the dream. I’ve loved every moment with you, and I hope you know how much I hate having to write this letter. The doctors have said it, our family has said it, and now it’s come the time where I have to say it myself. I don’t enjoy having to leave you, but my departure is necessary. I’ll see you soon my dear Benny. My love will always belong to you, no matter how far away I am.
Love,
Melissa
Oli cried as he read it, staining the paper with his tears. “It’s from Grandma,” Calypso told him. “Before she died from cancer.” Oli nodded, handing the letter back. “I miss them.” Calypso nodded in agreement, and they ate the rest of their food in silence until it was time to get back to work. The somber mood had eventually lifted, and the two were quickly back to joking around with each other.
Oli wiped a fake drip of sweat from his forehead. “This is hard work,” he muttered. “Physically and emotionally,” Calypso added quietly. Once below the house, they noticed a chessboard, all of the pieces set up perfectly, ready to start a new game. Calypso didn’t seem to care, and she pulled out her phone to check the time. “It’s 4:30. Maybe we should head back and leave this for tomorrow?” Oli didn’t hear, he was focused on the strangeness of the game. ‘Why is it set up?’ He wondered. ‘What was Grandpa waiting for? Who was he going to play with?’ “Oli?” Calypso said, interrupting his train of thought. “I have to head out for a short work thing. You should be going soon too. I’ll meet you here again tomorrow morning at 8 ok?” Oliver nodded, waving goodbye to his sister. “Well, farewell I suppose,” he mumbled to the chessboard as he gathered his things. He hesitated, but made the decision to move the knight. ‘Maybe me and Calypso can play tomorrow,’ he thought.
The next morning, Oli asked her if she would play before they started working. Calypso narrowed her eyes, slightly suspicious, but agreed. They went to the basement where the chessboard was, and Oli let out a blood curdling screech. “Oli!” Calypso screamed. “Stop! What’s wrong?” Oli’s whole body was shaking as he fell to the ground, raising a wobbly finger to the chess board. “The opposing piece moved. I didn’t do it.” Calypso backed away from the game. “Stake out. Tonight. Meet me here at 8pm. I think it’s Grandpa.” Oliver looked up at her with fear in his eyes, but gave a determined nod. “Okay.”
That night, they found themselves behind a stack of boxes, staring at the chessboard until they found the culprit. After hours of waiting, a strange fog came out from behind a different pile of boxes across the room. Rustling could be heard, and the siblings held back gasps. “Is that-?” Calypso asked. “Hush.”

Oliver opens the front door of his apartment and heads for the couch. “I might just be able to catch the last half of that basketball game,” he mumbles to himself, searching for the remote. After he finally manages to pull up the game, there’s only a few minutes left. He looks down at his bracket. “Yes! Orange is winning.” He grins at the tv, ready to send a message to his friend that his pick won. Purple was slowly catching up, one layup at a time. Oli tensed, his grip on the remote tightening. As the buzzer sounded, someone from orange shot a three pointer, and… SWISH! The crowd went wild, and so did Oli. He pumped his fists in the air. “Let’s go!!” A sudden vibrating of his phone stopped the excitement. ‘Probably just Max upset about his team losing,’ he thought, reaching for his phone. An unfamiliar number flashed on his screen, and he pulled it to his ear nervously to answer.
“Hello?” He asked, a look of concern on his face. “I don’t want any free car insurance,” he said with a nervous laugh. “Unfortunately, I won’t be offering you insurance,” the lady on the other end of the phone said somberly. “I’m calling to inform you that your grandfather has passed away. He died in a car accident earlier this morning, and on his will you are listed to inherit his house and all of the belongings inside of it.”
Oliver’s body felt numb as he fell to the ground, landing with a hard thud on the dark brown floorboards below him. The phone flew from his hands, making its way underneath the coffee table. His hands were shaking, and he broke out in a sweat, heart beating fiercely. “I’m terribly sorry,” the voice on the phone said through the speakers. Oli wept, tears pouring from his eyes like a raging waterfall. All he could think of was the happy memories with his grandfather. Learning to ride a bike, having a glorious snowball fight and spilling hot chocolate all over each other afterwards. He remembered his grandfather’s wavy blond hair, slowly becoming more white as time passed, though he’d wished the time would’ve lasted longer. Oli sat curled up in a ball on the ground, weeping in the silence of the night. “Have a good night,” the woman told him, hanging up the phone to let him be. An hour or so later, Oliver’s sister, Calypso, pushed open the door slowly, her face as equally as tear stained as Oli’s. He looked up at her, and fell back to the ground, crying out in agony. Calypso sat down next to him and rested her head on his shoulder. “He’s gone, and I know it hurts,” she mumbled, tears running down her face. “But we have to stay strong. How about a little exploring tomorrow? Close the shop for a few days?” Oli nodded, feeling a sense of calmness in the presence of his younger sister. “I’m supposed to be taking care of you,” he croaked. “I’m sorry.” Calypso held him tighter. “Oh hush hush.” The two chuckled for a moment, and stayed with each other through the night, fear of letting the only one they had go.
The next morning, Oli awoke to birds singing in the park across the street and smiling neighbors as the city grew alive below his apartment. He grew frustrated with the happiness around him, wondering why he and Calypso had to suffer, while it seemed like everyone else was just fine and dandy. With a sigh, he slowly rose from his spot on the ground to make a bowl of cereal for him and his sister. In a couple minutes, she woke up too, and trudged over to the counter to eat. The cereal tasted bland and soggy, and it barely made its way down Oli’s throat without coming back up. “Why us?” Calypso asked softly, her too, thinking of everyone else’s joy. “I don’t know,” Oliver breathed, tears stinging his eyes.
After getting ready for the day, the two stopped at Oli’s shop to put a closing notice on the door, then drove to their grandparents house to see what he’d inherited, and to organize his things. Once they’d arrived, Calypso opened the rickety blue door with a sad smile. “I forgot how much I loved this place.” Oliver nodded, tracing his hand on the chipping wood. “Mhm.” They stepped inside, looking around at all the open boxes and little gadgets sprawled across the floor and hanging on shelves. Oli let out a little laugh. “Looks like Grandpa wasn’t the only unorganized one,” he said, looking at Calypso. Calypso gasped. “How dare you?” She exclaimed sarcastically. “I am totally completely not messy!” Oli rolled his eyes. “Mk buddy,” he said teasingly. They both smiled, clearly enjoying one another’s company. “Let’s get to work shall we?”
Calypso started with the hall, while Oliver went to work on their grandfather’s room, where he had crammed all of his miscellaneous doo-dads. The two neatly stored away soldier figurines and small tanks. They stacked up his board games and cleaned up his cards and poker chips. Calypso held back tears as she sorted the vintage games, remembering how much their grandfather had loved playing with them as kids.
Oli could barely keep himself together as he folded up his grandfather’s old button up shirts and khakis. After everything was sorted, the siblings met at the cluttered table for lunch, then decided to go downstairs to conquer the basement after eating. While munching on tuna sandwiches, Calypso pulled out an old crinkled letter. “Look what I found,” she said, handing the letter to Oliver.
Dear Bentley,
life with you these past few years have been quite the dream. I’ve loved every moment with you, and I hope you know how much I hate having to write this letter. The doctors have said it, our family has said it, and now it’s come the time where I have to say it myself. I don’t enjoy having to leave you, but my departure is necessary. I’ll see you soon my dear Benny. My love will always belong to you, no matter how far away I am.
Love,
Melissa
Oli cried as he read it, staining the paper with his tears. “It’s from Grandma,” Calypso told him. “Before she died from cancer.” Oli nodded, handing the letter back. “I miss them.” Calypso nodded in agreement, and they ate the rest of their food in silence until it was time to get back to work. The somber mood had eventually lifted, and the two were quickly back to joking around with each other.
Oli wiped a fake drip of sweat from his forehead. “This is hard work,” he muttered. “Mk buddy,” Calypso said, playfully mocking her brother’s catchphrase. Once below the house, they noticed a chessboard, all of the pieces set up perfectly, ready to start a new game. Calypso didn’t seem to care, and she pulled out her phone to check the time. “It’s 4:30. Maybe we should head back and leave this for tomorrow?” Oli didn’t hear, he was focused on the strangeness of the game. ‘Why is it set up?’ He wondered. ‘What was Grandpa waiting for? Who was he going to play with?’ “Oli?” Calypso said, interrupting his train of thought. “I have to head out for a short work thing. You should be going soon too. I’ll meet you here again tomorrow morning at 8 ok?” Oliver nodded, waving goodbye to his sister. “Well, farewell I suppose,” he mumbled to the chessboard as he gathered his things. He hesitated, but made the decision to move the knight. ‘Maybe me and Calypso can play tomorrow,’ he thought.
The next morning, Oli asked her if she would play before they started working. Calypso narrowed her eyes, slightly suspicious, but agreed. They went to the basement where the chessboard was, and Oli let out a blood curdling screech. “Oli!” Calypso screamed. “Stop! What’s wrong?” Oli’s whole body was shaking as he fell to the ground, raising a wobbly finger to the chess board. “The opposing piece moved. I didn’t do it.” Calypso backed away from the game. “Stake out. Tonight. Meet me here at 8pm. I think it’s Grandpa.” Oliver looked up at her with fear in his eyes, but gave a determined nod. “Okay.”
That night, they found themselves behind a stack of boxes, staring at the chessboard until they found the culprit. After hours of waiting, a strange fog came out from behind a different pile of boxes across the room. Rustling could be heard, and the siblings held back gasps. “Is that-?” Calypso asked. Oli’s heart thumped in his ears, and his eyes grew wide as the thought of seeing his grandfather again entered his mind. “Hush.”