I walked into the cemetery. My eyes searched for the grave, and finally found it. I walked up to it, tears welling up in my eyes. When I reached the grave, the first tear fell. Slowly, as if time itself had slowed, I sank to my knees.
"I remember everything from that day. I try to forget it, but it's burned into my mind. I remember everything you said. I remember everything I said. I remember when you left. It's my fault. If you were here, you would tell me to stop blaming myself." My tears were falling freely now. "You would say that you were just as much at fault as I was. But I know that it isn't true. I know that it was my fault. I went too far. I can never take back what I said." My words were no long distinguishable from my sobs as I cried.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Why? Why did you have to walk away? Why did I have to say that? Why?" I was shouting in anger by now. I felt a pair of arms wrap around my body. I didn't know who it was, and I didn't care. I just need the comfort.
"Hey. It'll be okay. It'll be okay." It was a man's voice that spoke to me. I felt a hand brush a tear from my eye. I looked up at the face of the one holding me.
"Apollo. Lady Artemis would not be happy with you if she knew you were here." I said to him, but there was no malice in my voice.
He cracked a grin. "Do you really think I care what my sister has to say? I never listen to her anyways."
"That's true. And you probably never will." The tears had all but stopped. "Not to be rude or anything, but why are you here?"
"I was in the neighborhood, and I heard crying. So I walked over here, and I saw you. I thought you could use some comfort." He reached up to brush away the black hair that had fallen into my face. He looked at the headstone. "I know you must miss him."
I nodded, tears welling up once again. "Yeah. And it's my fault that he's gone." I dropped my head into my hands as I sobbed.
"You know that isn't true, Elianna. You should stop blaming yourself." I met his eyes, and I could see anger there.
"It is my fault!" I cried out. "I argued with him! I'm the reason he left! I blamed him! I blamed him for her death! And then he left. And he never came back. I never got to apologize." My voice dropped to a whisper as I looked down.
"How did he die?" My head whipped up as I locked gazes with him.
"Why do you want to know? It's not important." He brushed my hair out of my eyes again.
"It is important, especially if this is the reaction I get from you." His voice was gentle once again.
"A drunk driver hit him. He was killed on impact." Apollo pulled me close to him again as I cried into his shoulder. He didn't speak, and I was thankful for that. He didn't say he was sorry, or that he knew how I felt, or that it would be okay. He just held me.
I felt a drop of water fall on my wrist. At first I thought it was rain, but when I looked at his face, I realized that it was untrue. "Why are you crying, Apollo?"
He smiled, but it was not the his normal grin. It was a small, sad smile. "You're not the only one who misses him." I cocked my head at him, confused. "He was more of a brother to me than my own brothers. Then again, my own brothers aren't exactly good brothers." He stood up, and I stood up with him. "Hey, Elianna." I looked into his eyes again. "He would be proud of you."
I nodded. "I know." I looked at the headstone. "I know." I read the inscription.
In loving memory of
Percy Jackson
Husband, Father, Brother, Son, Hero.
8/16/1995 - 4/12/2035
"Goodbye, Dad." I whispered. Apollo grabbed my hand and we turned and walked out of the cemetery, not looking back.