Don't forget to breathe, a heroes fanfic

Title: Don't forget to breathe

Rating: PG-13 to be safe – talks of suicide. Very dark.

Chapters 1/1

Spoilers: Season I finale

Short Summary: Claire's life after Peter has died. AU. Very dark. In Claire's POV.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything…except maybe this computer I'm writing on…

Authors note: This is my first try at a very dark fic…so let me know what you think

Sometimes I wish my name wasn't Claire Bennet.

oOoOoOoOoOo

I fake a smile as I walk through the day – a lifeless walk but one I've been doing every day for the past two years. Noah doesn't notice and neither does Mom or Lyle. They smile at me and afterwards comment to each other that it seems like I'm starting to go back to normal. I just snort to myself as the fake smile drops and I walk to my room.

It's been two years since I've looked up at the sky. You wouldn't think it but I used to be one of those girls that loved to dance around and watch the sunrise. Now I don't even realize when the sun rises and when it sets. I just walk around like a lifeless body.

And that's what I am.

Lifeless.

Lifeless because Peter Petrelli had torn out my heart and took it with him.

oOoOoOoOoOo

Peter Petrelli was my hero.

The only guy to ever take that honour.

He saved me from Sylar and protected me when I felt the world was falling in on me. He saved me when I was self-destructing.

Peter Petrelli was the only man I let close enough to me to fall in love with him.

oOoOoOoOoOo

And then the bomb happened and my world as I knew it ended.

I pointed the gun at his face but even as my tears streaked down my face I didn't do anything.

He cried – cried out that I had to kill him.

I couldn't and he knew it.

We cried then, together in some sort of messed-up way, as we continued to express our love for one another.

And then Nathan was there and in a few seconds Peter was gone.

Explosion.

New York was safe.

But I was dead.

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Two years on and Peter is dead.

Nathan too but I don't feel pain for him.

I've gone completely numb. Even more numb than I ever was.

I walk around like a zombie and try to get the day to pass.

I don't sleep anymore.

I stay awake in the night and try to kill myself in any way humanly possible.

It never works.

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It's 10 years after the explosion.

I work at a huge company.

Work.

Eat.

Work.

Try to kill myself.

Oh and don't forget to breathe.

That's how my days go.

I meet a nice boy.

I marry said nice boy.

I still try to kill myself at night.

It still doesn't work.

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It's 20 years later.

I have two sons.

Peter and Nathan.

My husband doesn't ask me why I chose those names.

I just give a fake smile and go on with this boring existence.

oOoOoOoOoOo

I stop trying to kill myself.

It's useless and I'm tired.

The fake-smile stays on my face.

It's etched there.

Just like Peter is etched into my broken heart.

oOoOoOoOoOo

Sometimes I think I hear him calling me.

Claire…

It's always just a dream.

Peter Petrelli is never there.

And it's then that I wish my name wasn't Claire Bennet.

End.