I REALLY need to clean out my file-thing so I'm posting whatever is finished. I don't care if it's complete crap, I'm posting it.
He sits in his truck, stalling.
The birds are singing and the sky is blue and the world, he feels, is mocking him. Why else would the day feel—so, beautiful—so happy—on such a grim and lonely afternoon?
Eventually he can't stall any longer and hops out of the car and slams the door, bracing his shoulders against the chilly wind.
He stands for a moment, looking out across the world at the rolling hills and glittering sky. Then he blinks and looks to the gate, and the wonderful illusion of peace and calm is shattered.
He takes a breath.
The latch on the gate feels cold and hard in his hand. He pauses a moment before undoing the catch.
The gate swings open, and reluctantly he steps inside.
And… there she is.
There she is.
Waiting for him.
He strolls over to her, his hands stuffed in his jacket pockets. He swallows and sits on the ground beside her.
"Hey," He begins, but she doesn't answer. Not that he ever expected her to.
"I came as soon as I heard," He says, and plays with a twig on the ground. He's pathetic and he knows it and she knows it.
"I…" His voice breaks and he drops the twig and he puts his head in his hands. "I'm so sorry," He says, and starts to sob, tears running thick and fast down his cheeks. "So, so sorry…"
He straightens up and looks to the sky, making no attempt to quell the tears streaking down his face. "So sorry…"
He wants her to sit up and wrap him in her arms and hold him as he cries. He wants her to comfort him and tell him it wasn't his fault and that she forgives him.
But she doesn't and she won't and probably never will again.
He stands up, wiping away the tears. "Well…" He says softly, brushing a bit of dirt off the white stone. "I guess… this is goodbye," He takes a deep breath. "I just came to tell you that… I love you. And I miss you."
He leans down, kisses the earth beside her.
"I love you, Nina Martin," He whispers, and turns, beginning the walk back up the path and through the gate.
He leaves behind a single lonely gravestone, marking the final resting place of the only girl he ever loved.
And there she will wait for all time, waiting anxiously for the day when he will stand beside her once more.
