Everything was still fresh in her memory – so unbelievably fresh. Forgiving Montgomery, staring at his bloody body… Wishing for, practically hallucinating, a spark in his lifeless eyes. She remembered staring at the stars of the American flag that covered his coffin. Fifty stars… if only those stars were seconds; what she would have given for fifty more seconds with him…

The podium. She had been standing on the podium, recalling small aspects of the life of a man she considered to be a hero; retelling them to everyone – friends, family, Castle…

She felt the bullet before she heard the gun go off. Bullets travel faster than sound; faster than Castle. He yelled her name, ran towards her… She could still feel the touch of his hands on her body, trying to press his life into her.

It hurt. It hurt so badly. Someone was tearing her apart from the inside, the same man who tore her mother apart, who tore Montgomery apart. Everyone was being ripped apart.

But more than anything, more than the pain, the sorrow, the angst... she remembered what Castle told her.

I love you.

The words were a lullaby, such a painfully beautiful lullaby. She wanted to tell him, needed to tell him… The words were so close; they were right in front of her, on the tip of her tongue. But no – the lullaby, it was too sweet, too beautiful. She couldn't keep her eyes open, but all the while she could think…

I love you, too.

And she closed her eyes.