It happened so quickly. The very next morning after his arrival, Jarod was curled onto the floor, his arms clutched his stomach. He seemed so child-like as Sydney cradled him in his arms slowly back and forth as they waited for the medical team. Several blows to his stomach was the cause of his internal bleeding.

Parker's don't cry she told herself. She never imagined this tragic outcome of his life. It wasn't supposed to have been like this. She never expected Jarod to be returned back to The Centre. If she had known that it was the last time she would have been with him, she would have held on to him a little tighter, that last night they made love.

That morning she saw him at The Centre, was indeed the last time she saw him. She never got a chance to say goodbye. Miss Parker blamed herself for his capture. She thought that there would always be a tomorrow for the both of them, but, tomorrow was not promised to them.

Miss Parker who was dressed in a silk blouse and slacks wore the color of black. She lightly caressed Jarod's casket and laid a single rose atop the floral spray. One who rarely showed emotions, the Ice Queen allowed her tears to run freely down her face.

"Jarod, I'm sorry I was not with you when you had taken your final breath. Please forgive me. May you have found light at the end of the tunnel. May you have found inner peace within yourself. I will always remember the love and laughter you brought me. I will miss you so very much. It's so very hard to say goodbye. And Jarod? One final moment before you leave. All I want to do is to hold you in my arms and tell you I love you. I love you." Miss Parker's fingers slid slowly back and forth on his casket, then turned slowly and joined Sydney and Broots.

At the gravesite, with other mourners, they gathered around Jarod's casket and bowed their heads as the pastor conducted the services.

Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there

I do not sleep

I am a thousand winds that blow

I am the diamond glints on snow

I am sunlight on ripened grain

I am the gentle autumn rain

When you awaken in the morning's hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight

I am the soft stars that shine at night

Do not stand at my grave and cry

I am not there

I did not die

Miss Parker slowly walked away, then stopped, turned and blew a kiss as she bade goodbye to the person she would have loved forever.She didn't care that everyone knew how she felt about Jarod. She cried and didn't care who saw her.

"Rot in hell, you bastards," she mumbled as she passed her father and Raines.

It didn't matter anymore. He was gone. She walked away from her family, from The Centre, and into a new life of freedom, and a life of loneliness without Jarod.

"Goodbye, Sydney. Goodbye, Broots."

"This is wrong, Sydney, You can't just let her walk out like that. She's so broken-hearted."

"It's for the best, Broots. For now anyway. It's for the best."

Author's Note: Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep

by Mary Elizabeth Frye

TBC - Chapter 5