Dimitri POV

No one spoke in the SUV. It was like some unwritten rule no one dared to break. Everyone had flowers sitting on their laps except for Tasha and me… and Rose.

Roza. Oh, my beautiful Roza. I am so glad she's safe and sound.

We didn't speak of where she was or why she was gone. Actually, no one said anything about it. We just moved on like it was expected or rather it never even happened. I'm curious, of course, but it isn't my place to push. It hasn't been for over a year.

She isn't my Roza anymore, no matter how badly I wish she were.

But I can't think like that anymore. I'm the one that made the choice. I'm the one that left. There's no way she'd want to take me back, not after the way I treated her. But as long as I have her in my life then I'm okay. Even if she's only my friend, at least she'd be my friend.

The SUV turns into a cemetery and continues down a short path until it finally stops. We sit in a hollow silence, as if everyone in the vehicle were reliving some horrible tragedy all over again. Something important was going on and it was something not even Tasha herself dreamed of disturbing. It stays this way until Rose opens her door and leaves, closing it quietly behind her. I look around to find looks of admiration radiating from every person here. Except for Tasha. She's as clueless as I am.

I want to ask questions, but I don't get the chance. Janine and Mr. Mazur get out of the car, followed by Adrian and then Christian and the Princess. Eddie looks back at us from the driver's seat. He speaks to me with his sorrow filled eyes before turning around once more. He takes a flower from his bouquet, leaves it on the console, and gets out of the car.

A wave of sadness sweeps through me. It feels as if I lost something I never knew I had.

I grab the flower left for me and open the door. I look back at Tasha to see if she's coming and she basically laughs in my face. "Why would I go stand out there in the filthy snow? I could be getting drunk right now."

Tasha. She used to be so different. What happened?

I stop myself from slamming the door in her face and go to join the others. They're around a grave, their flowers thoughtfully laid in the crisp white snow, laughing softly about something. Rose sees me and gives me a soft smile before coming towards me. She eyes the flower in my hand and her demeanor changes. Tears start to flow down her face but the smile, albeit small, remains. "Thank you," she whispers. I didn't actually do anything so I nod once and she returns to the group.

I walk up to the grave, place the flower down, and read the headstone. I read the words again before falling to my knees.