It was the day before Phillip's memorial and Anne realised she had no clothes she could wear. She had been trying so hard to hold it together over the past few weeks but this was just the tip of the iceberg.
She sank to the floor and tried not to have a full-scale breakdown, she needed tomorrow to put her restless mind to peace, but she couldn't wear just anything.
She wanted to wear her best clothes, she wanted to look her best for the last thing she could ever do for Phillip. She stared at her few clothes on their rale in dismay, none of these were good enough.
She didn't have any nice clothes, they were all old and worn out, and none of them black.
The door opened behind her, "hey Anne, I knocked did you not hear me?" Lettie asked.
Anne wiped her eyes and turn, "oh, no. Sorry I was just having a bit of a moment" she said airily, Lettie frowned and rushed over to help Anne up.
"What's wrong?" She asked, Anne looked at the clothes rail, "tomorrow is the memorial and I have nothing to wear and I can't deal with this right now, I need to look good, Phillip would-" she rambled hysterically.
Lettie held up her hands, "whoa, hey relax. Calm down, we can go into town and buy you something to wear okay?" She laughed, Anne took a deep breath, "I'm sorry, I'm just really missing Phillip and focussing on the little things is keeping me sane" she breathed.
Lettie hugged her, "Phillip wouldn't care what you wear, you could show up in your performance clothes and he wouldn't mind. Phillip loved you for you" she reassured her.
Anne chuckled to herself, "Phillip would've loved it if I showed up in my performance clothes" she joked.
Her uniform used to do things for him, god knows why but the memory amused her, even now in these circumstances.
Lettie gasped with a shocked smile, "Anne! Did you guys ever…" she asked, Anne turned red, "we were together for a year, what did you think we did?" She asked suddenly feeling embarrassed.
Lettie laughed, "Anne Wheeler! Well I never" she joked.
Anne felt slightly better just talking about Phillip like normal again, "I'll go grab my purse then we can go" she told her friend.
Lettie followed her to the desk, "so the sparkly purple leotard huh?" She asked, Anne sighed and shrugged, "I don't even know" she laughed.
Lettie raised her eyebrow, "did you ever-" she began, Anne held up her hand "stop. Shut up".
They took W.D and Constantine in with them, partly for protection, partly because Anne knew for a fact W.D did not own a singular suit.
They stopped outside a funeral shop, "I guess this is where we need to be" Anne said sadly, "Anne it is okay if this is all too much" Constantine told her.
She shook her head, "I just want to get the best clothes I can afford, I'd want to look nice for Phillip" she looked into the shop window to hide how difficult this was for her.
W.D rubbed her shoulder, "hey I'm proud of you kiddo, and I know Phillip is too, where he may be" he said.
She managed a small smile, they all entered the store and began searching for the right clothes.
Anne settled on a simple black dress and a laced hat that would cover her eyes, perfect she knew she wouldn't get through tomorrow without crying.
The boys found smart black suits that fitted them.
They encountered a problem when they reached the till to pay however.
Behind the cash register stood an elderly white woman, "who died?" She asked, she was reading a book and didn't look up.
Anne felt a little taken aback at her directness, "my boyfriend, he was shot" she said, "oh I'm sorry for your loss dear I'm sure he…" She looked up and saw Anne was black, "went straight to hell for loving a nigger like you" she finished angrily.
Anne looked to the floor as her eyes filled with tears, "how dare you speak to my sister like that" W.D stepped in, she looked at the two of them in disgust, "get the hell out of my shop, I will not serve a blackie" she screamed.
Anne turned and ran leaving the others and clothes. She ran as far as she could go, which was pretty far considering how in shape she was due to trapeze.
When her lungs were burning and she couldn't run any more she leant against a brick wall, "if only you were still here, why'd you have to be a hero you idiot" she cried at the sky.
She paused as if he would reply, "you're so stupid, why did you have to go" she slid down the wall and held her head in her hands as she cried.
If Phillip was there he would wrap his arms around her and tell her not to listen to that old lady.
He grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him, "stop it, why are you crying? Because old lady called you black? You are black, and you're beautiful" he said.
She sniffled and wrapped her arms around his neck, "you're so stupid, why can't you be here to say this to me in real life?" She buried her face in his shoulder.
He laughed that laugh she craved to hear more than anything, "you know what I'm like, I can't help myself. I need to save every person I can" he told her.
She pulled away and looked into those blue eyes she wished more than anything she could look at one more time, "I hate you, if you weren't such a good guy you'd be here with me and I'd never need to be at this funeral store".
He smiled and lifted her chin, "it's the problem with falling for a guy with such a good heart right? You know I don't care what you wear, you'll always be beautiful to me" he said.
Anne sobbed and wrapped her arms around his shoulders again, "I miss you so damn much, why did you have to leave me? I love you so fucking much you idiot" she cried.
She could feel herself returning to reality again, "Stay strong my love. Take your time, I will see you on the other side. Remember your worth, you are beautiful. I love you Anne Wheeler" he said fading away.
Then he was gone, the illusion broken. She was left sitting on the floor alone, feeling miserable.
She heard loud footsteps approaching, it was W.D coming after her, "hey, are you okay Annie?" He asked, he faltered when he saw the state she was in.
Anne wiped her eyes, "how can one old lady be so mean?" She laughed, "forget her, she's probably senile" W.D made a funny face.
Anne laughed, "how are you so good at making me feel better so fast?" She asked, he scrunched up his eyebrows and offered his hand, "I've took care of your sorry ass for 21 years, you learn a thing or two" he winked.
She rolled her eyes and let him help her to her feet, "shut up you loser" she teased.
He grabbed her arms, "I have a very important question" he said seriously, she laughed "go away, you do this every time" she struggled, "are you good? Do I have to kill her?" He asked seriously.
Anne slapped his arm, "I'm sorry to say it D but I think you do" she confirmed with a giggle.
He cracked his knuckles and looked back in the shop's direction, "I knew it, let's go" he grinned.
They walked back together, "you're such a good brother" she said, he shrugged modestly, "I try" he replied, she stood on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on his cheek, "I love you D" she told him.
He pouted jokily, "stop, you'll make me blush" he teased.
They met the others outside the store, "we got you guys the clothes" Lettie said holding up a paper bag, "thank you so much, let me repay you" Anne pulled out her purse.
Constantine pushed it down with his hand, "no need, it's on us" he said, "seriously man? I don't mind we can-" W.D argued but Lettie grinned, "please, it's the least we could do, you're our friends, we've got your backs" she insisted.
They all walked home together, between W.D and Constantine and Lettie's kind offer Anne felt slightly better.