She stands in front of her mirror, staring into her own eyes so intensely that they go out of focus. She is trying to find comfort in the two chocolate pieces of glass, but locates none. Her eyes give her no advice.

Bright timidly knocks on her open door. "A-amy? You ready?" His voice cracks. He's hurt, trying to brave through things, but Amy can see through his disguise with ease.

She turns around, smoothes her dress, and nods. She wants to fall into her brother's strong arms and sob, but she knows she can't. She is Amy, perfect Amy. She can't ever break down.

They head downstairs to find their parents waiting for them. Even Dr. Abbott has no sly, mocking remark today. The family gets in the car and drives off. The rain falls down in a steady rhythm, pounding on the car's roof. With the pulsing of the rain's beat Amy thinks three words over and over again: Why, Colin, why?

They come to their destination and with the help of a few umbrellas attempt to keep from getting wet. The world is sad and dreary today, Amy observes, and the rain is its tears.

They walk inside, greeted by various townspeople. Amy's friends also immediately are offering her numerous condolences. She only wants to push them out of her face, scream at them, and cry. But instead she smiles wanly at each of them and thanks them.

She takes a seat and stares down at her lap, at the black fabric of her dress, and tries to push the tears back. She realizes that the roof of the place is made of tin, so she can hear the rain acutely. Again, her brain thinks only the three words.

Why, Colin, why? Why, Colin, why?

She looks up and sees Ephram and his father sitting at the opposite side of the room. Ephram nods at her and she returns the gesture. She sort of wishes he would come over and talk to her, but knows that if he did, it would be the final straw; she would, finally, break down. He obviously knows this, too, because he is keeping his distance. He's the only one smart enough to do so.

She studies Dr. Brown's face and sees that it is full of guilt. Part of her feels sympathy for him and the other part feels that he had it coming to him.

Her eye also catches the Harts. All of them are weeping. She wants to comfort them, but doesn't. Today the world is unreal and hazy; she must not speak to anyone for fear of bursting out.

There is a crowd around the front of the room and Amy knows what awaits her there. Slowly, cautiously, she rises and goes to meet it. The crowd breaks; they know what she has to take care of.

She finds Colin there, and memories rush into her mind of all the times he took kissed her or only smiled at her. Now he is there in the casket, lifeless. The hand that once took hers is limp; the lips that kissed hers are pale; the eyes that captivated her are forever closed. She finally allows the hot tears to fill her eyes and then stream down her cheeks. She whimpers once, but then cries silently.

She leans over, and when she kisses Colin's cheek to say goodbye forever, it is cold and uninviting.

The sky wails sadly, the trees moan, and the rain, the sky's tears, continues to drum on.

--Fin--

[A/N: I'm going to ASP for a week starting tomorrow, where I'll have to build houses for the less fortunate with tons of mosquitoes. Hehe. So, considering that I'll be in West Virginia for the week, I won't update till I get back, and then it's off to Atlanta for the National Youth Gathering (a.k.a. TAG). It would be totally cool if I found a ton of reviews in my inbox when I got back in the end of July. See y'all then! --Elle]