Sam sat in her car and stared at the ominous door in front of her. Breathing deeply, she reached out a shaky hand and pulled the latch that would let her out. She felt a hand on her arm and she turned to her mother.

"I'll be here, Sam - if you need me."

Sam nodded and stepped out into the chill seven am Chicago air, wrapping her mother's jacket tighter around her body. Reaching into the pocket of her jeans she fiddled with the contents as she climbed the stairs. Upon reaching the door, she pulled out thekey on thechain and held her shaking hand to the door lock.

It took her a few seconds to finally get the key in as her hand shook violently in fear and cold and... fear. Slowly, she pushed the door open and stepped into the apartment.

Her senses were hit instantly with him and she let out a haggard breath as she leaned against the door to close it. She took in the state around her. His jacket was tossed on the back of the sofa, his coffee mug sitting - empty and cold - on the dining table. The dark green walls were almost black in the morning light. She could smell that scent that she knew was distinctly him but that she could not distinguish as reminding her of anything else.

Pushing herself away from the door, she knew that he wasn't there. She couldn't feel his presence there. She moved towards the bedroom, keeping her head bent as she fought against the memories threatening to overwhelm her. She couldn't possibly have any more tears left to cry.

Reaching the door to the bedroom, she paused and leaned her forehead against it, trying to sense if he was on the other side. Pushing it open, she stepped in and paused as she was flooded with memories.

Luka traced happy faces on her back with his fingers and Sam turned to him, a frown on her face.

"What are you doing?"

"Drawing on your back."

"Happy faces?"

"I'm happy. I'll draw happy things."

Sam sighed and walked past the bed and headed towards the dresser, pushing all the memories to the back of her mind. Opening her palm, Sam looked down at the pendant, key and broken chain in her hand. Swallowing hard, she placed the tarnished memory onto the top of the dresser and arranged it delicately next to the photograph of them that he kept propped against the only mirror in his house - other than the one in the bathroom. Breathing heavily, from deep within her, she moved to the wardrobe in the corner at the opposite side.

Pulling the door open slowly, she saw her collection of tee, jumpers, jeans, shoes and underwear hung, folded and placed neatly amidst his numerous shirts, suits, belts, ties and shoes.

She was overwhelmed by the smell of him seeping out of the rows of shirts. Reaching in, Sam pulled out her items of clothing and paused when she saw the dress hanging over the door.

"I liked that dress. It looked... really good on you. But, I think it would look better on the floor, just down there," he sat up from their joined bodies and leaned over the edge of the bed, pulling her with him, indicating a spot on the floor. "Right there."

And she laughed, pulling him back to her and kissed him deeply. She was so in love with him.

She made it back to the lounge before she felt tears jump into her eyes again and she shook her head. How can it be possible to still have tears within her ducts?

She shifted the pile of trousers over her arm and stretched her fingers around the handle of the three bags that now contained her other clothes. This was the last time she would ever be here. Glancing around again, she allowed herself to be assaulted by him.

"This is it, Sam, this is us home..."

"I love you. I'm in love with you."

"Do you want a drink?" "No, I want you."

"You have me... forever."

Outside it was raining again, and Sam could see her mother inside her rented car. Moving away from the doorway, she turned one last time and saw his bedroom window high above her, a window that allowed the best view of the city - a window that she had loved to look out of at night and had made Luka move his bed so she could see the city from there.

"Bye, Luka..." She muttered into the wind, her words swallowed by the howls and she felt tears mingle with the rain as it streaked across her face.

She tossed her clothes in the trunk of the car and rushed around to the passenger side and jumped in beside her mother.

They sat in silence for a while, Jocelyn having no clue what to say and Sam simply unable to say anything.

"Get what you needed?" She asked eventually and Sam nodded.

"Yeah..."

Another silence followed and Sam tapped her foot against the floor.

"Take me home, mom," she whispered into the air and saw her mother turn towards her.

"To your apartment?"

Shaking her head, Sam turned towards her and pursed her lips.

"No... take me home."

Jocelyn nodded and turned the key in the engine. At the T junction, Jocelyn turned right and towards the freeway, towards the road that would lead them to east, towards Elgin, and lead Sam home.

TBC