Spoilers for this chapter: 2x21 "Creatures of the Night"

Thanks: to my beta-reader, AndreaB; and to Snow Ivy for a big help with episode info.

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Chapter 4 – Scotty Valens

I can't go home after work anymore. My house is empty again.

I haven't had much luck with the ladies lately. I could easily blame them, but right now, I'm not that sunk in denial anymore that I can't blame myself too. For an outsider, it might look like I've been simply taking the easy way out – letting Elisa go to the hospital, turning to Chris for comfort, ignoring Lilly's warnings. But that's not what happened. At least, it surely didn't feel like the easy way out.

The warm spring breeze hits my face lightly. It's that time of the year when the city starts to be alive again. I reach for my pocket and I feel her note there. "Sorry. C." I could hate her for that, but I don't. Whatever she did, I know she's truly sorry for this. Like I am, like Lilly probably is, like Elisa was.

Feeling sorry won't help you much, though. Or excuse your actions. People need more than words saying you're sorry, they need actions too.

But right now words are all I can offer. I pick up my cell phone and dial her number. "Rush." She answers at the first ring.

"Hey, Lil, it's me." I say.

"Hey, Scotty," she greets, her voice cold, as it has been lately.

Then I let myself go. "I'm sorry to do this over the phone, but I had to do it now. I'm sorry, Lil. For everything." She doesn't answer immediately, but I can hear her breath on the other end of the line.

"Me too, Scotty." She finally says, and her voice is lighter and it was before. "Let's try to put this behind us." She adds. I quickly agree and shortly after we hang up.

I keep on walking and half an hour later I reach my destination. I never came here, not even on the day she was buried. I just couldn't. Her grave is simple and beautiful, like she was.

I walk closer to it. "I'm sorry, El. I'm sorry if I ever made you feel like I had given up. I'm sorry for not accepting this until now. I know you always felt misunderstood. But I always knew what you wanted, and I promise that's what I'll do from now on." I pause, trying to catch my breath and my courage. "I'm going to be happy." I put a white rose on her grave, and leave.

Turning the page doesn't mean never coming back. Turning the page means looking ahead – and writing your new tomorrow.

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Lilly Rush will be next...