It had been ten years since that fateful day. Ten years since Ryan Atwood lost the love of his life forever. The day when he'd stopped smiling, stopped caring, become a shell of the previous Ryan Atwood.

Ten years ago today, Ryan Atwood was having the time of his life in Paris. He was celebrating graduation with his girlfriend Marissa Cooper and his best friend Seth and his girlfriend Summer. It was supposed to be the start of something new. It was all about spreading their wings. This year, he was sitting in a bar trying to drown out the memories that were ten years ago. Instead, his head hurt more and the memories were more vivid than ever. Ever since Marissa had died, Ryan had slipped back into his old ways, drinking and breaking the law. He'd been in and out of gaol for months. Seth was still trying to help him, he'd never given up and something told Ryan he never would.

"It wasn't your fault. Goodbye," Marissa's last words to him. Even though she'd told him it wasn't his fault. He couldn't help fell that it was. If only he'd been there ten minutes earlier, she might have lived. If only he'd driven faster when he felt the quake. If only he'd grabbed her and jumped into the car and drove to the hospital straight away. If only they'd never gone. He beat himself up about it everyday ever since.

Ryan was jealous of Seth. He'd married Summer in a beautiful outdoor ceremony. He'd invested in his savings and became a millionaire. He'd bought Comicon, his childhood haven. And he'd given God knows how much money to Ryan. Yet, here Seth was living the life Ryan wanted. Living the dream. Married to a beautiful woman and up to his eyes in cash. But, Ryan wasn't going to hate him for it. Seth had been there for him through and through. He ordered another drink and whispered to himself," I'll never let your memory die Marissa."

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Kirsten felt for Ryan in a way that only she could relate to. When her father had died, Kirsten had slipped into depression. Drinking every hour, never stopping. Exactly what Ryan was going through now. If he didn't stop now, Lord knows his liver would die out in a matter of years. It nearly killed her to see his spirit so diminished. She would lie on the end of his bed some nights, stroking his hair as he slept off the alcohol. And she would pray that he would be all right. Cry her eyes out and feel guiltier than a criminal standing trial for murder. Ryan's mother had walked out on him and Kirsten felt that it was her responsibility to look after him. Although he was still living with them, he was hardly ever home. This particular night she was stroking his hair again and kissing his forehead every now and again. It was different tonight; he seemed so peaceful, like he'd gone to bed at will.

Ryan rolled over to see Kirsten sitting next to him crying. He knew why. He knew his ways tore her up and put her through more stress than she needed. He sat up and gave her a hug and decided to turn over a new leaf. No more drinking, ever.

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Ryan remained true to his word and even went back to school. It felt good to be free of alcohol and he was back doing what Marissa would have wanted. Architecture, it was complex but Ryan felt it was a great change from being cooped up in a dark and grungy bar. He'd even managed to patch things up with Seth and Summer and things slowly returned to the way they were. Except that Marissa wasn't there of course. Ryan started to treat Sandy and Kirsten as his parents even more and began to morph back into whom he really was. Yeah, life seemed to be pretty good again.

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Even in the toughest of times, we can all prevail and continue to succeed. Ryan did just this and it turned his life around. Marissa may not be with him in the flesh, but her spirit has never left his side. She too, sits with Kirsten at night and strokes Ryan's hair. Marissa lives on within Ryan and all those who love her.