It was like she had never gone. The wine bottle stood on the kitchen counter, the candles, glasses and plates all beginning to gather dust as they sat on the table he'd set. Virgil wanted to leave everything the way it was, to turn around and leave the flat, but after a moment of hesitation, he closed the door over and took a few tentative steps into the apartment. His eyes found the newly mounted picture of him and Caitlin, smiling, carefree…happy.

"I'll set the camera up so it'll go by itself," Caitlin laughed, the beer having gone straight to her head. Virgil got up, placing his hands on her waist as she stuck her tongue out, concentrating hard on getting the camera to do what she wanted.

"Oh…oh Virgil it's going!" she said, stumbling back into him. They fell back against the sofa, looking at each other, laughing and the camera had clicked. Their drunken happiness forever sealed on paper. The next morning, Virgil had gone to find strong coffee and painkillers for his head and instead found Caitlin hanging the picture on the wall.

"Honey…of all the pictures we have, you like this one the best?"

"It's nice," she protested, getting down from the chair and stepping back to admire her handiwork. Virgil frowned as he poured the strong smelling coffee powder into the pot.

"It's evidence of our drinking habits," he muttered. She smiled and walked over to him, placing her lips against his bare shoulder.

"I think we look happy and in love," she said softly, kissing his shoulder over and over. Virgil looked at her out of the corner of his eyes and grabbed hold of her. She let out a squeal of delight as he pressed his lips on hers, pulling her on to her tiptoes as he kissed her furiously.

The memory slowly faded as the realisation of his surroundings returned. Virgil wondered if he would ever smile or laugh like that again. He yanked the picture from the wall and placed it face down on the couch, slamming a pillow over it. He couldn't bring himself to look into her smiling eyes. Slowly, he sat down at the dining table, picking at the line of wax that ran down the side of the bottle the candle was jammed in, distracting himself from the reason he was back in his apartment. Pushing his chair back, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the tiny box that his father had pressed into his hand as he'd left the hospital. Virgil had looked at it, feeling sick to his stomach. He opened it now, his hands shaking as the twinkling silver of the simple band reflected across his face. Placing it on the table, Virgil swallowed once, twice and closed his eyes before getting to his feet. He moved into his bedroom, opening the cupboard and bringing out his suit, black tie, white shirt, the ominous attire for the following day. His eyes were drawn to one of Caitlin's dresses that hung alongside it and he gently touched the soft material, rubbing it between his fingers, remembering the feel of his as he'd pushed it up around her waist, collapsing onto his bed together, the first night they met.

He'd clumsily clattered through the door, Caitlin stumbling after him, desperate for their lips to meet again as they staggered through the apartment. He'd eased her on to her back with long kisses, her hands tangled in his hair as he'd lifted his head. She smiled as his hand moved up her leg, pulling her dress with it before he'd been pulled back down to her, her lips grazing his neck as she fumbled with his belt. She pulled her dress over her head, mussing her long dark hair. Virgil thought she looked incredible, tangled hair falling over her eyes and running down the curve of her back. He pressed his lips against her bare shoulder as she slid her hands under his shirt, easing it from his body. Not a word was spoken.

Virgil slid to the ground, the lust the memory evoked in him making him weak. He felt an ache inside and closed his eyes, bringing her dress to his face. Suddenly he jumped, shocked as he heard a voice behind him.

"Virgil…please don't do this to yourself." It was her voice and Virgil turned to see her sitting at the edge of the bed.

"Caitlin…what…?" he tried to say, but she shook her head.

"I'm not here," she whispered. Through the moment of incomprehension, Virgil panicked, his eyes welling with tears, his head spinning as he gazed at the girl before him.

"Why can I see you then? Why can I hear you?"

"Because you want to Virgil."