Colby was finally alone with Hannah. Everyone had been in and out. Everyone had tried to be kind. Everyone had tried to console him. And all he'd wanted was to be left alone with Hannah. Hannah. Beautiful, loving Hannah. So still.
He wiped the tears with his sleeve. Blood. Hannah's blood. On his sleeve. On the front of his shirt. Everywhere. Tears welled again. He sighed.
I've come to talk with you again,
FBI Agent, he thought bitterly, and he couldn't protect the woman he loved. The one person who'd brought love and laughter in his life. And he'd been helpless.
Gently, he smoothed her hair away from her forehead. She would have pitched a fit because it was flat. She hated it flat, she was always spiking it up.
A glint caught his eye, and tears welled again. The bracelet, still on her wrist. She'd been so happy when he'd given it to her. Just yesterday. Oh, God, was it just yesterday? It seemed a lifetime ago.
He touched her lips, gently tracing the outline, remembering the sweetness of her kiss. Those lovely lips, almost always curved in a smile. He pressed a gentle kiss to them. So still.
He picked up her hand, lovingly caressing the palm. He cupped her hand in both his hands.
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
It had all happened so quickly. So quickly that he wasn't even sure what started it all. He wasn't even sure which gun the bullet came from. Or who fired the first shot. And it was all over with in a few seconds. The thieves were down. And so was Hannah. That scream. He could still hear her scream.
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Colby closed his eyes. There was no relief there, all he could see was Hannah, lying still in his arms, bleeding. So much blood. He couldn't stop the bleeding. Oh, God, he couldn't stop the bleeding.
Within the sound of silence.
He looked over at Hannah again. So still.