Context: future-set
rompt: #035 Death
Word count: 200
Comment: There was a part of me that wanted to keep Tracy alive in this, but then in January 2016, a good friend of my mum died very unexpectedly, only in her early forties. It left us all heartbroken, and I think about her often. So this is for her. Thank you guys for reading xxx
When Robin hears that Tracy's passed away in her sleep, a high-pitched noise drowns out everything. It's so loud and persistent that Robin is sure she's dreaming. She double-checks every device, unplugs the kettle, the TV, turns off her phone (it doesn't go away).
Out of the five of them, she's the strongest the following week. She hugs Lily (who hasn't stopped crying in days), hands Barney his pack of cards so he can surprise Penny and Luke with a magic trick. She sits with Ted and watches A New Hope, holding his hand as he sobs. She and Marshall take turns staying in the guestroom.
Ten days later, when they're all standing in Ted's driveway, she realises she's packed a vice bag.
Suddenly, the noise is completely gone.
She doesn't hear Barney tell Marshall to go, that they'd be right behind them. She doesn't see Ted getting in the back of the car with his children, or feel Lily's hand brush against her arm before they drive off.
"It wasn't supposed to be like this," she says, heartbroken.
"No, it wasn't," Barney answers, pulling her into him as it finally hits her. She'd never, ever see Tracy Mosby again.