Epilogue – Vaughn

He stood at the edge of the grassy verge, looking out over the expansive lawns spread before him. Just down from him was Josie's grave. It was the first time he'd been there since the funeral. Unable to move forward, unwilling to move back, he just stood, watching, waiting.

Taking a deep breath, he steeled him for the inevitable and took a step forward. Getting his momentum, he crossed the lawn directly for Josie's grave.

Standing before it, he found himself holding back tears at the beautiful inscription and picture that had been put on her headstone.

"You're in the arms of the angels, may you find some comfort there"

Awkwardly he placed a bunch of flowers in the holder next to her headstone. "These are for you," he said, feeling weird about talking to a headstone. "I knew you liked sunflowers, so I grabbed these."

He sunk to the ground, and slowly reached out a hand to the headstone. Softly he touched it, then traced the words written there with his finger.

"I don't really know what to say… This is kinda new to me… Damn it." Scratching his head, he took in another deep breath. "I love you Josie. I always will… God, why did you have to die? Why couldn't I tell you this when you were alive? You should have told me you were dying Josie, I know I couldn't have done anything to save you but at least I could have been with you… I could have shared your pain. You don't just die and then tell someone you love them, it's really cruel!"

He punched the ground in a surge of anger, striking out at the pain he felt, and at the injustice of it all. "It's just… Isn't it better to have loved and lost then never have loved at all? You never gave me the chance to love you Josie, you should have said something… I should have said something." He sighed in defeat.

"There's so many things we should have done, so many 'what ifs' and 'if only's'. I shouldn't have been such a coward about telling you how I felt. If I had we could have been together years ago. I know you weren't ready when you came back after that year of being missing… Maybe if I'd plucked up my courage and spoken to you about it, maybe we could have discussed it. Instead I took it to mean that you wanted nothing to do with me. At least not romantically. But there's no point dwelling on all of that, now is there? You did what you did, and I did what I did. And that's all there is to it."

A few tears fell from his cheeks, but he didn't wipe them away. He knew they were healing tears. "I guess all I can do now is move forward. But you know I'll never forget you… You are my first love after all… I just wonder if you'll be my only love. I don't really know how I'll be able to go on, but go on I will, because I know it's what you want… or would have wanted at any rate. So I'll do it for you, because I love you Josie, I love you with all my heart and soul."

Standing slowly, he brushed the dirt from his pants, and laid a hand gently on the top of the tombstone. "I love you. Goodbye."

He turned and without looking back made his way back to the car. Slowly he drove out of the cemetery, leaving the love of his life behind.

Fin

And that's it. I really hope you enjoyed it, that you didn't cry too much :D I am in the works of a possible sequel, no promises... We'll see. Tahra xoxo