The day of the funeral came and the entire town of Summer Bay, including the Police, Ambulance officers, Fire Brigade, Hospital Staff and Johnny were there. Johnny was openly crying as was Ric.

The service began. "I have been instructed to make this brief." He unfolded a piece of paper. "Stephayni was a good person. She was well liked and respected by all in the Summer Bay community. She is preceded by her former husband Johnny Cooper to whom all entitlements are left to.

Stephayni requested that the following letter be read at her funeral should she ever pass on.

To everyone in attendance today,

Thankyou for coming, I know that this is a sad day for you, but try and think of the good things. I have lived my life as I wanted to but now it is time for me to pass on.

Im sorry not to have said goodbye but it was better this way. Not so many tears.

Please do not cry at my funeral today. A funeral is meant to be a joyous occasion, no matter how sad it seems.

I have requested that the only flowers to adorn the wooden crate that is called a coffin, should be red roses tied together with white ribbon.

Thankyou all once again for the best year of my life. I wish you all the best for the rest of your life and hope that you fulfil your dreams like I did.

All my love,

Stephayni De Walscott.

That was the letter I was sent about six months ago." The priest stated.

Everyone was too focused on the funeral to notice the lone figure standing apart from the rest. Ric felt that weird sensation that there was someone staring at him and he turned slightly but once again there was no-one there. He felt Johnny trying to catch his attention subtly and locked his gaze onto Johnny's. He saw Johnny nod almost imperceptibly, but Ric saw it and realised Johnny knew who it was and that he had seen who it was.

Later, after the funeral was over, Ric approached Johnny and asked him quietly who he had seen.

All Johnny said was "I've seen her before. She's still here and she's alive. She faked her own death so technically she isn't actually dead. Forget I told you this. She does this every time she's mixed up. That's the third car she has smashed up in 5 years. She always does it when she's upset. Of course the car companies know she isn't dead and she gets another car. I spoke to Steph yesterday. She came to see me. She asked me to tell you not to worry about her; she's fine for the time being. She will make herself known when she is ready. Don't look for her and don't alert the cops that she is still alive or else. That's not my warning but hers. Please Ric, let her be alone for awhile. She poured out the whole story to me and I told her what to do. I have to go. The cops are starting to look at me strangely. Just remember the warning bro." With that, he sauntered over to where the cops were waiting and they handcuffed him and led him away.

Ric realised that Johnny and Steph never divorced. That's why Steph had acted so quiet when he asked her when the court date was. She had lied to him. She had never really loved him, she just needed security.

Well Steph could go and rot in hell for all he cared. She used him and he didn't want her back even if she begged and bribed him. He wouldn't budge.

Then a voice spoke in his head. "Do you love her with all your heart and soul? Then if you do, write all your feelings down in a letter and post it to her. She may not get it, but at least it will get your feelings out of your system."

Ric left the wake that moment, and headed home. When he got there, he went to his room, sat down at his desk and wrote. He used an entire pad of paper and it took him 5 hours to finish. Then he put it into a manilla envelope, addressed it to Steph and drove to her house and pushed it under her door. Again, he felt the presence of someone watching him. This time he looked quickly and spotted a shape moving quickly away from the window. He knew it was Steph, but how to talk to her? He quickly ran up the stairs and unlocked the front door quietly so as not to alert her, although how he could manage not to do that when Steph was the best stealth operator was hard, but somehow he knew she would be waiting for him in their bedroom. He picked up his envelope and quietly removed his shoes and padded up the hallway to their bedroom, walked into the darkened room shut the door quietly and locked it. He knew Steph was watching him so he sat down on the bed and waited for her to make the first move. It didn't take her very long.

"Why are you here Ric? There is no need. You cant be in my life anymore. Johnny told you that. Please leave me alone." She said, in barely a whisper, stepping out from behind a door that seemed to appear from the seemingly solid wall.

She stood in the doorway, her hair wet and straggling around her face as though she had just had a shower. Ric knew better. He crossed the room in four strides and caught her before she collapsed.