I blinked, I was in a hospital room. White everywhere, machines, and nurses walking the halls. I glanced down at my arms and legs, they were bandaged, my chest hurt badly. Suddenly, all the memories flashed back, I had already woken up briefly before they put me under. Ari and Lexi were dead. Killed in the car crash, I should be dead too, but I wasn’t. I tucked my love for Ari away, I would always remember him. My family was also dead, they were murdered. Everyone I loved was dead, except Adrian. I still had him, but I couldn’t help think, why was I still alive? I felt numb. I noticed a chestnut fuzz enter the room. Adrian. I smiled, but then felt guilty. “Oh, Vera I came as soon as I found out,” Adrian said. “Adrian.” I whispered. I was so grateful to have him. “Shh, don’t talk, you’re hurt.” Tears silently streamed down my face, I opened my arms like a little child. Adrian came forward and sat down next to me on the hospital bed, putting me slightly in his lap, I crushed him in a hug. I needed him here. I just let all my emotion out. Sobs wracked my body. “Vera, I’m here for you, no matter what.” He said rubbing my head. Eventually, I fell asleep. Adrian would get me through this.

After a few weeks or months, I wasn’t sure, in the hospital I returned home. It turns out I gotten some cuts, scraped, broken my left arm, dislocated my left shoulder, and broken ribs. It would all heal, but my heart never would. At least I didn’t think it would. Then once I got home I spent a week or two mopping, then I finally got to packing. My house was now empty and barren. Everything had been cleaned, there was no evidence of what had happened. Tomorrow would be the funerals, they were all being held together. Mother, Father, Saria, Lexi, and Ari. After tomorrow, I was moving. New town, new scene, and with an aunt and uncle I had never known. Fantastic. I would be put in a new school as well, I had to leave all my friends, those that were left anyway, my home, and where I grew up. I sighed, I was done, so freaking done. I climbed the stairs and went to my room, almost everything was packed but my outfit for the funeral and a few other outfits for two more weeks. I laid down on my bed, trying to accept what my life was becoming, I had no choice, I had to make the best of it. Tomorrow I would let go of my past or whatever stupid phrase other people would use. I closed my eyes, trying my hardest not to think about them. But I couldn’t, I could still see Saria’s onyx hair, hear Mom’s laugh and Dad’s jokes, smell Lexie’s perfume, and feel Ari’s warm embrace. Tears streamed down my face, and I cried until I fell asleep.

Sunlight crept through my window. I sat up, wiping my crusty eyes. I got out of bed and freshened up, taking a long hot shower. I shampooed the heck out of my ratted hair, and after brushing it and blow dried it till it looked perfect. I put on eyeshadow, but no mascara. I was at risk of crying, so I didn’t need to be looking like I got black eyes as well. I pulled on my dress, it was simple and black. The front fell to my knees and the bottom went to the floor, just grazing the ground with my four-inch heels on. I took a deep breath, it was time. I grabbed my purse and stuffed my phone in it. I slowly went down the stairs. Adrian was waiting at the bottom, in a black suit. His hair was gelled. My lips twitched, he never had his hair like that it was always fluffy and shaggy like a dog. I ran down the rest of the stairs and into his arms, burying my face. “Hey.” He said softly, rubbing my back. I was so grateful to have him, I don’t know what I do without him. I’d probably be committed to a mental hospital. I didn’t know what I was going to do once I moved, he’d have to visit a lot, or I would commit myself. I pulled back, composing myself. “Hey.” I replied, giving a weak smile. Adrian took my arm and hooked it with his. “Let’s go.” he said. I nodded as he led me out the door. It was sunny out, not a single cloud in the sky. I grimaced, I thought funeral days were supposed to be rainy and gloomy. I looked in front of us, there was a big long shiny black limo waiting. Adrian opened the door. I ducked under and stepped in. Already in it were Jocelyn, Ari’s parents, and Lexi’s parents. All dressed in black. I climbed in and sat next to Ari’s mom, she was always so nice to me, like a second mom. She pulled me into a hug. My chest shuddered, it took all my will not to burst out in tears. “How are you doing dear.” She said. I looked up at her and gave another weak smile. Adrian climbed in and sat down next to me, the car started its way towards the cemetery. We drove in silence. After a few minutes, we reached the cemetery. I could see the big green hill littered with gravestones, flowers, and decorations. The limo stopped at the main gates and we stepped out. There were so many people here. Probably at least half the city. Because most of the school knew Lexi and Ari, and lots of people knew my parents and Saria. We all got out and started up the hill. I felt numb, I hung on to Adrian’s arm and let him lead me up. I was a broken mess, just scattered pieces of who I was, each of them had taken a piece with them when they left me. At the top of the hill we stood before the five graves, the casquettes already placed in the ground. The priest guy stood at the front, saying words that didn’t register in my brain, I just stared forward. At some point, someone handed me a bouquet of roses, five, one for each grave. Once the priest was done talking it was time to do the dirt in the grave thing. I was supposed to go first. I walked up to the graves, starting with my father’s. I grabbed a handful of dirt and stood in front of the hole and placed the rose by the headstone, Mark Sato, beloved father, 1980-2024. Goodbye father. I thought as I dropped the dirt in. then I did my mother’s and sister. After was Lexi. You were my best friend Lex, don’t you ever forget, because I won’t. Then, it was Ari’s grave. Ari Winchester, beloved son, 2008-2024. I picked up the dirt and walked over. I slowly let the dirt fall and watched it hit the mahogany wood. “I loved you, Ari, I’m so sorry I never got to tell you.” I whispered, but so quiet so that no one could hear me. It took all I had to not break down and start sobbing. I slowly walked back over to Adrian, leaning against him, otherwise, I was sure I would collapse. Adrian just rubbed my back, comforting me. As the funeral went on various people came to tell me they were sorry for my loss, there were so many I lost count. I just simply nodded when they said that, I bet half of those people didn’t actually care or were “Sorry for my loss.” At the end of the funeral, when almost everyone left. I walked over to the now buried casquettes and sat down in front of the gravestones. I started sobbing, I couldn’t help it. They shouldn’t be gone, not without me. I felt someone’s arms wrap around me, assuming it was Adrian. I turned around. It was Ari’s mother. “You loved him didn’t you.” She said softly. I choked, how did she know? “Yeah, I did.” I said wiping the tears from my cheeks. “I never got to tell him.” I whispered. “It’s ok to cry dear, there is no shame in that. He loved you too, you know.” I sniffed. “He loved me too?” I asked. He had never told me, at the party, I thought he was going to, but then he cut off. “Yes, he did, dear, he may not have told you, but I saw the way he looked at you, he loved you very much, and he would want you to be happy.” She said encouragingly. More tears slipped down my cheeks, he loved me, this was so unfair, why did this happen? Why? “It’s ok to grieve dear, but promise me you will try to love again, Ari would want you to live your life.” I nodded taking in her words, of course, he would, he would want everything for me, and I would do my best to make sure to do what he would’ve wanted me to do, but I couldn’t do it now, not for a few years. I got to my feet and gave Ari’s mom one last hug before going back over to Adrian. Adrian wrapped an arm around my side. “Ready to go?” He asked softly. “Yeah.” I answered. We got into one of the limo’s and headed back to my house, I had spent basically the whole day at the cemetery, it was already eight o’clock. Once we got back to my house Adrian walked me to the door. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?” He asked. I nodded. “I’ll be fine, if anything happens I’ll call you, ok?” I said, I normally wouldn’t mind him staying like he did yesterday, but it was my last night, I wanted to be alone. “Ok, just be safe.” He said giving me a hug the walking back over to the car. I opened the door and stepped inside, the closed it and locked the door. I headed upstairs, I close my eyes as I passed the empty rooms and went straight to my room. I shut the door to my room and went to the bathroom. I ripped the dress off and threw it in the trash, I never wanted to see it again. I took the rest of my clothes off and started the shower, once it was hot I stepped in, not caring that it was burning my back. Once I cleaned up and felt satisfied I stepped out and grabbed a fluffy towel and wrapped it around myself. I went back to my room and lay on my bed. After a minute I got up and dried off. I threw on some pajamas, the hopped into bed pulling the covers tightly over me. It was my last night in my bed in my house. Soon I fell into a fitful sleep, haunted by my loved ones.