Forever and Always

Chapter 39

Clara held Bucky's hand as they walked down the sidewalk. Clara stared at the flowers as they walked along, and Bucky just stared straight ahead.

"We're almost here." Clara picked up the faint scent of Steve. They continued to follow the sidewalk, and in the distance, they could see a small white building. Clara felt herself scooch closer to Bucky as they got closer. She could feel Bucky's hand squeeze her hand tighter. On the sides of the sidewalk, she could feel people staring at them, whether for it was a split second, or if it was until they were out of view. They recognize us. Clara knew that it shoudot bother her, of course they would be known, but it was just weird. Most people just knowing things about her and Bucky now. But she just shook away their curious stares and finally made it to the entrance of the white building. They stopped at the front door.

"It's so hard to see him like this. U just doesn't feel right that he's..." Clara hugged his arm and rubbed it comfortingly.

"I could never understand how hard this must be for you, but Steve knew what he was doing when he made his choice." He gave a small smile, and she signaled her hand forward.

"Go ahead. I'm right behind you." Bucky started to walk forward, and she held his hand until he was out of reach. She stopped as he went into the building. She took a deep breath, calming herself before going in when she smelled a familiar scent. She took another whiff. It smelled similar to what she was thinking of, but it wasn't the exact smell. But the scent was close. Clara, tracking the smell, walked away from the building and into the grassy area. That's when she saw a man and woman crouched over on the ground. She's never met them before, she was sure of it, so she wasn't sure what about their scent was familiar.

      "Unmmm...excuse me?" Clara got their attention, and they both turned around. The eyes of the woman were starting to get red, and the man had his arm on her shoulder. They were holding flowers.

       "Can we help you?" Clara shook her head.

        "No...I was just...you lol med familiar from behind, but I must have gotten you confused with someone else. I'm sorry to bother you." Clara felt so embarrassed interrupting this mourning couple, and she must've thought her sense were finally failing her. She smiled awkwardly and quickly turned around. But a hand grabbed hers.

         "Wait a minute..." the woman has ended up grabbing Clara's hand. "You seem familiar. Like I've seen you around before." Clara could see the woman look her up and down, and she just had to remember that she was in that situation because she was being too curious. "I do know you." The woman got up, and the man tried to calm her down. "You...you worked in the pediatric section of the hospital. You assisted my daughter until you left." It took a minute...then Clara felt her eyes widen. She looked past the man and the woman.

Jane McAllister
Born March 15, 2017 - Died November 2, 2023
Beautiful daughter and friend. Her creative mind and gentle soul could make anyone smile.

"You're daughter... Jane's your daughter." The woman nodded, her eyes getting glassy. She nodded.

"You left her and...." Clara shook her head.

"I...I had no choice. I'm so sorry about Jane. But she understood why I had to leave. I told her that..."

"Let me finish..." Clara shut up immediately, trying to hold in tears. The woman stared at her with wide eyes, then unexpectedly...she started to smile. Tears escaped her eyes, but she was crying. "Our daughter told us everything. In 2018, my husband disappeared along with the other 50% of all living things. Shortly after that, Jane was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. My life was falling apart, and she was getting weak fast. Then you came along. You getting assigned to my daughter was the best thing to happen. You kept her hopes up, you made her stronger, she loved you. So when I heard you left unexpectedly, I was concerned and confused because they sounded nothing like you." Clara felt herself choke up as she listened. Her husband was massaging her shoulder, also trying not to cry.