The side effect of dying

Special Chapter: After Effect

*Nick's POV*

"Hey Tori." I knelt down on her grave and laid the bouquet of roses. "It's been a while."

The wind rustled loudly. Leaves fell down slowly. It was autumn already.

"Working at the hospital is tiring. Lily is doing fine, she fought the cancer battle. She told me she misses you." I continued with a smile. "I miss you too. God, I miss you every single day. But I followed your advice and moved on."

It's been 8 years since her death.

I sat cross legged on the brown grass and adjusted my glasses. "Somehow, I wish you could meet Lexi. She's funny, sweet and a really good cook." I chuckled at that thought. "We met in a cafe a few years ago. She kind of reminds me of you except that constant positivity."

I paused and closed my eyes. The memories of my senior year came all flooding back to me. "So, Gus and Penny got married. You knew that would've happen, right Tori?"

I felt silly to wait for an answer but I kept my smile. "Gus said he'll be visiting you later. Oh, I forgot , your dad offered me heretary to your family's company. Pretty weird huh? I mean, it's been so long and he still likes me. I mean, I thought he hated me back then."

The sun was starting to sink. Orange and yellow streaks peeked through the pink clouds. "But that was until I realised he was broken too. Your father is a good man, Victoria."

I heard footsteps behind me. I whirled around and saw Gus, with a crooked smile on his face. "I knew you'd be here."

"I thought you'd come by later." I said.

He sat down beside me. "Hm. I was in the neighborhood. Hey, Tori." He pat the tombstone. "Nick here misses you like crazy but he moved on like you told him he should."

I rolled my eyes. "Where's Penny?"

"She'll be right over."

I nodded and the two of us sat there for a while. It felt nice.

"Penny is pregnant." Gus blurted out unexpectedly. "We went to the doctors."

My mouth went slack. "Shit. Congrats, man." I hugged my best friend and smiled at him. "You're going to be a father."

"We're going to name her Victoria if it's a girl." He smiled. "If that's alright with you, of course."

"Of course! Jesus, I'm happy for you."

"So am I." Gus couldn't stop grinning. "Tori was the real reason why Penelope and I ended up together. I miss her too, man."

A tear escaped his eye but he quickly wipe  it away. "It's been years but I feel like she's still with us."

I chuckled. "Doesn't it?"

"DADDDDDYYY!!" I heard someone yell behind me. I turned my head to see my 2 year old son running towards me with his arms wide open. He swung those arms around my neck and kissed me. "Hiiii"

I kissed his cheek and stood up, with him still in my arms.  "Hey, Danny. How's my boy?"

"Bad!" He giggled and kissed my cheek again. "Daddy!"

"You're so good with your son, dude." Gus stretched his arms so he can take Daniel away from me. "Please help me, okay?"

I saw my wife, Lexi, strolling towards me with a smile on her pretty face. "Hi, sweetheart. Sorry, I couldn't stop Dan. You know how he is."

I laughed and kissed her. "That's okay." I turned around to the grave and held Lexi's hand.

The sun shone brightly on the gravestone. Illuminating the ingraved words on it.

Be happy.