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Untitled Part 1

The come and go, a lot of people saying "I'm sorry for your loss. My condolences. It was a beautiful eulogy, Donna." and the hugs, all of that was bothering her. She knew those things were common behavior for funerals, but she didn't want to go through that. All she wanted was to take a warm bath and to savor an expensive glass of wine to help her deal with her loss.

To her relief, the familiar face of Clara showed up, and walked towards her. Both women found solace in each other's arms, sharing the grief of James Paulsen. After a while just embracing each other, they parted and stayed together side by side in silence.

Another strange face came up and gave Donna a hug, which she welcomed politely. The old man prolonged the hug a bit more than needed and made her close her eyes, wishing once again to be anywhere but there.

After what she thought was an eternity, the short old man released her from the embrace and she opened her eyes to see a face she thought she would never see again.

The other man wavered at her in silence, letting the smaller, gray haired family friend walk away from the redhead to embrace Clara in a hug.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Donna." Harvey managed to say after Clara walked away from them. The woman was clever enough to understand her daughter would need some time with the next person in line.

The last time Donna heard her name coming from his mouth, it was in a very different situation.

"I'm happy for you, Donna." Harvey said, embracing her in a tight hug.

"Thank you, Harvey. I'm happy you're here," she said with an enormous grin. She was indeed truly happy he was there, being part of a big moment of her life: her wedding with Thomas.

And that was the last day she saw him. It was ten years ago.

"Where's Harvey, Louis? I passed through his office, but it was empty," Donna asked, entering Louis' office.

The glow after five days of a honeymoon in the Bahamas all over her face.

"Donna, can you take a seat?" Louis pointed to the chair in front of him.

"Louis, what happened?" She sounded harsher than she wanted.

Louis' expression and request gave her flashbacks from when he was at her home to say Mike had gone to prison, and her first thought went to Harvey.

"Donna-"

"What happened to Harvey? Is he okay?" She was committed to defy Louis' suggestion to sit, but her knees were willing to fail her determination, which made her do it before she went straight to the floor.

"He's okay." He tried to calm her. "But-" he was looking at her with affection but also concern.

"Just rip the band-aid off," she demanded, closing her eyes, picturing a bunch of scenarios, waiting for the worst.

"He resigned the day after your wedding, Donna." He finally said, pushing to her a piece of paper what she assumed was his resignation letter.

Louis' voice suddenly started to fade away. He was explaining about Harvey giving up on the partnership and they would only make it official after her being back so they'd take his name off the wall. Louis wanted to be the one to tell her everything.

She appreciated his gesture, nevertheless she was rather dumbfounded to express it. Louis' word made her brain access something she was avoiding. The hug Harvey gave her during the wedding was tighter than any other hug they had shared. His teary eyes. The quivering of his lips when he said he was happy for her. His jaw was clenched. All of his body was given signals he was leaving.