"Hey babe, are you coming to bed?" I asked Alan, walking up behind him, putting my arms around me and kissing his cheek. He looked up and smiled, patting my hand and said, "Yeah baby, I'll be there, I'm gonna catch Austin up on everything." I grimaced, trying to hold back my tears. "Of course honey, I'll just wait in the bedroom." I kissed him and walked out, sitting on the stairs to listen to Alan talk. "I've missed you, man. You need to come by more often. Especially with this wedding right around the corner, Marian is more and more stressed each day. I'm scared one day she's just gonna rip my hair out!" Alan started laughing then continued. "We gotta get you fitted for your suit, best man." There was silence and he spoke again, his voice wavering. "I just have a question... Did you and your girlfriend break up? I tried talking to her the other day about you, and she just started crying and said you were gone. Why didn't you tell me Austin?" Finally the tears spilled over, and I couldn't take it anymore. I walked to him getting on my knees in front of him, placing my hands on his knees. "Alan, baby, Austin is gone. His heart... His heart just couldn't keep going. It's hard, I know he was your best friend, and I loved him too, but let me help you get through this. We can get through this together." He grabbed my face with both hands and smiled. "He's right there. He's laughing, he thinks all this is so absurd. He's here, he's gonna be in our wedding." I knew it would take him a long time to get over the death of Austin, and all I could do is help him cope. "Okay, tell him I say hi, and I can't wait to see him in a suit, he's always looked so handsome in a suit. See you in bed, babe." I started walking away, pausing at the doorway, watching him and listening. "Well I'm gonna go join Marian now. I'll see tomorrow? We can get a beer and talk. Goodnight, Austin." He stood up, hugging the air. I raced up the stairs jumping in bed before Alan came in. A few moments later Alan walked in. I heard him turn on the shower, and I waited for him in bed. I started getting sleepy, but then I felt him crawl in bed, shaking next to me. Wordlessly I wrapped my arms around him. "I just miss him so much, Marian." I could barely understand him through his sobs. "Shh, its okay." I gently said while rubbing his back. "We'll get though this... Austin will always be here in our hearts, and we're never going to forget him. I promise..." His sobs eventually were subdued to soft sniffles. I kissed him and wiped his tears away. "Goodnight Alan." I whispered. "Goodnight Marian... I love you... And thank you for letting me talk to Austin." He wrapped his arms around me, nuzzling into my neck, until we both fell into a sad sleep, filled with dream of memories of better days.
