Open Your Heart

Epilogue

Opening his eyes, Henroin groaned. How much sleep had he gotten? Clearly not enough since he felt like he'd been hit by a bus. Rolling over, he lightly placed a hand beside him. The bed was just as cold as he was. How long had it been since Char had gone? He'd lost track, but he hadn't exactly been counting the hours. Not when all he could focus on was the loneliness he felt at the absence. Sighing, He forced himself to get up and head into the bathroom. A quick shower, the usual daily things of washing his face and brushing his teeth, but it was all done in silence. Without his lover their to talk to him, the world simply seemed loud, not meaningful.

How long had it been since they'd first gotten together now? Six years? If he'd been alive, he would have been happy with the short time, but now six years felt closer to the blink of an eye. It simply hadn't been enough, had it? Pulling on his tailored black suit and slicking back his hair, he stared at himself in the mirror. He'd lost a bit of weight recently, thanks to all of this, and it showed. When the door to the bed room opened, he looked in the mirror and caught sight of Orco. His friend was dressed similarly in a black suit, though his had been purposely made a little loose for better movement. "Are you about ready?" Was he?

Looking at himself in the mirror again, he sighed. "No?... Yes? I don't know." The man gave him a sympathetic smile.

"Is anyone, really?" Sighing, he turned to face the man.

"In my experience from doing this once before? No." The man tilted his head in agreement. "But... putting this off any longer is only gonna make it worse." Orco nodded slowly.

"We've both been there, so I understand." Moving to the door, he followed the birdeater down the hallway and out to the car. Climbing inside the car, he prepared himself for the roughly three hour car ride that awaited them. Watching the manor disappear behind them, he tried to relax in his seat. All he wanted now was to see his lover, to hold his hand and hear his laugh. The time passed and he barely noticed the scenery around them change as they headed to their destination. All he could focus on were the memories of Chardenay.

Pulling up to the building, he waited for the door to open, looking up at the structure. It was a large, castle-like building with vines growing up the side. The building had been previously owned by Lucifer but had been sold to him years ago in disrepair. Since then, he'd had it fixed up, furnished to his tastes, and landscaped to perfection. Only for him to rarely, if ever, use it for anything. Over the last few years, however, he'd taken small month long trips here with Char to simply be together. Since he died, and even a bit before then, those little trips had been the best vacations he'd had. Moving to the door, he stepped inside and took a slow, deep breath. He didn't move until he felt the hand on his shoulder.

"I know, I'm going." Glancing at the birdeater, he tried to ignore the look on the man's face. It was somewhere between sympathetic and judgmental.

"You know, you could always run away now." Henroin didn't even have to try to throw the nastiest glare he could at the man.

"You think that I'm the type of man to run away from this?" Orco chuckled.

"No, I don't, but it wouldn't be the first time you've surprised me, Henry. Six years ago, I also didn't think you were the type of man to fall in love with anyone after Connie, much less another man." He couldn't argue with that. Six years ago, he thought the same thing about himself, and now look at where he was. As the two moved through the front doors, Henroin took in everything he could see, hear, and smell. The first thing that hit him was the soft scent of flowers; so many different kinds of flowers that you couldn't truly pick out each individual smell. He could hear all of the chatter from the people ho were there, waiting for the services, preparing for the services, and simply milling about together. And when he looked around the foyer, he couldn't help but smile. Lush, green garlands had been laid on the steps leading to the second floor, large white roses mixed in with the leaves. Tall white candles in hurricane glasses had been lit and placed around the rooms to light the way, even with the chandeliers above them still on. Sheer white cloth had been draped along the walls and led down the hallway toward where the ceremonies would be held, and nothing, absolutely nothing he could see here, was out of place.