Journey Into The Unknown (Completed)

Life Ahead

Olivia laid the bunch of roses on Xavier's grave, her heart aching as she did so.

He was only 24 when he died.

She gulped back tears, the loss still raw even after five years.

The memory was as vivid as it was on the day it happened.

The cops had taken them in and listened to their account of what had happened. Their bodies were recovered from the forest, and their parents - who had been looking for them - were finally able to give them a proper burial.

They decided to burn the forest down, as a way of making sure no one else would suffer the same fate as them.

The police had no case against them - after all, they were the survivors of a terrible tragedy. But the memory of what had happened in that forest would stay with them forever.

Morgan had been missing for years, and the thought of what might have happened to her still haunted her parents.

The school had offered the parents a substantial compensation package as a way of expressing their condolences. But it was little consolation for the loss of a daughter, son, and a friend.

Olivia knew that nothing could bring back the lives of her friends, but she felt a sense of duty to live on in their memory. She thought of Xavier, the friend who had been the closest to her, and she smiled at his picture, imagining him smiling back at her.

"I love you," she whispered. "And I'll never forget you. You'll always be in my memories." It was a promise to herself, and to him.

She would live for all of them, for the friends she had lost.

She looked over at Reyes, who was in a wheelchair. He had been in a state of shock for years, still unable to accept that he had lost Rainbow.

He had been planning to marry her, but now she was gone. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he gazed at a picture of his beloved girlfriend, gone too soon.

Reyes was a different person now. He had lost his girlfriend, his friends, and a part of himself. His dad stood by his side, placing a flower on her grave. Olivia stood back, tears in her eyes, as she watched the parents mourn the loss of their children.

The fifth anniversary of the tragedy was a day of sorrow and remembrance. Each parent had come to place flowers on their child's grave, their eyes filled with grief and loss. Olivia watched as Reyes's mother, a beautiful actress, placed a flower on his girlfriend's grave.

Over time, Olivia had become close to Isobel, Xavier's mother. She learned that Isobel was just like her son - kind, caring, and compassionate.

Olivia had sought therapy and it had helped her, but she still couldn't forget about her friends, no matter how hard she tried. As she looked around, she saw Jana being comforted by her parents. It was clear that she was still struggling with the loss of her sister.

Olivia wiped her tears, still grieving the loss of her best friend. Dana deserved to be happy, and Olivia wished she could have made that happen. As she climbed into her car, a familiar voice spoke from the passenger seat.

"You're doing great, Olivia," Xavier said.

She turned to look at him, her eyes brimming with tears. "I know. You made me stronger. I wouldn't be here without you."

She felt a strange sense of peace wash over her, as if her friend was still with her, watching over her.

"Aren't you going to tell Jana?" Xavier asked, a playful tone in his voice.

Olivia shrugged and started the car. "None of her business," she said firmly.

"You have to move on, Olivia," Xavier said, his voice gentle but insistent.

Olivia's eyes filled with tears. "I miss you so much, Xavier," she whispered.

"I know, baby," he said, his voice full of compassion. "But you have to keep living and quit your therapy. It's clearly not working"

She tearily laughed back. "I know. I am grateful anyway. It brought you back, with me"

Xavier smile disappeared. "You have to let me go"

She shook her head. "Never. I lost you once, I am not gonna ever allow that to happen. I love you so much, Xavier"

"I love you too. Is this what you want. To live like this for the rest of your life?"

"Yes"

Xavier's eyes filled with sorrow. "You have to let me go," he said again. "I can't be here forever. And you can't live like this - it's not healthy."

"You need help," Xavier said. "You should tell Jana about what's been happening."

Olivia screamed. "No!!" She pulled over to the side of the road and glared at him. "You're not going anywhere. I want you here with me, okay?"

Xavier sigh and finally give in. "If that's what you want."

Olivia smiled back. "I wish I could kiss you."

Xavier sat back in his seat. "I wish I could, too. I can't even touch you."

"Your presence is enough for me, sweetheart," Olivia said, beaming.

Xavier shook his head. "You really, really need help."

Olivia laughed. "I know. What happens in therapy stays in therapy." She started driving again.

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Thank you all for reading❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

You have all been amazing.