For You (DISCONTINUED)

Nine

It was cool that morning. The morning of a Saturday in late May. A small breeze blew through the cracks in the window leaving the air in the treehouse crisp.

I've been out in the tree house for about a week, not once leaving the safety of it. I was all alone, up until the knock on the door.

"Dani! Open this fucking door! I know you're in there!"

Kendra. Shit, I forgot all about her.. But I did what I was told, I unlocked the latch door, swinging it upwards. I stepped back as she climbed in.

With the light coming in through the window, I got a good look at her as she stood up. She was taller than I was, much tanner too. She cut her hair since I last saw her, leaving a short pixie cut of her blonde hair. The light reflected off of her dark hazel eyes.

She ran up to me, wrapping her arms around me. But I didn't move. I stood there, still and motionless. I could smell her perfume, lavender and jasmine. I knew she was there, oversized sweater and all. But I didn't move.

"Dani.. I thought I lost you.." Her words were cut off by the sob in her throat. She pulled back, her hands still on my shoulders. "You're alive.." I don't think she was just saying it.. I think she was trying to convince herself I was still there. But for whatever reason, she was telling the truth. I was alive.

She let her hands drop to her side. Tears still stained her cheeks, but she made no effort to wipe them away. That's when a tear slipped down my own cheek. I was alive.. I didn't stand still then. I walked up to her and threw my small, weakened arms around her. And she embraced me back.

We stood there, not saying anything, just in the presence of each other.

"Kendra.." My voice was quiet, vulnerable.

"Yes love" I felt her eyes looking down on me.

"I'm sorry.." And with that, many more tears slid down my face, leaving warm trails behind.

"Here." She took off her sweater and wrapped it around me. She was left with a long sleeve, kind of thin, but it didn't seem to bother her.

I nodded, walking over to the nook next to the window. My head fell against the window, probably cracking it more. The couch behind me creaked as Kendra sat on it, but I didn't bother to look back. It was silent until she said something.

"I know why you came here Dani.. You needed to be with Austin, or the memory you have of him.. I get it.. But you could have said something. I thought I lost you..."

"I know.. I'm sorry.." I talked to the window, my eyes not leaving the view of below.

She walked over and hugged me again. I let her, leaning into her embrace. But somehow, it didn't make anything better. She was there, comforting me as best as she could. But nothing changed. I was still broken.

The love of my life shattered me into millions of pieces as he took away his own life. And no one will understand what that feels like..