Even in Death (#Wattys2015)

Aftermath

It's been seven months since I lost everything I've ever known. Seven grueling months. I tug at the ring Carson gave me that night. Instead of sitting on my finger, it sits on a rose gold chain necklace that Hunter got me for her funeral.

Her funeral was one of the saddest days of my life. It wasn't even just because she was laying in the casket in front of us all, it was because it was the most loving environment to be in. We live in Texas, in a small town called Gruene. Small towns and Texas and gay people generally don't mix well together. Thankfully for us it was different.

Our families had always gotten along and support us fully. So did our community.

On the day of Carson's funeral, my family sat with hers on the front row. The song Carson wrote played on repeat until the procession started. Carson's mom had asked me to speak for everyone, because they all thought I was the best person to talk about how much we would miss Carson.

Long story short, I managed to squeak out about our engagement and what the song meant before I collapsed in tears and my brother had to carry me back to the pew. Nobody blamed me though.

I shook my head, trying to clear the memory of the funeral out of my head. A knock on my door broke me from my thoughts.

"Hey, get up. We're going somewhere today, you promised." Hunter's voice was laced with accusal.

"Fine. Give me twenty minutes, okay? I need to shower." My answer must have satisfied Hunter, because he tapped my door once more before I heard his feet pounding down the staircase a lot more gracefully than usual.

Forty-five minutes later I made my way into the living room and saw Hunter playing a video game. Probably Call of Duty, it's practically all he does besides play baseball.

"I thought we were going out." I interrupted his kill-streak, definitely thinking he would be upset with me.

"Willow!? You're actually going out in public?" A huge grin stretched across his unnaturally tanned face and he ran his hand through his short blonde hair. "Let's go then!"

We hopped into his Jeep Wrangler and he peeled out of the driveway. "Where are we going exactly?"

"The mall." He adjusted his mirrors and cranked the radio up, ceasing any objection from me.

I crinkled my nose and huffed like a child. I really hadn't left the house since the funeral. Other than going to school, I just stayed at home. There were too many painful reminders or people reminding me of what happened. We pulled in the parking lot and I was relieved to see it wasn't extremely busy. Christmas is only a week away, but it seems like everyone is already traveling. Fine by me.

"Umm, Hunt? Why exactly did we need to come to the mall? I mean there's a much less crowded dog park a few blocks away..."

"Can it, Willow. You are shopping for new clothes. I'm buying. Seriously, your wardrobe has been nothing short of depressing and black and that's not you."

I frowned and looked down at my outfit. I thought I looked okay. Yes, I stopped wearing any color but black since the funeral, but it wasn't as awful as he made it sound. Was it? Today I even tried to look decent. I let my hair fall in their natural loose waves instead of a knotted bun on top of my head. I was wearing a pair of ripped black leggings, and a long sleeved sweater that had a low-cut neck. Black of course. I also had even dug out my super cute black ballet flats with little red bows on the heels.

"No black today. I want color. You look like a sheet of paper."

I groaned internally and externally, but otherwise agreed. We set off into the mall, and as the day went on and I modeled clothes for my brother, I realized I was actually kind of having fun. I was smiling and laughing, things I hadn't done since the night I lost Carson.

"Okay, seriously, last store today. I've got at least seven different bags and you've spent plenty of money. I'm ready to go home and watch you play your dumb game. Maybe even kick your ass a time or two." I pleaded with Hunter as we made a stop in front of what used to be my favorite store, Pac Sun.

"Fine. I guess I am a little scarred from all the frilly girly stuff I've seen today." He winked at me and pushed me inside Pac Sun.

I immediately darted over to the men's clothes and went in search of a hoodie. This was the best place to get them, and the men's are so much more comfortable than the women's. They aren't as snug and the fabric just feels softer. As I began sifting through the different colors, I skimmed a hand that was looking through the same rack.

"Oh, I'm s-sorry," I muttered, before blushing profusely.

I lifted my head and was met with a smile that reminded me of sunshine. I did a once over glance at the person who owned this smile and realized that it was most definitely a girl, and an incredibly hot one at that.

Her hair was longer than I was normally attracted to. Actually it appeared to be longer than mine. She had blonde hair like me, but had it pulled back in a bun with a hat thrown on top. She had muscles. Serious and extremely attractive muscles.

I realized I was gawking at her, and felt heat rush over my face again.

A throaty laugh escaped her. "Woah there, pretty lady. It's okay. Why are you blushing so much? I'm Bailey."

"W-Willow." Oh my god I was being such an idiot. This hot ass girl just called me pretty and the cat had my tongue.

"So, okay then. Since I seem to have deemed you speechless, why don't I give you my number, and you can shoot me a text letter so I can get to know you. How's that sound?"

Being the idiot that I was, I nodded my head and handed her my cell-phone. She laughed, put in her number, and handed me my phone. As she walked away she called out of me over her shoulder.

"Hey, Willow. Get the teal one, it's your color."

All I could do was blush and nod and grab one in my size as I watched Bailey walk out the door. I turned around to walk towards the register and felt the air around me go cold. My face paled and I dropped the hoodie. I was face to face with my dead girlfriend.