Falling Slowly (A GMW Fanfic)

25-Life and Loss

Riley's POV

It's 2 in the morning, and there are tears staining my cheeks. Today was Maya's funeral, and it was the hardest day of my life. I can't count how many times I cried today. I soaked Lucas' shirt multiple times, and tears stained my cheeks even when I went up to say something about her. And, I saw her, right in front of me, when I was talking. She was there with me. 

Now, here I am, tears still flowing like a waterfall, lying on my bed like a complete mess. I turned over on my side, and see the binder full of letters. I've read them every night since she left. 

I sit up and grab it, laying it on my lap. I open it, and seeing her handwriting made tears come to my eyes. 

I finished the first letter when a tear fell onto the paper. And, it soaks through. And I see part of a picture, that looks like it was drawn. 

I turn the page, but there's nothing there. I keep doing that, hoping to find the answer, but failing. 

Then, I see something that I've never seen before. On that one piece of paper, on the corner, it looks like the paper is peeling in two. I grab the corner, and peel off the back of the paper. And, it looks like a fourth of a drawing. There must be more. 

I do the same to each letter she wrote to me when I was gone. And on each one of them, there's a piece of a picture. 

It's a puzzle. 

I grab all of the pieces, and sit on the floor. I start matching them up, and place them in a circle around me. 

It take me about an hour, but I got all the pieces together, and they actually form a circle, surrounding me. But, there's a piece missing. 

Then, I remembered. 

Her letter she wrote when she died. 

I peeled the back off, and there it is. The missing picture. 

I place it where it belongs, and my heart jumps. 

I stand up, and spin around, looking at what I had just put together. It's a puzzle. 

A puzzle of memories. 

Every four pieces made a picture that represented a memory. Now, there's a huge circle around me, with hundreds of memories drawn by hand. 

Then, I got an idea. 

I grab my projector, and slip the tape in. I position it onto my blank wall, and sit in the middle of the circle. 

It starts off with a piece of paper, and then a hand comes in, and I notice that it's Maya's. The video is in black and white, and she starts drawing. 

It plays faster, so her drawing that took probably two hours only takes thirty seconds. Once she's done, the drawing in the video then turns from black and white to colored. 

And from the corner of my eye, I see something glowing. I turn around, and find a drawing glowing. The once grey drawing turns to colored. It's filled with colors now, leaving the rest grey. 

I turn back to the video, and it's the same drawing that she drew. 

It's off the first time we went on the subway. 

The next one that she drew was our first date, and that one started to glow. 

Each memory started glowing once she was finished drawing it. 

But the last memory stayed black and white. 

I look at it with curiosity. 

It's the four of us, on the last day of high school. We are arm and arm, and walking out of the doors. I run my finger across it, smiling at the memory. 

Once my finger touched it, it lit up. But the only thing that was colored in this time was us. Lucas, Farkle, Maya, and I. And as I go to touch it again, a spark comes from it, and runs across the paper. And, the spark writes, 

'Take on the world.' 

I smile at the cursive writing that is obviously Maya's. 

"Hey, Peaches." I hear Maya. I turn around, and find that she's on the video. Tears sting my eyes. 

"So, I know that this may surprise you, but I lied in my letter. I lied about it all. I don't have cancer. Riley, I'm sorry. But you have to believe me. My mom died of cancer about a year ago. She was never working, because she died. I was sent a man who was like a fill in dad, but he abused me. A lot. I thought that college would be an escape, but Riles, he's gonna be looking for me. I had to get away from him, and get you guys away from him. Riley, I didn't want to leave you, but I had to if I wanted to keep you safe." 

What is going on? What is she talking about?

"I know you may be confused, but trust me, it's better if you stay that way."

What?

"But, I'm going to explain a little. So, Riley. I have powers. Like magical powers. That's how the pictures were glowing I put a spell on them. I'm a witch. And Riley, so are you. I can sense it. You just need to practice, and believe. Okay?" 

My eyes widen, and my jaw is on the floor. 

"And earlier, when I said that I was lying in my letter. I don't have cancer. And Riley?" 

It's like she knew that I would look up. 

"Ring power." she holds up her ring, and I hold mine up. 

"I'm not dead." 

A/N: 

So, last chapter, but don't worry! There's gonna be a sequel! So look out for that!

Love you guys!

XOXO <3

-B