A Long Walk Home (Sequel to Left Alone in the Dark)

Chapter 1

Patrice's POV

2. weeks.

2 weeks filled with pain, and sorrow.
2 weeks filled of regretting that I even lost Claire out of my eye sight.

It's all my fault.

I'm the reason that Claire is dead. It's because of me. It's because I was such a dumbass and let myself fall in love with Erin.

I pressed a knife to my neck, tempted.

Brad quickly came barging in, running to me and taking the knife out of my hand.

"Patrice stop" he said, holding my hands down.

A moment of silence filled the air.

"Why? It's my fault this all happened. And now I want to be with Claire. I want to see her." I pleaded out.

"Patrice, you need to stay strong. Claire wouldn't want you doing this right now. She wants you to be strong and hold it together" Brad said, still holding my hands down.

"How- how do you know she does?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Because I know Claire would never want you to hurt yourself, it would only hurt her even more" Brad said.

The tense in my body started fading away.

"Patrice I think we need to go visit Claire's grave and just let it all out. I think you need to go talk to her" Brad said.

"I'm scared." I responded, looking down at my shoes.

"Why are you scared?" Brad asked.

"Because, I'm scared of breaking down. I know that if I go there, I will never want to leave. That's why I haven't gone since the funeral" I said, tears coming down my cheek.

Brad slowly patted my shoulder.

"Sometimes we just need to face our fears eh?" He asked.

Somehow I agreed to go with Brad. Maybe it's because I haven't been thinking straight this past month. Too much pressure on me. I have been going to therapy for a little, but that doesn't seem to be working.

Marchy's car pulled up to the parking spot, and we both climbed out.

I began slowly walking, spotting Claire's resting space in the distance.

Brad slowly lead me there. "Patrice I'll wait here, I think you need to go alone" he said. I agreed once again, and continued my route.

I paused at the tombstone, and prayed for awhile. Then, a sat down on the gravel next to her tomb and stared at it.

"Claire?" I whispered.

"It's me Claire. It's me Patrice. I don't know, I guess that we will never even have a conversation ever again. I remember the last words you spoke to me, asking if it's normal to have your breathing slowed down. And then the doctors pulled you out, I screamed that I love you, but I never heard something in return. I guess this is why we can't have nice things on this earth" I said, stopping for a moment to wipe my tears away.

I continued, "these last few weeks were extremely painful, a world without you is just horrible. It's kinda like having the whole earth in black and white. Everything is just so dull. And now that your gone, it's just gonna stay that way. I just wanted to say I'm sorry Claire. I'm sorry for falling in love with Erin and having this happen to you. I'm sorry that I lashed out on you when Stephanie burnt out apartments down. This is all my fault, and I hope you forgive me" I whispered to her.

I lit the candle next to her engraved name, and made a final prayer in French.

I slowly started catching up with Brad, who was waiting for me in the distance.

"Now did that feel better" Brad asked.

"I feel better now" I responded, but inside I don't.