Stay With Me. [[Sequel to The Last Year (Once-ler x OC)]]

The End Of All Things.

I continued to cut down trees. Only slowing the rate at which they were cut down when there were few left. They would regrow, we would cut them down. Rinse and repeat. I never did hear from Fleur again. I knew I must have hurt her, but I couldn't believe she would just stop talking to me. My mom told me she wasn't worth chasing. And at the time I thought she was right. I accepted that Fleur had made her choice, even if it wasn't me. My business grew and I quickly paid off the loan to build the factory. Things were going well. I was the most eligible bachelor in Greenville. But I didn't want any of these girls. Even if she didn't love me anymore, I just wanted to see Fleur. Both Aaron and her had left days after that incident. They left no contact information. No one knew where they had gone. I even called her mother once, but she was not happy to hear from me. She screamed and yelled at me. Everything she said I deserved to hear. I had messed up. I let her rant for as long as she needed to.

"Once-ler," she sighed, "She really loved you. You really hurt her. After everything your family put the two of you through I can't believe you'd let this slip by without a thought."

"I realize some mistakes have been made. I was just hoping you had some way I could get in touch with her."

"I do."

"Great. What is it?"

"I'm not going to tell you. She's happy now. You should find a way to be happy without her. After all, weren't you the one to make all the evidence in her case go missing?"

"I regret that. I want to make amends."

"I'm sorry."

That was it. There was a click leaving me alone with a silence on the other end. I placed the phone on the desk and sighed. She was gone and I'd never hear from her again. My heart ached for the first time in years. This was something I hadn't felt in years. At that point my mother walked in. I held back the tears building in my eyes and leaned back in the chair.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Oncie, we have a bit of a problem," she said. I motioned for her to continue, "there aren't enough trees to fill all the orders we have."

"So we can just slow down the cutting of the trees. I mean, it is quicker for tufts to regrow instead of a whole tree."

"Well, that's the problem. We were so eager to fill the order..."

"What did you do?" I snarled.

"Well, Chet was out cutting trees. And he just told me he cut down the last one."

"He what?!"

"We can't change things now, Oncie, but I just don't know how you'll make anymore thneeds. Without trees you're out of business. I have never been more disappointed in you."

"Me? How do you accidentally cut down every single tree? I wouldn't have even cut them down if it weren't for you. And I have been so stupid to think you even cared about me. You only came here because of the money. Now I have lost absolutely everything because of you. And you don't even care," I shouted.

I turned away from the window after seeing the barren landscape for myself. It was that moment I realized how much I had lost. And in the end I had nothing to show for it but my failing business. The moment I turned around I saw she was gone. I ran downstairs. She sure moved fast when she wanted to. The RV was already packed and running she got into the driver's seat. Before I could speak she glanced over giving me a look of utter disappointment. I stopped in my tracks as the car drove off. Five years I let her get so involved in my life. I should have known better. I collapsed to the ground seeing, with clear eyes, just how much damage I had caused. Eventually I picked myself off the ground and carried myself inside.