Death's Exception

Chapter Forty-Two

I sit under the shade of a pink dogwood. The brisk April wind ruffles my hair as my fingers run through the dewy grass. It has been a week. A week of two very small funerals, and three very sad people. In the midst of losing our loved ones, we haven't even let ourselves be bothered by the nationwide panic that continues to spread on my behalf. The sky is bright blue, without a cloud to be seen, and my soul feels numb. I have cried so much that I feel like there are no longer any tears to be shed within me. I slump against the tree and pull my knees up to my chest. Even as a week has passed, I can not make myself tell Carter and Titus that Melody was my mother. I realize, now, that Dr. Finley did not see her as adequate because she remembered. She had the power to go and have another life. A power I do not have. She could have gone and found her husband, she could have continued the life that she left. And Dr. Finley needed someone that could not do it on their own. He needed a trophy not a human. Someone like me. I breathe in deeply, the sweet fragrance of flowers rushing into my lungs. I look as the sun filters through the pink flowers above me. I fiddle with a pink pedal that must have fallen from the tree. I haven't dared point out to Titus that my breathing has gotten worse. Sometimes it feels like I am breathing like a straw, and other times like I have just run a marathon when in actuality I just walked up some stairs. I know Lilly told me that it would be quick, unexpected. But I can tell I am dying. 

Titus walks toward me. His hair has gotten long, sweeping right above his eyebrows. He wears a button down that is rolled up to his biceps, and some shorts. I don't know why he is dressed up, but I blush when I find myself thinking about how incredibly handsome he looks. He crouches beside me, his brown eyes sparkling with compassion and love. His thin lips peck my forehead, and he brushes a strand of hair out of my eye gently. He sits beside me, leaning against the dogwood, and I rest my head on his shoulder, sighing. He puts his long arm around me, his hand pulling me in by my waist. My stomach churns as his hand rests on my waist. 

"Why so dressed up?" His smirks and rests his head on mine. 

"Why, you don't like it?" His voice teems with flirtatious intentions. 

"Oh, Titus Crilley. I would be lying if I said I didn't." He laughs, but it isn't the same. It isn't the same hearty laugh as it once was. It is weaker, smaller. It is worn. Shattered. 

"Well, I actually have a surprise for you." He stands up with a huff, and holds his hand out. I stare up at him, and raise my eyebrow. 

"Should I be afraid?" He pouts out his lip, as I grab his hand and stand.

"You should be thrilled." He kisses my hand, and we walk up to the house together. Carter leans on a pillar on the porch of the house. He is also dressed up, but he doesn't look happy to be. He shoves his hands in his pockets, and spins.

"On a scale from hot to sexy, how do I look?" Ignoring him, I turn to Titus.

"I feel under-dressed." I say, motioning towards the skinny jeans, tight black T-shirt, and yellow cardigan. Carter says "Yeah, you are," and Titus says, "You look beautiful" simultaneously. I giggle. Titus glares at Carter, but says to me, "Come on. Much to Carter's dismay, HE wasn't the surprise I was referring to."

"Are you kidding? I am much better than any surprise you could give her!" Carter puts his arm around me and pulls me into a side hug. I smile. It is good seeing him being humorous. Sad Carter is much less fun than funny Carter. Titus pulls me away from him, and leads me into the room where Melody died. I tense when I walk into the room. I hadn't been in there for the longest time. On the bed's banister hangs a black dress. It is knee-length, and tight fitted until it flares out at the waist. It is sleeveless, and simple. Simply beautiful. He takes the dress, and holds it up to me.

"You should put this on." He smiles, his voice smooth and kind. He turns around, and I slip the dress on. I try to reach the zipper on the back of the dress, but I can't. "Um, Titus?" 

"Oh, please tell me it fits." He whines, before turning around to see that it fits perfectly. His eyes widen, and his lips part. Feeling bashful, I turn around.

"It does, I just- would you zip it up for me?" His breathing quickens as he zips up my dress slowly. The fabric molds onto my body perfectly. I look at the ground, and turn around to face him. He grabs my chin, and tilts it up to look me in the eyes.

"Green eyes. Like the forest." His hands cup my face, and we kiss.

"Thank you, Titus. It is beautiful."

"It isn't the dress that is beautiful." He is still close enough to me that I have to look up quite a bit in order to look him in the eye. I corral my hair onto one shoulder, and smile. "I love you." He whispers.

"I love you too." Guilt fills my chest the more he stares at me. "I have to tell you something, Titus." He lifts an eyebrow.

"Go on." He urges. I swallow, and fiddle with the end of my dress.

"The night Melody died, I overheard her husband talking to her on the phone. And right before she died, her husband called her Millie Destiel. My mother's name." His eyes widen.

"Do you think she-"

"Yes. I have done the math. My story (at least what I know of it) matches her story perfectly. Melody was my mother." Before Titus has a chance to respond, Carter bursts in the room.

"I have a better surprise for you than a dress. Which is a ten on the hotness scale, by the way." I grin. Titus frowns.

"You aren't going to let me do the honors? I planned a speech and everything!" Titus blurts out, crossing his arms.

"Nope. I pulled all the strings. I will be the one to reveal. You got her the dress." Carter pokes out his elbow to escort me. I look between the two of them, confused and anxious to see what the fuss is over. We walk into the living room, arm in arm, followed by Titus. My mouth falls open when I see two men standing side by side in tuxes. I do not recognize one of them, but one I unmistakenly know to be the president.

Also known as the only person with access to the past of Aurora Destiel.