For Forever and A Day

18.

Since the Accident:
1 year, 0 months, 0 days
December 7th, 2010

The air was cold and the sky was clear as Cassandra Williams walked through the city. A pair of earmuffs covered her ears, pushing her strawberry blonde hair back from her face.

A white scarf sat around her neck in which she continuously tucked her chin into as she attempted to keep her face warm. Her gloved hands were shoved deep into her pockets.

The sun was hidden behind a layer of clouds as the sky turned from a blue to a wondrous sunset.

Cassandra walked until she made it to the grave of the man she thought of, especially today.

"Hey Bryan." She whispered. She knelt down and removed the flowers she held from the crook of her arm. Setting them onto the cold granite. "I just wanted to come visit and say I miss you."

Her eyes were welling with tears and some began to cascade down her cheeks.

A sob escaped the young girls lips as her shoulders shook. Minutes passed and soon the sun had set below the horizon, the sky turning a dark and sinister blue as the stars began to sparkle from the heavens.

She heard boots crackle the dead grass and she jumped when a hand was placed on her shoulder. She looked up in alarm but relaxed in her knelt position when she saw it was Ryan Blake.

"How long have you been here?"

"Not long."

The officer nodded. "Take as long as you need, I'll be here when you need me." He have her a reassuring smile and without thinking the young woman nodded.

The minutes seem to take by as she knelt in front of the frozen granite. Finally the woman stood up and dusted off her knees.

"Ryan I think I'm going to head out." Casandra said as she walked slowly towards where the officer stood a few feet away.

Cassandra saw the officers car parked on the road outside of the cemetery. "Let me give you a ride home."

The woman shook her head, her hair falling slightly forward over her pink earmuffs before she pushed them back. "I don't want to go home just yet."

"Then why don't we do something and then I'll take you home."

"Like what?"

Ryan Blake's face broke out into a grin, a mischievous glint in his eye.

~*~

"Rollerblading?"

"Of course!"

Cassandra looked out at all the people still filling the rink. For a Tuesday evening there were a considerable amount of people mulling about. Couples included. Ryan took his skates and hers from the man behind the counter and looked towards Cassandra with a smile.

"Come on, let's pop these things on." He reaches out and gently took her hand in his and Cassandra felt her heart race. They seemed to blend in with the rest of the couples that seemed to surround them.

Ryan Blake went over to a section of lockers. He set down the skates and removed his hand from Cassandra's, much to her dismay, before he removed his wallet.

"I-"

"Don't even say it. This is my treat for the evening." Cassandra's mouth immediately closed and instead she watched as the off the clock officer removed change from his wallet and put it into the slot on the locker.

He removed the key and opened the door. "After you." He said with a happy smile.

Cassandra peeled off her winter layers and her shoes and neatly placed them into the small metal container. When she was finished Ryan followed suit before closing the locker.