chapter : murder

epilogue

Epilogue

After giving me a change of clothes, showering and cleaning my shoulder wound Officer Morris scheduled me a plane ride back to New York, gave me his number and told me to call whenever I landed to make sure I was okay.

Back home, I went to each of their separate funerals despite not being invited. The first funeral was Quinn's. Part of me had hoped she had made it out but I knew that was wishful thinking. I told all of their families how much I missed them. Especially Kris's. Their families all told me the same thing, I was lucky I'd made it out. That they're so sorry I had to witness what I did.

Dakota's was the last funeral. When I saw Dakota's mother, I self-consciously touched the necklace on my neck. So what did I do? I waltzed right up to her and handed it to her.

"Wha-?" She questioned.

"She would've wanted you to have it," I told her, then I grabbed her hand. I noticed she was alone, "And please don't break up with your boyfriend just because you think she'd want it that way. She wants you to be happy. Really."

She stares at me in shock. I nod, and I let go of her hand, before getting into my car and driving off.

* * * * *

Long story short, I didn't end up going to London that summer. After about a year of begging my parents to let me out of the house again, they finally let me because they noticed I was falling back into deep depression. When I first got home, my parents were ever-so-thankful I was still alive and, well.. after freaking out at the gash in my arm, they decided I was going to be punished even though it wasn't even my fault, the whole my counselor is kind of a murderer ordeal.

The first year was tough, I felt like there was something missing. It was full of agonizing pain. Even now, as a twenty four year old in college I still feel that agonizing pain sometimes. Kris's eyes still haunt my dreams and I desperately wish I could just hug her. Some days it's worse than others.

College is weird. Kris and I always wanted to go together and be roommates. I never imagined it differently. The roommate I actually ended up with, Dylan Bernard, is pretty cool. I've met a couple of people I can say "yeah, you're my friend" to. Dylan being my closest friend, and then there's a girl in my art class named Pillar Martin, and my second roommate Mia Dubios. I also have a sort-of-boyfriend? Oliver Carpenter, who has a hot British accent. It's complicated, just like the rest of my life. I love my friends, but they'll never be as great as Sage, Quinn, Dakota or Kris. Definitely not Kris.

One thing's for sure though.

What I've been through does not define who I am.

* * * * *

The end.