𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬 || 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐲𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧

Twenty-two.

[CORBYN BESSON]

Today's Hayden's funeral.

I pull on my jacket that goes with my suit and look at myself in the mirror.

This is the same suit I wore to the winter formal.

I ignore the tears running down my face and fix my hair in the mirror. The stench of my aftershave lingers the bathroom as I begin to walk out.

"You ready?" My mom asks as I walk down the stairs to the living room, "Yep," I say quietly.

We're all going to the funeral. We're all heartbroken. Even Ashley.

I still can't believe that my Hayden is gone. And there's nothing I can do about it. I'm hopeless.

"Let's go then," my mom says as she grabs her purse and stands up.

We all follow her out to her car and pile in. The car ride is completely silent.

I think about how empty I now am without her. It feels like there's this huge hole in my chest.

I haven't slept since that night. I lay there and cry every night.

"Hey Corbyn," Jonah greets me as I walk towards the boys, "Hey guys," I say, looking down, "how are you?" Jack asks, "Well, I haven't slept since Thursday," I sigh, "I'm sorry man," Zach puts a hand on my shoulder, "Yeah. Me too," my voice cracks as I start to cry for the third time today.

Tears stream down my face, "we miss her too," Jonah says. I look up at them to see that they're all crying as well, "she said she was sorry," I said, "those were her last words,"

"Im sorry," I think back to that night.

2 months later

I carry out my last box from my room to the car. My heart aches as I look at Hayden's house.

I close the trunk and walk back in the house.

"Ready to go?" My mom smiles, "sadly," I smile back in disappointment, "We'll all miss you," Ashley says walking towards us, "I'm gonna miss you Ash," I embrace my sister in a hug, in which she returns, "who's gonna sing me to sleep every night?" Ashley's voice cracks, "I'll call you every night. I promise," I say, pulling away from the hug, "Okay," she nods.

"Bye Ashley," I smile as I walk out the front door, my mom following me out.

I look at the for sale sign on Hayden's front yard and think of a memory of Hayden and I.

"I never give up," Corbyn said before jumping into the pool with me in his arms.

The cold pool water came over me and I felt weightless for a couple seconds.

I swam back to the top, "Corbyn!" Hayden splashes water at me. I laugh it off and make the first move.

We came chest to chest. I caressed her cheek and smiled, "Can I kiss you?" I whisper, observing her beauty.

She slightly nods. I finally kiss her and sparks fly.

I couldn't help but smile through the kiss.

Butterflies swirl around in my stomach as Hayden wraps her arms around the back of my neck, deepening the kiss...

My heart aches as I get in my car.

"Bye Corbyn. I love you!" My mom smiles as I pull out of the driveway, "bye! Love you too," I wave before turning onto the road.

I begin driving to a new chapter of my life. A fresh start.

College.