Arrow The Cat and the Canary

Chapter Seventeen

The crisp leaves crunched under her shoes as she walked slowly between the headstones. The chill in the air blew her hair back as she moved past the final resting grounds of so many, checking the names on the headstones for the one she was searching for. The clouds above seemed appropriate, she thought. Before her, a crow flapped its onyx wings and landed on a worn statue, its beady and lifeless eyes staring back at her.
Finally Laurel come to a stop, the name on the headstone sticking out to her. Pulling her jacket around her, she stood silently for a moment, building up the courage to say the words she longed to say. Her breath shuddered as the words formed on her tongue.
"Hi" She said shakily, unsure of a how to even begin. "I'm sorry it's taken me this long to come, I just... I didn't know if I'd be able for it. I still don't know if I am able to do this, but I have to."
Already she could feel a small lump forming in her throat and the hot tears welling up in her eyes. Fighting them back, she went on.
"Luke. I don't know what to say other than; thank you. For the longest time I have been alone, wandering in an empty pit of sadness and loneliness, with nothing much to keep me going. I thought that after everything that has happened to me, to my family, and now this life I lead that I would be alone, forever. That it was impossible for me to share this kind of life, my kind of life, with someone else. But you showed me that I was wrong. You showed me that I can have someone in my life to share it with, the good, the bad and the ugly. Every part of me. You showed me hat it meant to be a true hero." By now tears were streaming down her face, her voice a shaking whisper. Sniffling, she wiped them away. "I have been blaming myself for your death, and maybe if I had done something different I could have saved you or taken your place, but Darkh is a psychotic bastard who was going to take all of us out at some stage, I'm just sorry that I didn't get to have more time with you before he had the chance. But I will say this; I'm going to get that bastard, and I'm going to get justice for you. I promise if it it's the last thing I do, I'll take that son of a bitch down." Using the sleeve of her jacket she wiped away the last of her tears and brushed her hair behind her ear. Reaching into her handbag she took out the small piece of cloth and held it gently in her hand.
"I'll keep fighting for you." She said in a whisper as she knelt down, unwrapping the cloth and placing its content onto the grave, against the headstone. She stood back up and took one last final look at it before turning and walking away, leaving his domino mask with him, where she thought it should be.
Reaching the gates of the cemetery, she looked back in the direction of his final resting place and the ghost of a smile appeared on her face and in an almost silent tone, she said;
"Goodbye."