By Chance

Epilogue : By Chance

Summer's POV

I walk up hesitantly to Brady, not quite knowing what to say. I never quite know what to say. Today isn't any different.

"Hey, Brady," I greet his grave, tears welling up in my eyes just like they have the other times I've visited him. "I can't believe it's been an entire year."

Ever since the day I rarely speak of, life has moved so slow yet so fast. It seems like forever ago I heard his laugh or saw his bright, beautiful smile. It also seems like yesterday that I was laying in his chest and listening to him tell me how much he loved me.

Ever since that stupid day, life has been dreadful. Not always and not every single day, but overall dreadful.

The worst part of it all wasn't even burying Brady and hearing nonstop I'm sorry's or living with a gigantic hole in my heart, a place only he can fill.

The worst part of the entire past year was when the doctors came out of Brady's emergency surgery as I held onto the hope that he would pull through and listening to them telling me that they were sorry and there was nothing they could do. They then asked me if there was someone I needed to call.

I swallow hard and think back to that moment, even though I know how much it will hurt.

I placed my hand on the cold hospital phone, the tears on my face hardened and dried. I'm wasn't sure how they slipped my mind, but they did. And now I have to break the news that their brother is dead, never coming back.

I used Brady's phone quickly to write down their numbers before it was taken back to use as 'evidence'.

I felt so numb. The excruciating pain had turned completely, utterly numb.

One ring.

Two rings.

Three rings.

Four rings.

Pick up, dammit.

"Hello?" Kaine finally answered, confusion in his voice because he didn't have this number in his contact.

Why would he?

"Kaine," I was strangely relieved to hear a familiar, kind voice.

But the way I greeted him, my words coming out raspy from tears yet so cold and monotone from the pure emptiness I felt inside, he could immediately tell something was wrong.

"Summer? Is everything okay?" he asked growing nervous.

"No," I whimpered out, having no idea how I was going to tell him his brother, just like his parents and sister, was dead.

"What? What is it?" He was frantic at that point. He was so used to receiving such bad news that he was 'ready' to get this.

"Brady," I cried out, some emotion coming back, "Brady is d-dead," I let more tears run out. That was the first time I had said it out loud.

That made it feel real. Tangible.

The other end was silent.

The only thing I could hear was the ringing of the hospital office phones and people talking amongst themselves in the waiting room.

I wanted to say something to make him speak, to say anything, but there was absolutely nothing to say. Nothing would ever make what I said to him hurt less.