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Only one man stayed behind.
When everyone left, he let go of his umbrella, letting it fall to the ground beside Mom’s gravestone. He raised his face to the sky, allowing the rain to drench him completely.
An ache went through me at the sight.
I wanted to believe no one could mourn Mom as much as me, but Brian proved me wrong. His pain was something I could feel despite the distance between us.
They stayed in a warm, loving relationship for over eight years. Mom’s smile was proof of how happy he made her. He stayed with her until the end, never leaving her side once.
A sob escaped me.
Everything would be so simple if I could simply leave. There was nothing left for me in Silverlake City anymore.
My only concern was Brian. He was as lonely in his grief as me.
He needs you, Mom’s voice seemed to whisper in my mind.He’s lonely. Be there for him.
My chest ached from suppressing my pain. I wanted to scream and weep until the trapped feeling inside me disappeared.
How could I help someone when I was drowning in grief myself?
Minutes ticked by. The rain grew heavier. Cold and dampness spread through my wet clothes, settling deep within my bones.
Brian had to be feeling just as cold and miserable as me.
A sliver of pity flared through me. It was strange to be able to feel anything at all for another human being.
Turning away, I leaned against the tall tombstone behind which I’d been hiding. The rain grew so heavy, the wetness was starting to cling to my lashes, turning everything around me into a blurred haze.
I looked back at Brian. In that vast cemetery, we were the only two people truly grieving my mom’s loss.
A sudden thought crossed my mind.
Mom married him, so neither of us would be alone when she was gone.
I suddenly realized how I was letting Noah dictate my relationship with Brian that very moment. He was also the reason I was soaking wet in the rain and hiding from the world.
I can’t let you keep controlling me, I decided. My hands balled into tight fists as I willed myself to look for the courage needed to face my stepfather and my mother’s grave.
My body trembled with nerves and the cold dampness spreading through my clothes. I took several deep breaths and forced my feet to move forward.
The closer I got to Mom’s grave, the quicker my steps became, and soon I was running through the wet grass, uncaring of the loud, squelching noise my shoes were making against the mud.
2
Camilla
The sound of my approach must’ve alerted Brian because he looked up before I’d even reached him.
His eyes slowly widened as recognition filled his gaze. He slowly stood up, staring at me like he was seeing a ghost.
“Milla,” he breathed. He took a shaky step toward me and slowly extended his arm. “Is it really you?” His hand brushed against my upper arm.
I gave a nod. “It’s me.”
A strangled noise escaped him as he lunged forward and engulfed me in his arms. Holding me tightly, he sobbed.
“Stop,” I said in a choked voice. “You can’t cry like this. I came to you so you’d make it hurt less. Please, Brian...”
