EPILOGUE

Lucky sighed and sat down on the ground, only feet away from Elizabeth's tombstone. He put the flowers in the little vase planted in the ground. The one he put there a couple of years ago, after he saw that most of the flowers he was bringing would go away with the wind. He gently passed a hand on the marble, and brushed a tear away.

"-Jeremy's good. His first year of college was a little rough on him, but he manages. He'll come and see you as soon as he gets settled here. After all, it's the first week he is back from California. I still can't believe our son will be 18 in two months. Do you remember the first time I chased him when I found him messing with the celebrity? {laughs} I do! It was a little over 10 years ago. He has grown so much since then, and people that meets us now for the first time can't believe we aren't blood. He looks so much like me it's scary. I was about to ask my mother if she was sure she didn't have another son we didn't know about! {laughs} Seriously, I couldn't be more proud of him, and I'm sure, wherever you are, that you are proud too. Who wouldn't be? He finished high school two years before his time, Valedictorian of his class, complete scholarship in music at the University of California in Los Angeles. He will help me with Kelly's this summer, I made him manager. Tammy needed some time off, so Jeremy will take her place."

Lucky changed position, and looked at the sky. Nothing but blue above him. Little white clouds were moving with the wind.

"-Mom and dad are good. Dad still has the club, and it's, once again, the coolest place in town. Jeremy hangs there quite a lot. He's still close to his grandfather and yeah, he still calls him Boss, just like dad still calls him Cowboy. It's a shame dad and Nikolas never got along, but I'm still close to my brother. Emily and him just celebrated their 5th anniversary, and their daughter, Elizabeth, is just too cute for words. Jeremy just loves her. He should, he's the Godfather. Lesley's the Godmother. Lulu's just so beautiful you know, but I don't like that she is in this deep relationship at her age. She isn't even 15 yet and she's been dating the same guy for nearly a year now. But I have to admit that I approve of her choice. I should, I raised him. {laughs} Yeah, I know, it's bizarre saying that my own son is dating my sister, but what can I do? Jeremy's like me and if we tried to keep them apart, it would drive him away and they probably would run off and get married just so they could be together. Now, where have I heard that before? {laughs}"

These were nervous laughs. Every time Lucky came to her grave he was nervous. Maybe because still after nearly 10 years, he hadn't said his good-bye yet. Last time he came to see her, it was before winter, before the snow took possession of the land.

10 years had passed by since she was killed. 10 years of pain, tears and anguish attacks. Why wasn't he able to let go? Why wasn't he able to realize she was gone and move on? Because he still loved her that's why. Because he still missed her everyday. Everything in this town reminded him of Elizabeth and yet, he wasn't able to leave it. The docks, Kelly's, the park, Windermere, the high school, the hospital, Luke's club, everywhere he went, he could swear he still heard Elizabeth laughed.

"-They never caught the man who killed Helena. I guess I have to thank you for that. You probably put in a good word for me with the Man upstairs, and he was gentle. But I still pay everyday for that crime, without you by my side. I know it's not good to live in the pass, it's not healthy, but I can't help it. 10 years have gone by Elizabeth, 10 years and still, I expect you to walk through the door any minute. I still expect you to be by my side when I wake up in the morning. Jeremy says it is not good, that I should see someone, he says I live like a bitter old man, alone, reminiscing about what could've been, and I know he is right. But I'm 27 years old. I don't want to start over with someone new, because I know I would end up hurting that woman. How could she compare to you? I was blessed with an angel and I guess God thought I didn't deserve it since He took her back, but it wouldn't feel right trying to make a human being live up to your level of perfection. When I met you I knew there would never be another girl for me, and I was right. No one could love me the way you did, look at me the way you did, make me feel the way you did."

Lucky was crying and he let the tears fall down his face. What was the use of wiping them away? The pain wouldn't go just because he did so. Everyone told him, after she died, that the pain would slowly go away. But it hadn't. He was living a normal life, he had a job, friends, his son, the only thing he didn't have, and didn't want, was a woman to share his bed.

"-Your mother sent a package to Jeremy. It was so cool, he just loved it. It was a new guitar stand, music sheets, strings, and some posters of the musical group he likes so music, Scarlet road I think. He's a good kid. Do you know he still has the picture that was taken at his 8th birthday party, where he met everyone. You, me and him, in front of the fireplace, FJ at his feet. It's in his wallet, and he told me it was his good luck charm. I know he still misses you, just like I do. But he doesn't talk about it. After the accident, when he came to, he didn't ask where you were. He didn't have to, he knew. We helped each other up, and we learned to live without you, but I have to admit Elizabeth, he's doing a better job than I am. I came here for a reason today, but how do I do it?"

Lucky looked at the tombstone and, for the millionth time, read the inscription;

It was simple, but Lucky wanted it that way. What else could they say? That she was gone too soon? That she still had a son and a husband that loved her and missed her? That she would always be in their heart? What was left to say?

"-Elizabeth, I don't want to do this, in fact, I've been putting it up for the past 10 years, but it's time. This is killing me, but before it does it literally, I have to say good-bye. I love you, always have and always will, but I have to accept the fact that you are gone for good, and stop acting like you are going to come back after a trip, or that you are just gone to the store at the corner of the street. I have to give away your things, like your clothes and jewelry. Your mother wanted them, but I always said no. I'm gonna call her tonight and tell her I will send her everything. The only thing I won't give away, and won't stop wearing is my wedding ring. Never felt me. Lucky started to cry again. How am I suppose to do this? How am I suppose to let you go? Why'd you leave me like this? Weren't we suppose to be together forever and the day after that? I still need you Elizabeth, Jeremy still needs you! What I wouldn't give to be able to hold you one more time. To kiss you goodnight one more time."

Lucky was crying, like he did when he found out about her. The 10 years that passed by didn't minimize his pain, his lost. He was still as shocked.

"-Dad?"

Lucky quickly turned around and saw Jeremy, two feet away from him. Jeremy reached out and Lucky took his hand. They stayed like that for a while, the father sitting down, the son standing up, each in a silent conversation with Elizabeth, staring at the tombstone. Finally, Lucky got up, and smiled at Jeremy.

"-I came to say good-bye to her. He said. This is the hardest thing I ever had to do. The easiest was to love her. And love you."

Lucky started to cry, and Jeremy took him in his arms. The sight was simply beautiful. Two grown men, holding each other in a cemetery. When Lucky pulled back, he saw that Jeremy was crying too. Jeremy started to walk away, saying he would wait for Lucky by the car. Lucky took a deep breath and looked at the sky.

"-Good bye Elizabeth. I'll miss you. And I love you. See you soon, on the other side"

As tears started to roll down his face again Lucky leaned down and kiss the marble, before slowly walking towards the car, and his son. The wind blew on his face, like a caress, and Lucky knew it was a soft kiss. Elizabeth was saying good-bye to him too. He looked behind him one last time, smiled and got in the car, sitting next to their son.

"For all those times you stood by me

For all the truth that you made me see

For all the joy you brought to my life

For all the wrongs that you made right

For every dream you made come true

For all the love I found in you

I'll be forever thankful baby

You're the one who held me up

Never let me fall

You're the one who saw me through, through it all

You were my strength when I was weak

You were my voice when I couldn't speak

You were my eyes when I couldn't see

You saw the best there was in me

Lifted me up when I couldn't reach

You gave me faith 'coz you believed

I'm everything I am

Because you loved me

You gave me wings and made me fly

You touched my hand I could touch the sky

I lost my faith, you gave it back to me

You said no star was out of reach

You stood by me and I stood tall

I had your love I had it all

I'm grateful for each day you gave me

Maybe I don't know that much

But I know this much is true

I was blessed because I was loved by you

You were my strength when I was weak

You were my voice when I couldn't speak

You were my eyes when I couldn't see

You saw the best there was in me

Lifted me up when I couldn't reach

You gave me faith 'coz you believed

I'm everything I am

Because you loved me

You were always there for me

The tender wings that carried me

A light in the dark shining your love into my life

You've been my inspiration

Through the lies you were the truth

My world is a better place because of you

You were my strength when I was weak

You were my voice when I couldn't speak

You were my eyes when I couldn't see

You saw the best there was in me

Lifted me up when I couldn't reach

You gave me faith 'coz you believed

I'm everything I am

Because you loved me

THE END