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» CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE ONE «

Kevin embraced her in his arms as she began to sob. He ran his hands through her hair in an attempt to calm her a bit.

"Why? Why would he do it Kevin?" she said into his shoulder.

"Geri, he...left this..." Kevin responded lifting her head and reaching into his pocket. Holding out a slightly crinkled piece of paper, Geri took it from his hands and slowly unfolded it.

My darling Halliwells,
I will not be returning, ever. I did what I had to do. I couldn't live one more second on this world with all the pain that was tearing my heart apart. I was forced to my suicide, it is no one else's fault but my own. I'm sorry for any trouble I have ever caused you. I will be with you always. I will love you always.

Brian

Another tear trickled down her cheek as Kevin took her back in his arms again. It was almost a week after Brian's horrible death and it had brought Geri home. A cloud of sorrow seemed to cast over the house. Friends and acquaintances called offering their sympathy for the loss of the Halliwell servant. It would be a long time before anyone ever got over the death, and it was. No one ever really would go a day without Brian lingering on the mind. He would be with them always.

*

Kevin tried everything he knew to get Geri to forgive him. She easily did. Love was too hard of a thing to shake. He vowed to her and himself that he would be there for her always, and he was. Every moment of the day Kevin loved her, thought about her, and was right by her side. One child was born of them, a little boy. It was all too perfect. The whole East wing was cleared of any memories of the late Mr. Halliwell. Kevin would be able to live there in peace. Brian's room was kept in order for as long as anyone would care or remember the lost soul. Sheets washed, bed made, everything kept the way he left it, as if he never really left at all. It was maintained by their new servant, Maggie, who was hired at the age of seventeen. She was sweet, and could have been a sister to Brian--shy and timid. Yet, it was not the same, and sometimes a strange feeling would occur knowing that someone else was serving them, and not Brian. Melanie left the manor a year later to study art in France. Pursuing a career, she was still young and ambitious. While studying there, she met an older French man, who she had stated in her letters, she had fell madly in love with. Kevin was exiting her heart and leaving room for other things she really needed. Although she remained in France, she visited the manor every year, and what a surprise it was to her when she found her nephew greeting her at the door. Ms. Halliwell was astounded by Brian's death, for he was like a son to her, and she loved him dearly. But later on, when she saw Geri in her white wedding dress and a smile to light up the world, it seemed as though everything would be resolved. Ms. Halliwell was so thrilled with her daughters' happiness, and she died one December night, cozy in her bed. She was old and had lived her life to the fullest and believed she did have the two most beautiful daughters in the world. Geri never knew the real reasons behind Brian's death, the truth would always be a mystery to her. She would never know the love Brian had for her. But it was better this way, Kevin thought. She wouldn't feel slightly guilty and now she could go on loving Kevin without any doubt. Geri and Kevin ended up being the last in the Halliwell manor, they thrived there, with their family. Sometimes Kevin would wonder if Brian had not left, if he had told Geri everything, what would be happening now? If only he knew. If only Brian was there. If only none of these mistakes had ever happened. Well maybe, Kevin would not have Geri. It was all too confusing to ponder about, but daydreaming and thinking seemed to be a habit for Kevin.

*

Sitting on a rock, she let the ocean splash up against her bare feet, as the sea air blew through her hair. The sun was setting out over the water and the light reflected off the sparkling waves. It was a beautiful sight and it brought a tear to her eye. It reminded her of Brian. She remembered when they were so young, they would sit in the garden and gaze out at the sunset. It seemed that the simplest things brought a memory of him. It was strange to sit out there amongst the sand and the rocks, she'd never really done so, for she was almost forbidden to ever venture off to the shore, even if it was Halliwell property. She grasped a small, smooth stone in her hand and let it roll between her fingers. He crystal blue eyes were red and puffy from a few fallen tears. Hearing running in the sand, she turned her head towards the sound. It was Kevin who was running clumsily towards her.

"Hello, what are doing down here, Geri?" he asked watching her eyes, which were set on the water beneath her feet.

"Nothing," she answered breathlessly, "why'd you come here?"

"I was looking for you, I figured you'd be down here. I did come here before, without you knowing, it is soothing to watch the seagulls and the ocean glimmer under the moonlight,"

Geri nodded and looked up, finally, into his eyes. She gasped for breath, inhaling the sea air deeply, "Why...why'd he have to do it? I just don't understand."

Kevin didn't answer, there was no way he could push himself to tell her the truth. The seagulls screamed out as if to warn him. He bit his lip and shook his head.

"Oh, I'll miss him so much. I took advantage of every single day I spent with him, never thinking I'd lose him quite like this. It's too sad to think about, but too sad to forget. I doubt I will ever forget him,"

"You cannot forget him, you shouldn't even try, he's part of you,"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing, just you must never forget him. I never knew him well, but he was a special person," Kevin shivered as he quickly wiped a tear from his cheek.

Geri nodded and as though it was the simplest fact in the world, she whispered, "I loved him, I really did. Loved him with all my heart, I will never forget what he's done. I just wish I knew why. Maybe he thought no one cared, but someone did. Someone did care about him, and someone will never ever be able to shake her feelings for him. He was so dear to someone. Maybe if that someone had just mentioned they loved him so."

"Maybe,"

"Kevin?"

"Yes?"

"I'm not going to make the same mistake...I love you...and you don't have to say anything back, I just wanted to--"

"Yes, Geri...I love you. Loved you since I met you, and you know I always will, you're the only one I could ever love this way,"

"Will everything turn out all right?"

"I cannot say,"

"I hope so," Geri paused and watched the sun sink down beneath the horizon. She threw the rock that was still in her hand out into the water and watch it drift along with the waves, then under her ragged breath, whispered, "Rest in peace, Brian. Goodbye."

to be continued...
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