"Congratulations." Father told me on this glorious day. I stood there gap and gown, holding my diploma while balloons of all colors floated in the air into the clear, blue sky. What a marvelous sight.

I finally made it. I finally was free. For once, I could go out into the world and show them what I've got to offer. I could show them the real Raymond Lochner and nobody could stop me.

Though amid my great joy, there was something I wished was there. Someone I truly missed.

"Could we make a quick stop at the graveyard?" I asked my father to which he nodded and obliged.

The ride there was a bit unsettling, however it was a beautiful day and I wanted to share this moment with someone who could've been there. Someone who should've, but couldn't thanks to me.

Once we pulled up outside the cemetery, I let out a sigh. "Wait, right here."

I walked over to her grave and set a bouquet of lilies down. Those were her favorite. I took out my diploma and breathed in the fresh air before smiling brighter than ever. "I'm sorry you couldn't be here, but I made it. I really, really made it. I'm going off to UW-Platteville and I couldn't be prouder."

The smiling began to weigh thin on my cheeks so I shook my head before speaking again. "You were always there when I was not. You loved me like nobody else. You wanted to give me my best chance and I'm thankful everyday. Yet I still miss you. I wish you here. I wish... You got to live the life you deserved. So thank you, Gretchen. Thank you for being the sister who was there. Thank you for everything."

Once I made my final peace, I let out a deep breath. It felt quite odd to be this happy, but it was magnificent. It was so gratifying... I couldn't do anything but smile. That's what true happiness is. That's what it looked like.

I bowed to her gravestone one more time until heading back to the car. Though the moment I do, he's there. My entire body stopped as my fingers let go of my diploma. This couldn't be. This couldn't be happening.

"A.J..." I gasped.

He showed up dressed like the angel he clearly wasn't. White like a flash of lightning. So bright, so swift, so deadly.

He smirked as I shook my head. "W-what are you doing here?"

"I just came to see my little brother graduate. That's all."

"But you don't care about me. You even said that yourself."

"Oh, I do." He nodded while he ruffled my hair. "Just don't fuck up my life again, okay?"

No... He wasn't supposed to be here. This was my day! The one time I didn't have to feel ashamed about myself or feel his poison in my veins, I just-Damn it. God damn it!

He slowly stepped away for a moment, before wrapping his arm around my shoulder. He chuckled in my ear while waving Father off. The second he was gone, A.J pushed me into the car.

"Where are we going?" I demanded.

He didn't say anything as he slammed the door and got into the driver's seat. He briefly turned to me, then looked forward. A sly grin emerging on his face. "I guess you'll just have to find out."

There was something weird in his eyes. Like he was possessed or something. But it was probably nothing. Yet the way he looked at me, got myself intrigued. He had this... ferocity. The way a lion roared or the way sharks stalked their prey, he had that and it chilled my bones. Though as chilling as it was, I felt a tiny bit at ease. Maybe he was coming around. Maybe he finally cared. Maybe he was finally seeing that I was a person again. It's all I wanted. It's all I ever wanted.