Age 22
Kathy

"This guy Brian keeps asking me out. This time, I told him I'd think about it..." I choke on a sob as I spoke to Lucas's headstone.

"I know you said that I should find my next great love story, but I can't help but feel that nothing would ever beat my first and only true love." I chuckled under my breath, "you were my first everything... And I just feel so guilty whenever a guy like Brian asks me out..." I sniffle, my eyes burn, and my vision blurs as I pluck the grass from the ground.

"Your book..." I laugh at the memory of the day I got a package from Luca a few weeks after his funeral. A book Luca wrote for me. A book about us. It's my favorite story of all. Yet I never found the courage to finish it. I still had one chapter left to read, and I've just been so scared. Scared that it'll destroy me. After Lucas' death, I fell into a deep state of depression.

I always thought that I'd grow old with him and that we'd both die in our sleep in each other's arms peacefully. Walking hand in hand into the next life. He promised he'd be there for me. Waiting as long as he has to.

Lucas's death made me mute again after so many years. I would cry myself to sleep, knowing painfully well that I wouldn't see him when I wake. But after I got his book in the mail, I found some form of closure. Each chapter was filled with the happiest memories we shared, some that I even forgot. All from his point of view.

I take the book out of my bag, ready to read the final chapter. I kiss the tips of my fingers and press them to his headstone.

Lucas Brady Maxwell
Brother, son, and best friend.
1990-2010

I've noticed how each chapter began with a quote. This one, however, touched me deeply.

Chapter 30
"the odds of existing are slim, so are the odds of you and I existing at the same time. Must be next to impossible, and I think that's beautiful.
Maybe the universe does work in my favor after all.
Because I got the chance to get to know you."
-Unknown.

Just I began reading. It started raining, forcing me to say a quick goodbye and 'I love you' to Luca and rush to the safety of my car to read. Once I got into my car, my phone started ringing.

"Mom?" I answered.

"Oh sweetie! Lizzy's gone into labor." Mom says excitedly but also tired, and I'm guessing it had something to do with Lizzy screaming in the background.

"Grace! Is that Kathy!? WHY ISN'T SHE HERE!?"

I chuckle, "Tell the baby mama that I'll be there soon."

"Okay sweetie, love you, see you soon."

"Love you, mom." I say before ending the call. I place the book on the passage seat before I start my car.

On the road, the rain came down much heavier, making it hard to see through the windows even with the wipers on. And that's how I made the mistake of taking a left turn.

A car horn went off, and headlights blinded me. And the next thing I knew was my car being flipped. The last thing I heard was a voice call out to me before everything went black.