Kasey sat in the loft, staring at the coffee table. Carleigh, at Kasey's request, had left her alone for a few minutes. She wasn't far- just down the street, buying them stuff for lunch. Kasey hadn't really paid attention to where Carleigh said she was going. 

She hadn't gone into the apartment again since the night she'd found out about Jace. The police told her that there was some clean-up that had to be done, after what happened. And she couldn't bring herself to go in. She couldn't bear to think about the life that they'd had in that apartment together, or what he'd done. 

Moira and Andrew were at their hotel. They'd asked to be left alone, too. Kasey'd understood- being with Jace's parents was just another reminder of what happened. She was sure that they were reminded of him when they saw her, too.

But Kasey knew she would always be in denial if she didn't make sure it was true. She need to know. Needed the confirmation, that this wasn't some horrible prank that Jace was playing on her.

And then she'd gone with the Reynolds family to see Jace's body. That had been harder than she thought it would be, too. Jace's body, which was normally so full of life, lying prone on the table, was an image she would never be able to get out of her head. 

Today, the pain was worse than the past two days. 

They were supposed to get married today. 

Instead, she'd called the planners and the caterers and everyone involved in the wedding to tell them that the wedding was canceled. It had been possibly the most emotionally exhausting day of her life, to cancel her own wedding. To have to talk to everyone who she knew just wanted her to be happy. 

She checked the time on her phone, immediately looking away as she saw the three numbers blinking back at her.

3:00.

Kasey's breath caught in her throat. The wedding should have been starting now. The bridesmaids would be heading down the aisle, followed by Alaina.

She could almost picture it. She could picture all of her friends sitting in the pews, smiling at her as she and Lin walked. She could see the pale blue flower petals on the ground, and Jace at the end of the aisle, smiling at her.

She blinked, jolting herself out of her thoughts. The vision faded. And that was all it would ever be now- a vision. A future that had once seemed so close was now impossible. Jace would never see Kasey walk down the aisle. He would never do a lot of things.

She felt something wet on her cheek and brushed it aside furiously. 

It took her a second to realize that she was crying. 

She'd told herself that she wouldn't cry. She wouldn't allow herself to spend what would have been her wedding day in tears. It wasn't what Jace would have wanted.

Or was it?

Kasey thought she'd known Jace well. She thought they told each other everything- she certainly had told him all of her secrets.

But apparently, she didn't know Jace at all.

She heard the loft door open, and Carleigh stepped inside, carrying a bag of what looked like salad. Kasey quickly wiped the moisture from her eyes and turned. 

"How are you feeling?" Carleigh asked, setting down the bag. She sat next to Kasey, slipping off her boots as she did so.

"I'm okay," Kasey said, managing a weak smile. 

The two of them sat in silence for a bit, Kasey staring at her phone, sitting on the coffee table. She half-expected it to light up with a text from Jace, but his contact never appeared. It wouldn't, she reminded herself. 

Kasey suddenly turned to face Carleigh. "Do you think it was because of me?" she asked, almost afraid of what her friend was going to say.

Carleigh immediately shook her head. "It wasn't because of you. He loved you, so much. I know that he did. It was clear to everyone that knew him. He cares about you, Kasey. You were never the reason."

Kasey swallowed. "I knew what he was going through, with his cast. I knew he was struggling... but I hoped that the wedding, our future.... I hoped it would be enough. I wanted it to be enough for him, to make him want to stay."

Carleigh wrapped Kasey in a tight hug. "Oh, Kasey, I think it was. I think something like this would have happened sooner if he hadn't met you. I think you saved him."

"But it wasn't enough."

"I don't think he did it because you weren't enough. I think it was because other people made him feel like he wasn't enough for you."

Kasey was silent at that. "How do you know?"

"Because everyone feels like they need to be a better person when they're with you. I know I feel that way- maybe Jace did, too. Maybe the comments just... fueled that insecurity."

They sat in silence again. 

After a bit, Kasey stood up, taking a deep breath. "I have so much I have to do."

"Kase-"

"It's fine, Carleigh," Kasey said, but she couldn't keep her voice from shaking just a little bit.