Emily walked along the beach, the cool sand on her bare feet and the waves lapping at her ankles. She took a deep breath; the scent of salt water filled her lungs. So many things filled her head, but all she wanted to do was forget it all. Matt pulled up in front of the two story beach house and shut the engine of his car off. He took a deep breath, this was it. “Give me strength Mom,” he whispered as he climbed out of the car and looked at the stars. He quickly made his way to the front of the house and knocked on the door. No answer. He made his way around the back, to the deck that overlooked the beach. He leaned on the railing of the deck and gazed down at the beach, the ocean shining with the moon’s reflection. He scanned the empty beach with his eyes a few more seconds, until he felt his breath get taken away. Right below him, near the edge of the ocean, Emily walked slowly. Her dark blonde hair shining under the moon, the wind blowing it lightly around her face. In the white sundress she wore, with the hem blowing around her bare feet, he couldn’t help but think how angelic, how beautiful she looked. He watched her a few seconds longer, as she strolled down the beach peacefully, not unaware there were any observers. She was completely oblivious to the world around her. She stopped in front of the edge of the water, her back to him as she gazed out at the ocean. Matt took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. The bright stars twinkling above him. He closed his eyes for a second and opened them again. He quickly and quietly walked down the wooden steps of the deck and down onto the beach. His heart pounded in his chest as he walked closer to Emily, her back still to him as she gazed at the water. “Emily?” he whispered through the silence of the night as he stood a few feet away from her. She turned around, surprise filling her eyes. “Matt, what are you doing here?” Emily asked softly, “I didn’t know anyone was…” Her voice trailed off as she studied Matt under the moonlight. She felt she hadn’t seen him in what felt like forever and all she wanted to do was fall into his arms. “I’m sorry if I startled you,” Matt said with a small smile, walking closer to here so the two were an arm length away, “I just… I wanted to talk to you.” Emily felt him, so close to here. The two bathed in moonlight, the sound of the ocean gently lapping at their feet. She felt Matt step closer to her, their bodies barely touching. She reached out and pulled herself into his arms, unable to hold back. Matt stepped back surprised, then wrapped his arms around Emily. Her face buried in his chest and her arms around his chest. He kissed the top of her head softly and took a deep breath. He could feel Emily’s shoulder’s shake softly, and could hear small sobs escape her mouth, muffled in his chest. He stroked her hair gently as the two stood by the waters edge in each other’s arms; the only sound was the waves crashing onto the shore and Emily’s almost silent sobs. “I’m sorry,” Emily whispered, her voice still full of sobs, “I shouldn’t have left.” “It’s alright,” Matt reassured, placing his finger gently under her chin and lifting her head softly so they were eye to eye. “I was just… so scared Matt,” Emily explained softly, her lips quivering slightly. “I know,” Matt said gently, pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear, “I was too. I still am.” “Should we be doing this Matt?” Emily asked, looking into his eyes searching for an answer. She didn’t need him to say anything, she knew the answer to her question as he studied his eyes. Matt nodded, “I think we should Em. I really care about you… and I think Shane would want you to be happy. I know he’d want you to be happy.” “I know… but…” Emily whispered, tearing her gaze from Matt and looking back at the ocean as her voice trailed off. Matt walked up behind Emily, placing his hands gently on her arms. He heard her sigh as she leaned her head back to rest on his chest and could see her shut her eyes. “I’m scared of betraying Shane,” Emily admitted, her eyes not opening as she stayed leaning on Matt, “and I’m scared of getting hurt again. Losing someone I love.” “I would never hurt you Emily,” Matt said, taking his hands from her bare arms and wrapping them around her waist, pulling her close to him. “Shane said that too,” Emily whispered, pulling out of Matt’s grip and turning to face him, “then he left me… he never even said good bye. I never got a chance.” “He loved you Emily, and you know he wanted to spend the rest of his life with you…” Matt started, taking Emily’s hands in his own. “It’s not just that!” Emily cried, tightening her grip on Matt’s hands, “It’s my fault Shane died! You could have died too and it would have been my fault!” “Your fault?” Matt asked, surprised and confused. He watched as fresh tears formed in Emily’s eyes. “If we had never gotten in that fight, Shane never would have left!” Emily said, “It was such a stupid fight too! If I had just…” “It’s not your fault,” Matt interrupted, “no one could predict that would happen. It’s no one’s fault.” “It is,” Emily cried as Matt pulled her into himself and she once again sobbed into his chest, “it is all my fault!” “No Em, it’s not,” Matt soothed, “I said the same thing. But it’s not. Do you believe in fate?” “Fate?” Emily asked, brining her head off Matt’s chest and wiping away her tears, “you mean like everything happens for a reason?” “Exactly,” Matt said softly, placing his thumb under her right eye and gently wiping away a tear, “Maybe there was something stronger at work then anything else… stronger then death… stronger then love…” Emily nodded her head, but didn’t speak. She was tired of talking, she was tired of crying, and she was tired of feeling alone. Matt knew exactly how she felt… “I want to be with you Matt…” Emily finally managed to whisper a few minutes later, “maybe you’re right… everything does happen for a reason…” “I love you Emily,” Matt said softly, stepping closer to her and pushing some of her hair behind her shoulders, “I know I can never take Shane’s place, and I don’t want to… but I just want you to know that I love you.” “I love you…” Emily managed to squeak out as she fell into Matt’s arms. Exhausted, physically and emotionally, but for once instead of loneliness and sorrow she felt happiness. “I really do love you Matt,” Emily breathed against Matt’s neck as he held her tightly rocking her back and forth, “and I am so sorry…” “Shhh…” Matt said with a small smile, covering Emily’s lips gently with his finger, “I know…” Matt placed a gentle kiss on Emily’s lips. His heart beating wildly as he pulled Emily closer and the two entwined, as if becoming one. He broke the kiss and studied Emily’s face, a smile on her face, the tears now gone from her eyes. “Want to go inside?” Matt asked taking her hand. “No,” Emily said softly, shaking her head, “Let’s stay out here.” Matt nodded and placed his arm around Emily’s waist, the 2 looking up at the sky together. The swoon of peace and calm surrounded them as they stared at the twinkling stars overhead, almost feeling as if Shane was watching them from the Heavens above and smiling at them.