MORE THAN THAT
Chapter Thirty-Two
June, 2005
It had been over a year since
Rose had died. Cal was in prison for life without parole and Lovejoy was in
prison for fifty years because he knew of Cal’s plan.
Now the friends had graduated and
were more than ready to leave the past behind, but could never leave Rose
there. Even though Tommy, Fabrizio, and Hannah had only vaguely known Rose, she
had been a part of them. Christina would never have a best friend as good as
Rose again. Even though they had only reconnected that year, Rose was still the
same to Christina.
As for Jack, he would never know
a love like that again. Sure, he’d love again. But Rose had been his soulmate
and nothing could come close to that.
The friends were visiting Rose’s
grave on a sunny Saturday morning. They always made sure her flowers were fresh
and her burial spot beautiful.
"It sucks that we won’t be
together next year," Hannah said. "What am I going to do in
Binghamton without you guys?"
"We’ll make sure to visit
you as much as possible!" Christina assured her best friend.
"I’m sure Fabrizio will spy
on you to make sure no hot college studs visit your room!" Tommy said.
"Especially if the bathrooms
are co-ed!" Jack added.
"There will be no boys.
Hannah either has to be a lesbian or not allowed out of her dorm!" Fabrizio
yelled.
Hannah hugged her boyfriend,
loving how jealous and stupid he could be at the same time.
"I love you, Fabri,"
she said, and kissed him.
"Enough of that! Thankfully,
I’ll only be going to Hunter, and my Sunshine, to BC," Tommy said, and
kissed his girlfriend’s nose.
"Basically, only Hannah’s
leaving, because Fabri will be in John Jay and I’ll be in the SVA," Jack
pointed out.
"Thanks for rubbing it in my
face, Jack!" Hannah yelled.
"You know what? It doesn’t
matter where we go. We will always be friends," an optimistic Christina
said.
"As long as we make the
effort," Tommy made sure to say.
"And we should come here
every Saturday to see Rose," Fabrizio suggested.
Jack smiled and said, "She’d
love that. We’ll make it count."
The friends left an hour later,
said their good-byes to Rose for the day, and were headed to Goodfellas for
dinner. Jack, however, stayed behind.
"Are you coming?"
Christina asked.
"Yeah. Just give me a
moment," Jack said, and waited until Christina was out of sight.
"Hey, Rose. It gets harder
each day, knowing you can’t be with us today. Your love is what keeps me going,
though. I miss you so much and want you by my side. I know you’d want me to
move on, but I can’t. Give it time. For now, you’re the only one for me. I love
you, Rose," Jack said, and turned to walk away.
A huge gust of wind blew past him
in the hot summer sunlight, and he felt a sense of a new beginning. He felt
Rose’s love greater than ever. He looked at her grave one more time and smiled.
Then he continued to walk.
He knew one day he’d get married,
but there was not one person who could be greater than their love. Rose was not
with him physically, but in his heart, she’d always remain, and no love could
ever be more than that.
A hundred days have made me
older
Since the last time that I saw your pretty face
A thousand lies have made me colder
And I don’t think I can look at this the same
But all the miles that separate
They disappear now when I’m dreaming of your face
I’m here without you baby
But you're still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
And I dream about you all the time
I’m here without you baby
But you're still with me in my dreams
And tonight
It’s only you and me
The miles just keep rolling
As the people leave their way to say hello
I've heard this life is overrated
But I hope that it gets better as we go
I’m here without you baby
But you're still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
And I dream about you all the time
I’m here without you baby
You're still with me in my dreams
And tonight girl
It’s only you and me
Everything I know
And anywhere I go
It gets hard but it won’t take away my love
And when the last one falls
When it’s all said and done
It gets hard but it won’t take away my love
I’m here without you baby
But you're still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
And I dream about you all the time
I’m here without you baby
But you're still with me in my dreams
And tonight girl
It’s only you and me.
Artist: 3 Doors Down
Title: Here Without You
The End.