Chloe walks silently across the pristine white blanket of snow, shivering as she pulls her coat tighter around her and the roses in her gloved hands. She blinks as snow swirls around her, clinging to her cheeks and eyelashes. She quickens her pace as the snow begins to fall faster, and within minutes, she reaches her destination. Tears fill her eyes and flow down her frozen cheeks, mixing with snowflakes as they fall to the ground. It isn't fair! Chloe drops to her knees in the snow before the two headstones, sets the roses lovingly in front of each name, and bows her head. She still can't believe they've been dead for more than a year. She lifts her head up and stares blurrily at the names. Shawn Brady and Belle Black. Their deaths had destroyed her. And they'd destroyed Brady. Brady.... Chloe's tears threaten to choke her as she thinks of Brady. She hasn't seen or heard from him since the accident. He'd left Salem, left her. Not a day goes by that she doesn't think of him, Belle, and Shawn, and the last day she spent with Brady.
*Flashback*The last notes of "All I ask of You" linger in the air as Chloe looks expectantly at Brady. Her heart leaps as he breaks into a smile. "You did it, Chloe! You did it!" Brady laughs delightedly and grabs Chloe by the waist, lifting her high into the air and spinning her around. Chloe's joyful giggles join Brady's laughter as they celebrate. Chloe is ecstatic. Her best friend has helped her to finally connect her soul to her singing.
Brady sets Chloe down and stares into her eyes. Chloe’s pulse races as his gaze dips to her lips. Please kiss me, her mind screams. Sexual tension fills the air until Chloe can’t take it anymore. “Brady…” “Shhhh.” Brady puts his finger against her lips and continues to stare deeply into her soul. His eyes flame with passion as he removes his finger bends his head. Chloe closes her eyes, hearing the phone ring in the distance and then the answering machine clicking on. She ignores it, and Brady’s lips finally touch hers. Chloe’s world explodes with sensations, but then Brady is gone. Chloe’s eyes snap open as she hears his anguished cry, startled and confused to see him looking at the phone, stricken.
Apprehension consumes her, followed closely by panic. “Brady, what’s wrong?” He sinks to the floor, staring blindly at the phone, where a blinking light indicates a message. Her voice is shrill as she shouts, “Brady, stop it! You’re scaring me!” Brady lets out a strangled sob and chokes out, “It’s Belle.” With fear in her heart, Chloe reaches out and with a trembling, purple-painted nail, and pushes the Play button on the answering machine. Immediately, John Black’s voice fills the penthouse.
“Brady, you have to come to the hospital. Your sister,” a deep pause then, “Belle was in an accident. With Shawn and Philip.” Chloe’s eyes fill with tears as John’s voice cracks. “She’s not going to make it, son. Get here as soon as you can, Brady. Belle needs you.” The sound of the dial tone replaces John’s voice and Chloe stands still, shocked, until her adrenaline kicks in. She grabs Brady’s arm and pulls him to his feet, then pushes him to the door, taking his car keys off the hook next her. With tears streaming down her face, she manages to get a leaden Brady into his jeep and climb into the driver’s seat, quickly starting the engine. She glances at Brady, scared to see his eyes blank and his face drained of color, and turns away. Chloe backs out and drives to the hospital, reciting this mantra for Brady; “Belle will make it. She’s strong. She’ll be okay…” *End Flashback*
Chloe brushes away her tears. Belle hadn’t been okay. Neither had Shawn. Chloe closed her eyes in sorrow. But Philip. Chloe lets out a harsh laugh. Philip survived. He is now paralyzed from the chest down, and “My burden,” Chloe whispers softly into the wind. Chloe sighs and pulls the black glove off her left hand, revealing the wedding ring she’s always despised.
She still regrets marrying Philip, but after Brady left, Philip was all she had. He needed her, still needed her. Chloe hates him for it. Here she is, twenty years old, married to one man and in love with another. She wipes crisp snow off the gravestones and watches as her gold ring flashes in a patch of sunlight. “Oh, Belle. Why did you have to die? Everything would be so much different if you and Shawn had lived.” Like my relationship with Brady, Chloe thinks, then immediately feels guilty for her selfish thoughts. “I’m so sorry, Belle. I miss you…”
*Flashback* Chloe screeches into the ER parking lot, and barely turns the jeep off when Brady jumps out and runs through the ER entrance. Chloe races after him, nearly colliding with Craig in the hallway. As Craig restrains her, Chloe frantically watches Brady disappear around a corner. “Craig, let me go!” Craig wraps his arms around her and holds her, and Chloe’s defenses break down. She sobs, hysteria evident in her grief. “Chloe, I’m sorry.” “NO! No…no…” Chloe collapses in Craig’s arms as he informs her that she is too late. Belle and Shawn are dead. A black cloud descends over her, and Chloe lets it take over. Only three days ago, she’d been standing with Shawn and Belle, posing for pictures after graduation. A montage of special moments she’s shared with her two friends flash through her mind, and Chloe lets depression and misery swallow her.
She doesn’t know how long she stays in Craig’s arms before reality intrudes and her thoughts go to “Brady! Craig, I have to see him!” Craig leads her to the chapel where John, Marlena, Bo, and Hope are, but Chloe doesn't see Brady. As Craig sits down with the mourning couples, Chloe darts out of the chapel to search for Brady. She finds him quickly, standing outside on the balcony. Chloe opens the balcony doors and steps outside, walking over to Brady and putting her arms around his waist. He puts his arms around her and buries his face in her hair, his shoulders shaking as he weeps. Chloe’s tears flow silently as she strokes Brady’s hair and says, “I’m sorry, Brady. I’m so, so sorry.”
Brady slowly lifts his head, and Chloe’s heart aches at the pain she sees reflecting in his eyes. He lets go of her and steps away from her. Chloe reaches for his hand, but stops when he says coldly, “Don’t touch me.” Chloe recoils at his tone, feeling hurt. “Brady, I…” “Shut up, Chloe! Just shut up and leave me alone!” Chloe gapes at Brady as he turns his back to her, clutching the balcony until his knuckles turn white. Chloe shakes her head in disbelief, unwilling to leave him. She moves closer and lays her hand lightly on Brady’s shoulder.
Brady whirls around, unintentionally knocking Chloe to the ground. She stares up at him as he glares at her. “Dammit Chloe! I told you to leave me the hell alone! I don’t want or need you here.” Brady sneers at her through his tears. “You should be at Philip’s side. You are his girlfriend. He’s the one that needs you, that LOVES you.” Chloe remains on the ground but retorts, “Damn you, Brady Black! You know I broke up with Philip months ago! I couldn’t stay with him, not when I was in love with-“ “I don’t care, Chloe! Not anymore. Belle’s dead, and I didn’t even get to say good-bye.” Chloe’s anger fades as Brady’s voice lowers. “I never got to say good-bye.”
Chloe starts to get to her feet when Brady pushes past her. He breaks into a sprint as Chloe struggles to stand, and he is gone before she has the chance to follow. Her face ravaged by tears, Chloe staggers to the balcony and looks down, just in time to see Brady dash towards his jeep. Remembering that she’s left the keys in the ignition, Chloe leans over, using all her voice power to scream, “Brady! Please don’t go! BRADY!” Brady pauses and looks up, then gets into the jeep. Chloe watches, her heart breaking, as Brady speeds away. “Brady. I love you…” *End Flashback*
Chloe gives a heartfelt sigh and stands up, wincing as her stiff, cold muscles protest. She stays still for a few minutes, wishing she could change the past. “But I can’t change it.” Chloe knows that Philip is waiting for her a hundred feet away, sitting cozily in the warm limo parked by the curb, but she doesn’t care. She just can’t tear herself away from Shawn and Belle. They are her only links to happier times, to Brady. To the Brady she hasn’t seen since the night Belle and Shawn died. He’d driven away that day and never come back.
Chloe suddenly realizes it’s stopped snowing, and allows herself a small smile. “Merry Christmas Shawn and Belle. I love you, and I’ll always miss you.” Chloe kisses her frozen fingertips and touches each headstone, then slips her glove back on. Closing her eyes, she tilts her face to the sky. “Chloe?” Chloe’s eyes snap open as she gasps. Joy and fear war in her heart as she tries to comprehend the voice she’s sure she’s imagined. Slowly, terrified she might be dreaming, Chloe turns around. A tiny cry escapes her as she sees him. He looks the same, and her heart skips a beat when he takes a few steps towards her. She takes a deep breath, and he smiles as her lips form his name. “Brady.”