Chapter 47
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In psychology, it’s often noted that people who experience extreme trauma may subconsciously block out their most painful memories, retaining only the happier ones. However, certain triggers can bring those painful memories rushing back. It seems that Duncan was experiencing this very phenomenon.
Josh patted Duncan on the shoulder. “You’re not well. I’ll arrange for a therapist to see you tomorrow.”
Duncan still hadn’t moved on from Audrey’s death. He was stuck in that moment, and if this continued, it would destroy him.
Duncan rubbed his temples and waved Josh off. “No need; m fine. I want to go see Audrey,”
Josh wanted to insist, but Duncan had already turned and was heading out the door.
When Duncan arrived at the cemetery and saw that there were no flowers left at Audrey’s grave, he felt a deep sense of guilt. He had failed in his responsibilities as her husband. For months, he had forgotten her, leaving her to rest here all alone.
The more he thought about it, the more he despised himself.
“Audrey, how are you? Did you miss me? Are you happy without me by your side? I bet you’re probably doing just fine–someone as beautiful and kind as you must have a lot of souls lining up to marry you. But don’t say yes, Audrey. None of them are worthy of you. Wait for me. I’ll come be with you soon. The things we couldn’t finish in this world, we’ll complete together in the next. This time, I believe everything you say. I’ll never doubt you again.” As Duncan spoke, he tasted something metallic in his mouth.
Blood.
But he didn’t care. His hand gently brushed across Audrey’s photo on the tombstone, and he smiled sadly. Forgive me, Audrey. Forgive me for forgetting you. It wasn’t what I wanted. I know I’ve been living a lie, refusing to wake up, because the world without you is too painful, too lonely. Forgive me for not being as strong as you were.”
Pressing a hand to his chest, Duncan felt an unbearable pain, as though he were dying. Death sounded like a relief
-it meant he could finally be with Audrey again. He wouldn’t have to suffer through this world anymore.
Closing his eyes, Duncan took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, he saw Audrey standing in front of him, smiling radiantly. She was breathtakingly beautiful, like an ethereal being.
She reached out her hand toward him, and Duncan extended his hand to take hers. But just as he was about t grasp it, she vanished.
His hand slowly fell back to his side, and tears began to spill from his eyes, falling silently onto the ground.
He closed his eyes forever.
to
When Seamus, Josh, and Janet arrived, Duncan’s body had already grown cold. He was kneeling before Audrey’s grave, as if seeking her forgiveness.
Seamus held Duncan in his arms, his heart aching as if it had been pierced by a thousand knives. That woman hadn’t been able to save his son after all
Josh glanced at the cold gravestone and softly murmured, “Audrey, now I understand what you and Duncan meant to each other. How are you doing down there? Duncan has come to join you.”
Janet, unable to contain her grief, shouted at the grave, “You won, Audrey! You blame me, don’t you? You’re
+25 BONUS
Chapter 47
angry because I took the money and blamed it on you, so you took my son from me. You won! lost–I lost my son, and now I’m all alone. Audrey, I hate you. It’s your faul! I was so worried about Duncan, but I didn’t dare see him. Not even in his final moments could I say a word to him.”
Janet pounded her fists against Andrey’s tombstone until her hands bled, but she seemed numb to the pain.
“That’s enough!” Seamus’s voice boomed. “This was Duncan’s choice. Our son wasn’t strong enough.”
Janet stopped and then collapsed over Duncan’s body, sobbing uncontrollably. “My son, it was all my fault. I shouldn’t have gambled. I shouldn’t have blamed Audrey. Please, wake up. Hit me, yell at me… just please, wake up.”
She tried to pull Duncan to his feet, but his lifeless body wouldn’t budge.
Josh watched as Janet cried over Duncan’s body, then quietly stepped toward the gravestone. He gently brushed his fingers over the two words etched into the stone: “My Wife.”
“Audrey, you fought for so long, and it was worth it. Duncan loved you just as much as you loved him. He didn’t live well without you. Now he’s here with you, and you’ll never be lonely again. In life, you two couldn’t be together, but now, you finally can be. Are you happy, Audrey?”
After Duncan’s death, Janet’s condition deteriorated. She began speaking nonsense and would apologize to people at random. Seamus, struggling to handle both Duncan’s funeral and his wife’s care, was barely holding on. Josh, not wanting to leave them in such a state, stayed behind to help.
Eventually, after much discussion, Duncan and Audrey were buried together.
With Duncan’s passing, the stock of his company, Quartet Enterprises, plummeted. Seamus, resigned to fate, allowed the company to be bought out, but with one condition: the company’s name had to remain unchanged. That was his only request.
A year later, Josh returned to the gravesite, accompanied by a woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to Audrey. “Duncan, Audrey, you’re finally together now. I’ve found someone too–someone for me. We’ve all found our happiness. Audrey, Duncan, I hope you’re happy too. Make up for all the regrets you had in life, a thousand times over.” Josh gently tugged on the woman’s hand. “Come, say something to them. Let them know I’m happy.” The woman nodded and placed the flowers by the grave. “Audrey, Josh told me about you. He said you were the most beautiful woman in the world, and I can see why, even just from your picture. Josh couldn’t stop talking about you, to the point where I started to feel a little jealous. You were lucky, Audrey–you had two men who loved you deeply: Josh, who loved you selflessly, and Duncan, who was willing to follow you even in death. You were truly blessed. I hope you both will be happy forever.”
Josh softly echoed her words from behind. “Yes, they will be. They’ll be happy forever in the next world.”
The End
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