Fragment 5 : even beautiful flowers fade
Water overflowed from the bathtub, slowly spreading across the tiles. It was entirely tinted red. Inside, motionless, lay Emilie's lifeless body. It was her mother who found her there, dead, with slashed wrists, in the bathroom.
Perhaps things would have been different if her friends had come to see her. Perhaps… But this was how everything had unfolded, and nothing could change that now. One could multiply the "what ifs," curse the world, or hate oneself, it wouldn't alter the reality that had taken hold.
Stacy's grandfather passed away two months later, and the whole family returned to Gehennie. She was the second to learn the news, utterly devastated by what she had just heard. As for Maddy, she only found out after her release from prison. She didn't believe it, refusing to accept it. It was only when she stood before Emilie's grave, reading her name engraved on the stone, that she had no choice but to face the harsh reality. She remained there for a while, silent, before murmuring four barely audible words :
— I love you, Emilie.
That was between them alone, and no one else had the right to know. Her heart tightened, overwhelmed with regret. If only she had told her sooner… Maybe things would have turned out differently. Even if Emilie hadn't loved her back, knowing that Maddy had feelings for her might have filled her heart, might have prevented her from crossing that point of no return. If only she hadn't exploded in anger that day, if only she had gone to Emilie, right at that moment…
She fell asleep beside her grave, a bouquet of flowers in hand.
The next morning, Stacy, visiting Emilie's grave, stumbled upon her completely by chance. Maddy woke up groggily from Stacy's shaking. The moment she saw her, she threw herself into her arms. Not a single word had been spoken yet, and already, the tears were flowing.
— So, you're the one who takes care of cleaning her grave every day ?
— Yes, I always make sure to replace the flowers when they wither. But I hate it. The more I do it, the more it feels like a chore. It's not on this damn stone that I want to place these flowers, but in Emilie's arms. I want her to smell their incense and feel joy. But buried six feet underground, I don't see how she could sense anything !
With every movement, Stacy's hands collided against each other more violently. Maddy took them in hers, as if to calm her.
— She's not underground. Her soul is elsewhere. Maybe she's right here with us at this very moment. There's no way to know. But what's certain is that she isn't in this grave. When I slept here, I didn't feel her presence, not even once… No, she's no longer here.
— I see…
— But why did she do something so horrible ? How could she have reached that point? Damn it !
Stacy pulled a folded piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to Maddy.
— What is this?
— The last message she left for us.
« The three of us were perfect and unshakable. No matter the obstacles, we always found a way through, together. But now, we are apart.
We had promised to walk side by side for as long as possible. We had sworn to stay united for eternity. And yet, you are no longer here.
I realize now that, in the end, I am nothing without you. I am not as strong as you, Maddy. I am not as brilliant as you, Stacy. There is nothing exceptional about me.
You keep moving forward, living as if nothing ever happened. But me… I can't. I am not strong enough. I need you guys for me to hold on.
Unlike you, I can't bear your absence. This loneliness is unbearable.
Since childhood, I followed you, admiring you both. But today, I can't see you anymore. There is only darkness left.
It's so dark here. I'm cold. I'm scared.
Please, hold me like before. Run to my rescue, like that time.
But no matter how long I wait, you don't come.
Perhaps it was naïve to believe we would always be together. As we grew up, it was inevitable that our paths would eventually part.
But this life… it was never meant for me.
You two are all that matter to me. You are my entire world.
And without you… I cannot live.
I love you both, Emilie »