EPILOGUE

SERENA'S MOTHER NEVER did recover from her daughter's suicide, her life becoming a meaningless void without her only child.

She worked, but it was always with a heavy heart and more to pass the time than anything else. She never found her own peace, until she died, from a stroke at the age of 47. Two years after Serena's suicide. She was discovered two weeks later, and purely only because her rotting body gave off an acrid stench that stretched to her neighbour's who grew suspicious of it.

After his divorce, Robert Wilson had chosen to start a foundation honouring his daughter, eyes now always open to the abuse children faced; both mental and physical.

He visited her at the morgue every weekend. Bringing tales of his work life.

Some might argue that he was a terrible father and he admitted he had been. He regretted not stepping in in countless situations but he couldn't take back what he'd done. All he could do was grow. Learn and grow, life's very purpose.

The foundation wouldn't bring back his daughter— but it was a start in making a change. His own peace.

***

AFTER THE TRADITIONAL toss of their graduation caps, each of Serena's friends and schoolmates began diverging, following their own paths.

Some moved abroad to pursue a higher education whilst others pursued professional sports and athletics, making it to top dogs such as the NBA and NHL. There were those that racked up heavy debts, even venturing into drugs and crime. It was a different scene for everyone. With each day that passed, the teens blossomed into adults each with their own individual journey to take.

But one thing would always bind them together— Serena Wilson.

***

SOFT, GENTLE FOOTSTEPS approached Serena Wilson's tombstone. The approaching girl laid down a bouquet of flowers, performing a prayer in front of it before getting down on her knees.

She gave a small smile.

"Hey Serena." she breathed, "It's Yasmin here. Just thought I should fill you up with how things have been recently."

Regardless of the empty silence that greeted her in return, Yasmin continued with her updates.

"Well, everyone went off to different parts of the globe as per what I told you last time. Bethany, the girl you did community service with, is still around. From what I can recall, she's taken up a waitressing job here. Said she won't move, at least, not yet anyway. She's got her hands full, taking care of Marigold and beginning the process of becoming her legal guardian."

"Diana started a fashion line that's booming, she's raking in the big bucks. She even dedicated her latest line to you : SW Fashions.

As for Vanessa, she's moved to England. Last I heard, she finished her internship there and is now constructing her own school, Lakeview University. We've grown apart quite a bit. I guess that's just what happens with time, it's inevitable. Her and Meiji, I'm not too sure what's happened to them along the way, Vanessa refuses to talk to me about it but I think they've broken up—for good."

Now onto your infamous breaking-nose pal Declan, now that's an update I can surprise you with," she mentioned with a sly smirk. "That smartass made it into Harvard. Harvard, can you believe that? Even after three months of knowing this news, I still can't quite wrap my head around it. I know you would've been so proud of him." she added, softly.

Pausing briefly to wipe away the tears that threatened to fall, she composed herself and continued forward.

"Seth's making it big," she started again earnestly. "He's got into the big leagues. Keith and Meiji are both in the NBA too, but all on different teams. Seth's still friends with Meiji but I don't keep in regular contact with him except for the occasional text and instagram post. He's doing good though, but I don't think he'll ever get into a relationship."

She stared sadly at the grave in front of her, "I think he'll always love you."

A throaty breathless laugh escaped from her. Damnit, she wasn't supposed to be so melodramatic, so emotional. She was meant to have it under control.

Yet being in the presence of the cemetery seemed to elicit the most emotional kinds of reaction from her. Not that anyone could blame her. Her best-friend would've been nineteen today, alongside Yasmin herself. A birthday the forever-seventeen-year old teenage girl would never be able to celebrate.

Over the course of two years, Yasmin had had time to reflect. And she had come to a conclusion.

The pain she was always experiencing never got better, she never stopped missing Serena. It was like there was a constant weight on her chest, a never-ceasing pressure. With each day that passed, each minute that ticked by, time just unravelled further. Showing her even more painful ways that she hadn't even fathomed were possible to miss Serena.

It was her laugh, the way her eyes crinkled at the corners whenever she tried to see something from afar with her short-sightedness, her dimples, everything about her.

Time never taught you to heal.

The difference was that some learnt to deal with it. Others didn't.

Sometimes, wounds healed into scars. Those were the lucky ones, the ones that could look back fondly on their past times without much pain or regrets. Of a remembrance, memory, of a time of hardship that taught unexplainable lessons.

But sometimes, wounds healed only to a certain extent, a portion of its pain remaining. Like a small cut, its agonising pain would prickle out slowly. At times, the pain one felt hurt more than a large wound would.

"Olivia moved here, to Oaksville too. She's a year older than all her peers because she had to repeat one year to catch up with the syllabus she missed, but I don't think she minds too much. She's doing well. Really well. Without the constant eyes of her parents, she's flourished into an amazing young lady. She even became basketball captain for her year. Seventeen years old. Damn, one more year until she graduates. "

Yasmin gazed sadly at the tombstone in front of her.

"It's been two years since you've gone and I'll admit, not a day goes by without me spinning around, waiting for you to laugh at my stupid joke, only to realise, you're in someplace else, hopefully happier than when you were with me."

"I wish I had seen the signs earlier but, I know you wouldn't want me to dwell on the past—you said that in your letter so, I'll try not to. It may have taken me a while, but I'm finally making peace with what you did."

Yasmin took another deep breath.

"I came here to tell you, I'm leaving. Meridian and I are going to be pursuing university in Curtsville. Oaksville will always hold a place in my heart, but I've realised it's too painful to stay here. Think of it as my attempt to move on, a fresh start. I'll come back to visit of course, but I just wanted to let you know my monthly visits here will start to be way more irregular."

"I miss you, and I love you. I'll see you soon, Serena."

Placing down the flowers, she stood up, brushing the dust from her knees as she made her way back to the red SUV where Meridian was waiting for her.

Meridian gripped her palm tightly, "She's happier now."

Yasmin gave a tight smile in return. As she glanced out the window, for a split second she could've sworn she saw Serena's figure at the tombstone. A translucent figure, floating gently above the ground.

Maybe she was going crazy, but she wasn't giving up the opportunity if Serena truly was there. There had been a lesson learnt, from having words go unsaid.

"I hope you're happy, Serena." she whispered softly to the foggy image, casting one final look at the tombstone as Meridian drove out of the parking lot.

"I am." Serena whispered back from a distance as she watched the car reverse out. The wind blew the leaves forward, as if uttering her unspoken reply. "Thank you Yasmin, for everything you've done."

It had been a few long years, but finally, Serena was content.

The town of Oaksville would always be a part of her friends, even her, but for now, it was time for all of them to let go.

It was time for Serena Wilson to spread her wings and fly— to a new journey.

"Thank you for everything. I'll miss you."

And with that, Serena faded away— for good.

Serena Wilson's journey had finally come to an end.

don't cry because it ended, smile because it happened.

FIN