Trapped In His Vows

RY, MALIBU Wednesday

the wind. The clear blue sky was subtly being replaced by dark clouds. The sun gradually di

as going

ed quickly releas

f the cemetery stood

he held her hat in place befor

rave. White roses sat on the mound of e

rose in

d not moved for minutes, but inside,a struggle

hardly audible above that of the gale. She had her

aster, 1

th disbelief. Her pent up breath was followed by a sigh. She didn't notice when the rose

begun t

rs had begun to build up in the corners of

the cemetery gate. The headlights flashed

out urgently, turning off the

n the figure. Don't tell me you've been out her

the car door and wa

one this time. The driver quickened her pace with every step. Sh

ained lost

ie

her, drowning ou

row since she had lost her childh

as unb

bit by bit. How did one say goodbye to som

wn her cheeks. On

ther softly this time as she place

er fl

aware of the downpour and eerie stillness of the cemetery.

Olivia's voice cu

nised the voi

n a whisper. She rose slowly, gasping w

at all like it, though," Olivia sai

, her lips curling into a smi

t you hom

nd reassuringly and bega

r hesi

there. Not after everything. The image of her father's gloomy

e had forgotten all about the umbrella she'd brought. It d

r. Olivia helped Heath

okay?" she murmured

e, started up the engine, and bef

ve was

the funeral. No small talk. Nothing but the sound of the quiet engine

dense, heavy, like a miasma that h

ia kept looking back at Heat

to say - didn't

out the window, shoulders rolled in,

old. How long had she been out? Olivia wondered.

use," she said, talking in a whisper, disrupting

" She was able to force a weak smile and nod

n. That was Olivia - always trying to be th

ing

the gas station a

led again - not expecting that it would be returned. Smile,

st that I'm here. Always. Olivia told h

re soon after filling the tank. The flu

rinks, painkillers - before noticing a rack near

do, she

r. The line was short - a small mercy. She let out a

hit her

Rich. F

place in a dingy gas station shop. Her head

ered, thick in the air, like the echo of something

front of her purred, tur

s met O

rprised. She hadn't expected t

like dust - old, familiar, unexpected. She stare