Pictures of You (36 page)

             
“You’ll be fine,” he repeated, amused by how tightly I was clutching his hand.

             
“But what if—”

             
“I’m right here. You
can
do this. You’re strong. You’ve proven that to yourself.” He opened the driver’s door of his car for me. A shiny new football helmet sat in the front seat. It made me smile.

             
“You remembered,” I said, touched. “But you forgot the body armor.”

             
“Body armor is harder to come by,” he said, caressing my cheek. A sudden gentle breeze tickled my skin, carrying with it the sweet scent of lilacs and spring blossoms. He pulled me in for a long and tender kiss, dulling my anxiety. Even months later, his kisses had a powerful affect on me.

             
“I think I’m ready,” I said as we pulled apart. He gingerly placed the helmet on my head, then took me by the hand and helped me into the car. I took a measure of comfort in the familiar sandalwood scent and the warmth of the sunlight blanketing my face. Adrien climbed into the passenger seat and snapped on his seatbelt.

             
“What if I can’t do it? What if I crash?” I asked, feeling a wave of nausea hit me.

             
His eyes locked into mine. “Then we crash together. We’ve been through enough now to know that we can get through anything.” His words gave me goose bumps. I knew, deep down, he was right. We didn’t have to fear anymore. We’d both been through the worst and somehow made it out alive.

             
I thought of Abby and smiled. I knew she’d be proud of me and that in some way she was here with us. I thought of my new friends and the spaces in my heart they filled. I thought of life, what a precious gift it was and how it could be taken away at any moment. That was the beauty of it. I thought about love and how nothing, death included, could destroy it.

             
I sucked in a breath and turned the ignition.

September’s Grieving
for Abby Playlist

1)
      
Pictures of You by The Cure

2)
    
Touched by VAST

3)
     
Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton

4)
    
Afterlife by Arcade Fire

5)
    
I Will Follow You Into the Dark by Death Cab For Cutie             

6)
     
Lovesong by The Cure

7)
     
I’ll Be There by Escape Club

8)
    
Missing by Everything But the Girl

9)
    
Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd

10)
 
Angel by Sarah McLachlan

11)
  
Goodnight, Travel Well by The Killers

12)
 
Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel

13)
  
People Who Died by Jim Carroll Band

14)
 
I Grieve by Peter Gabriel

15)
 
Here’s to All the People I Have Lost by VAST

16)
 
Always Something There to Remind Me by Naked Eyes

17)
 
Map of the Problematique by Muse

18)
 
The Hardest Part by Coldplay

19)
 
Dark Paradise by Lana Del Ray

20)
I Am Stretched On Your Grave by Sinead O’Connor

21)
 
Hurt by Johnny Cash

22)
Gone by The Striped Goat

Adrien’s ‘80s Mix CD for September

1)
      
But Not Tonight by Depeche Mode

2)
    
With or Without You by U2

3)
     
Unlovable by The Smiths

4)
    
Hold Me Now by The Thompson Twins

5)
    
Tower of Strength by The Mission UK

6)
     
Crazy by Icehouse

7)
     
I Know It’s Over by The Smiths

8)
    
Just Like Heaven by The Cure

9)
    
Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel

10)
 
I Melt With You by Modern English

11)
  
Let’s Dance by David Bowie

12)
 
Drive by The Cars

13)
  
There is a Light That Never Goes Out by The Smiths

14)
 
Shake the Disease by Depeche Mode

15)
 
The Killing Moon by Echo and the Bunnymen

16)
 
Love is Stronger Than Death by The The

17)
 
Heartbreak Beat by The Psychedelic Furs

18)
 
Just What I Needed by The Cars

19)
 
No One is to Blame by Howard Jones

September’s ‘80s Mix CD for Adrien

1)
      
Blue Monday by New Order

2)
    
Cruel Summer by Bananarama

3)
     
Don’t You Want Me by The Human League

4)
    
Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper

5)
    
If You Leave by OMD

6)
     
Never Surrender by Corey Hart

7)
     
Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush

8)
    
Tainted Love by Soft Cell

9)
    
Broken Wings by Mr. Mister

10)
 
Always the Sun by The Stranglers

11)
  
Missing You by John Waite

12)
 
Don’t Dream it’s Over by Crowded House

13)
  
Eternal Flame by The Bangles

14)
 
Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order

15)
 
Fight by The Cure

16)
 
Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash

17)
 
Dancing With Tears in My Eyes by Ultravox

18)
 
Take On Me by A-ha

About the Author

Juliette is a writer and painter. She loves music
with a passion, particularly ‘80s, alternative and indie. Like September, she lost her very best friend. Juliette lives in Springville, Utah.