Andrea's POV:

the bullet's sound makes everybody freeze.

the scene we just witnessed was traumatizing. Bailey's once live corpse is sitting on the ground stiff, the head is drenched in blood.

Between the whispers that erupted around, I hear Gabriel mumbling something I couldn't quite catch.

Maybe I could have helped her, saved her from ending her life. Yes, I didn't like her but I have never wished death upon her.

Before I could snap out of my daze, a bullet's sound followed by burning pain in my shoulder brings me back to my senses, I grab the spot I was injured in and close my eyes in response to the loud sounds of guns around me.

When I open them again I see Gabriel's body falling slowly to the ground in front of me.

My brain could not register what was happening, but then I look at Gabriel's body covered in blood and I freeze.

I fall to my knees, "no! No! No! Gabriel open your eyes!" I shout while hitting him softly in his face.

He hardly opens them with a pained expression settling on his features "I love you Andrea and I've always loved you, never forget that," he said quietly with a sad smile.

I shake my head in denial, tears blurring my vision "don't you dare do this to me, Gabriel!"

I wipe my eyes and stare at him "don't you dare leave me! You're not saying goodbye You're going to live and say that you love me again and everything will be alright,"

Medics finally arrive, they move Gabriel to the stretcher to get him on the ambulance. Not wanting to leave his side, I hold his hand and run alongside them while they were doing their jobs.

The moment we reach the ambulance, I was pushed away from Gabriel's side for them to get him in. When they were done I hop on and sit in the corner watching them examine the injuries and work to stop the bleeding.

In the middle of all this chaos, the only thing I could focus on was my fast heartbeats and the pain in my shoulder.

'They'll save him' I try assuring myself but lose my temper when I hear one of them say, "we're going to lose him,"

My chest tightens and the world around me spins. The last thing I remember seeing is the small heart monitor showing a straight line.

____________________________

I open my eyes slowly to the sound of low voices. Why do I feel like I should be worried? I wonder looking at the white wall, hospital probably.

I glance in the direction of the voices, Vincenzo and Matia resting their backs on the wall while old carter is sitting at the end of the bed.

And then it all hits me... Bailey's death, the gunshots, Gabriel's injured body.

"Where's Gabriel?" I ask barely being able to talk.

My question got everyone's attention but they still kept quiet, "where is he? I know they saved him," I ask again, my patience running low.

"Is he in operation? How long have I been blacked out?" I go on with my unanswered questions.

Their eyes linger on each other's as if they're talking silently, each one of them declining the responsibility to explain the situation. Something must be wrong but I wouldn't know what if they keep their childish silence.

"Somebody answer my fucking question," I snap not taking their bullshit anymore.

Vince takes few steps and sits by the side of my bed, "calm down Andrea." he says caressing my hair.

"Don't tell me to calm down," I groan pushing him away, "just answer my question."

He looks to the side avoiding eye contact and for my last hope I glance at old carter who's been silent this whole time, "old carter, please tell me Gabriel is fine," I plead with a choked voice, all those horrible scenarios invading my mind.

I know he's fine then why are they creating a scene? It's a simple answer.

When old carter doesn't react Matia sighs deeply, "I'm sorry Andrea." He apologizes, his eyes never meeting mine, "they couldn't save him."

They couldn't save who? This is a prank, a cruel prank.

Matia goes on with his explanation about what happened when I was unconscious, all I could hear was lies.

"This is not true. He must be in operation." I rush from my bed but end up falling on the floor due to my dizziness and weak body. Matia sits beside me and hugs me, most likely trying to ease my pain so why isn't it working?

I have always thought that Gabriel was irresponsible, childish, and even stupid sometimes but I loved protecting him and making sure nothing bad happens to him yet I was unable to save him when he needed me the most.

How pathetic am I? He kept asking me to stay home, to not risk my life but I was too stubborn I thought he wouldn't survive without me. I want to apologize for being reckless but to who? Now that he's gone no one will care whether I'm sorry or not.

I was carried to a bed again and tucked in, many questions were sent my way yet the words aren't reaching my ears.

I couldn't figure my surroundings anymore, I Disconnected from the world when I knew my world lost its meaning.

the only thing I can feel is myself drowning in sorrow. Every memory I once cherished with Gabriel is tearing me down, not being able to see him again still sounds fictional.

What's hurting the most is that I lost him when I was finally able to call him mine, all those future dreams and plans we made were gone in a heartbeat. Now that I think about it, I do want kids, I want to see Gabriel play with a mini him and to take care of the both of them.

I don't want to let go, I'm not ready to let go and I don't think I'll ever be.

_____________________________

It has already been a month since Gabriel left. To say things had been getting better I'd be lying, old carter hasn't come out of his room since the funeral and I'm not in a better condition.

My family visited us three weeks ago, I tried to be strong but I needed my mom's warmth so bad.

That day she set next to me for comfort and I couldn't help myself but talk about him.

"I wanted you guys to meet him," I told her back then trying to keep my composure and she listened in silence as she has always done when I needed to talk.

"I thought that after everything I'll take him to Italy so you guys could meet. You would have loved him, mom, he can be childish and an idiot but he's the sweetest angel..."

"He was there when I was alone," Tears gathered in my eyes and my chest tightened. The moment she saw my state she hugged me and I did the same trying to belong somewhere again.

"I want him back mom." I sobbed. "I need him back."

"With time everything is going to be alright," she tries calming me down, I don't want things to be alright when he's not around.

"NO! It will not, you don't understand!"

I believed for a moment time is going to heal our wounds however it only got worst, time only showed me the void his absence left.

I stay in Gabriel's penthouses all the time, I cut my connections with work and friends, All I do is greave.

The bell rings alarming me of someone's presence outside the penthouse, unwanted presence.

Before opening the door, I've already guessed it was either Matia or Vince since I pushed everyone away after a week. While old carter is being taken care of by a nurse.

As much as I wanted to be the one being there for him, every time I tried hugging him or getting near him he'd have a breakdown and I understand, really... it just hurts that I hurt him with just being around.

Turns out Enzo is the one to show up today, he invited himself in and walks with his shoes to the kitchen because he wants to get a reaction from me.

He tosses a car's key my way and I let it drop on the floor before I catch it, Noticing it's my keys I give him a confused stare.

"Your car just got delivered," he explains while examining the kitchen," apparently he took it to get done."

'Oh' I breathe. I totally forgot about it, I guess checking it wouldn't harm anyone.

The car was in the best shape possible, the insides smell fresh and there's not even one scratch on it. I wish I still have it in its old state, Gabriel used to say it's too messed up but in fact, I kept souvenirs around making them look old. Now that they're all thrown away the car is too empty.

Enzo said that a letter came along with it, Probably from Gabriel. I look at the sheet of paper in the passengers seat and grab it with shaky hands.

'Hey, Andy your real baby fixed your car baby,'

I chuckle slightly when I read the introduction, this is so like Gabriel...

This was so like Gabriel...

'I hope that you will be happy seeing your car fixed. I don't know what to say, you know I'm bad with words and expressing my feelings in general but anyway I'm glad that you're finally by my side as my girlfriend (soon to be wife) don't panic I'm joking (or not ) I love you Andrea more than you can ever imagine I hope to always see your beautiful smile on your face.

Love Gabriel'

And it ends there... Oh! How much I long to be your wife, and even if it's a joke I wish I can hit you in your face for playing too much. The smile is gone Gabriel! You've taken it with you, I no more know how to smile.

______________________________

I walk slowly into the graveyard and head to the place I have memorized by heart this past year.

Once there, I put the flowers on the grave and sit down beside it.

"Hi Gaby," I salute, passengers who'd see me would think I'm talking to myself. I've got quite famous as the girl who talks to her dead boyfriend every now and then.

"It's been a year already, can you believe that?"

Silence, I can't believe that too...

"You know, I've never told a person this but I was thinking about ending my life before I knew I was pregnant. Don't worry they were just thoughts, I would never hurt my family the same way I'm hurting...just thoughts."

"Knowing I was carrying your child, Ella, really broke me yet with time her light kicks gave me comfort and hope that her arrival might be the beginning I needed, even old carter started going back to normal when he knew about her.

The pregnancy was very hard though... Regardless of having my family's support I wanted you to be with me through all of it. To cuddle me at night when I was in pain, to hold my hair when I was throwing up at 5 am, to go buy me ice cream because I was craving it at midnight, for us to put our hands together to feel her first kick in my belly, to be there with me when I'm giving birth and hold my hand.

I needed your presence more than ever but you weren't there and I had to go through all of that alone... But I don't blame you, I bet you would've been the happiest between the two of us.

I would give anything to see you smile with joy and happiness when you carry her for the first time. I wanted to see you spoil her and love her more than anything else but my Baby girl will never know how caring and kind her father was." At this point I'm sobbing, tears blurring my vision.

"I'm very sorry Gaby but for the sake of our daughter, I need to let go of the life we both wanted to live. I love you too, I've always did and I always will goodbye."