Silence is Suicide.

Chapter Twenty-Eight.

She left me standing alone and abandoned in the alleyway. I didn't know where to go from here. I tried to collect myself and try to get my head straight. It wasn't working well for me. I sighed and began walking in a haze back to the hotel.

I was lost in all ways possible. I have lost the one I loved the most twice. How pathetic was I? I didn't know where I was going. The city was huge.

I started crying, finally realizing for the last time that Annabel was gone. She wasn't coming back to me. I felt like it was my fault, even when she told me it was not at all. She did something "bad" but I didn't care about it anymore. I was settled on the fact that she didn't want me and she defiantly moved on without me. I was in her past, and she now needs to be in mine. I still grieved the loss of her. She still owned my heart though, I owed her that.

When I was finished with the waterfall of tears and I could finally see where I was going, I realized the hotel was within my sight. I walked down a few streets and finally reached the hotel. I walked inside and into the elevator. To my surprise, Rae was standing inside.

"Emerson! Emerson, are you okay? Everyone was worried about you! And it looks like you were crying...?"

"I'm fine." I said in a low tone, looking away from her.

"Did you just talk?" She turned my head to face her.

"Yeah. I found what I was looking for. I freed myself from my own curse."

"Well I'm glad you did! Your voice is so beautiful."

I spoke harshly away from her, "I'm not."

"Why not? You can finally speak again! That's amazing! I-"

"No it isn't. She broke me, but the one thing I wanted to do was make sure she was still alive. She is; I'm free. She just doesn't want me anymore. I can never truly have her back. She's long gone and moved on. I don't even know who she is anymore." I felt an urge to cry, but I kept it inside with a sigh.

"Who?" She questioned with her soft, gentle voice.

"Annabel, my first and only love."

"I doubt she was really in love with you if she left you. She wasn't there for you to keep you going."

I narrowed my eyes at her. How dare she questioned Annabel's love for me. "Yes she was. She was the only thing that kept me going. Knowledge of her breathing was the only thing that made me want to live. But the piece of me that wants her, died. I feel dead."

Her reached her hand out to put on my shoulder. "Emerson, I was here for you. I believed in you. She's gone. Move on."

"I can't Rae! You don't understand! I've gone through too much shit to let her go! I-"

"Emerson, listen to me! I've seen you at some bad points in your life. I don't know Annabel and probably never will, but I do know that she's gone. I'm here now! I will be here for you. I will never leave you. I-" she suddenly stopped as the elevator opened. It looked to me like she broke from her trance of some sort. "I have to go."

"Rae!" I grabbed her arm and pulled her back in, just as the elevator doors were about to close.

"I'm sorry, but-"

"Andrew?"

She shook her head no, "He's gone for good." she whispered.

I pulled her into my chest and held her tight. "I just realized something."

"What would that be?" she asked as she listened to my heartbeat.

"I love you. You're right. You always have been right. You were there when Annabel wasn't. You've given me so many signs that I was completely oblivious to. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me."

"I already have." she looked up at me and her soft lips kissed me. This time, I accepted it. I can't believe I couldn't see this until now. My life is falling back into place. For once, I am happy. For once, I have realized I have so much to be thankful for. For once, someone truly loves me.

"I should have been with you all along." she whispered as she laid her head back in my chest. I held her tighter. I won't let anything hurt her. I won't let this one go.

**

I was flying as I approached our hotel room. I was so happy and I couldn't contain it. I opened the door and found my friends and family all sitting together frantically checking their phones. Just as I walked inside, they all turned and faced me.

Jeremy was the first to speak. He stood up and took a few huge steps over to me. "Dude, where the fuck did you go? We called you like crazy. You freaked us all the fuck out. I- Why are you smiling?"

Eddy tossed the board and marker to me.

I stared at it, then looked back up at my brother. "Sorry everyone."

The room went silent.

"Wait, Emerson did you just speak?" Eddy said with a cocked head.

"Yeah, I-"

Jeremy smiled. He knew I found what I was looking for. "It's okay bro, we forgive you."

"Wait, Jer, He-"

"Ambrosia, it's okay. We're gonna let it go now." Jeremy said with a smirk plastered on his face. He laid his hand on my shoulder and patted my back. "Good show, Em."

**

The next morning, everyone went out for one last celebration before heading home. Jeremy and I lingered in the hotel room.

"You found her didn't you."

"Yeah, but I realized something."

"You're happy because of her. I want to meet her."

"You already have, Jeremy. It's been Rae all along. Annabel left me. Rae stayed with me. I...I-"

"It's okay, Em, you don't need to say another word. I understand. Just as long as you're happy, I'm happy. You're my little brother and your happiness is all I care about. I love ya, kid."

I smiled at him. "Love ya too bro."

**

Heading home I stared out the window. Rae slept in my arms and I couldn't help but smile. I finally realize what Life is all about. Life will throw shit at you. Life wants you to break down. Life will push you to your limits and show you that you can do it. Life will bring people in and out of your life to teach you lessons. Life wants you to see who really cares about you. The people that stay are the ones you should chase; the ones you should pay attention to. The people that leave should be appreciated, but should be let go. You shouldn't forget the memories, but you should realize that they wanted to leave and you need to respect that. Life gets tough, but you can handle it. Appreciate the people who care and cared about you. They make you stronger; they can lift you up. They make you realize you need to love yourself too. You are loved by many other people and you need to be loved by yourself. Life teaches you all of this and I am so thankful. I finally realized this. I can finally be happy.