James didn't say another word. He turned and walked away.

...

On the way back, Briony suddenly said she wanted to stop by Pearbrook.

James pulled the car over by the roadside near the river.

He walked with her across the crosswalk and onto the sidewalk that bordered Pearbrook.

Late summer nights after a storm always carried a sticky dampness to the city. The river ran swift, its waters churning rather than calm.

The rain had only just let up. There was no one else by the river.

Briony stood gazing out at the dark water, silent for a long time.

James simply stayed by her side, keeping quiet.

Across Pearbrook was Briony's new home; just a crosswalk separated them from

it.

The damp night breeze tugged at her long hair.

Briony lifted a hand to brush the strands from her cheek.

Cedric Clarke's words from the police station echoed in her mind-

[Stewart always said he didn't want a funeral. He just asked me to scatter his ashes in Pearbrook. But now...]

"But now there's nothing left. His last wish can't even be fulfilled."

caught only a fragment and leaned in, his voice low,

"It's nothing."

her eyes on the river. "It's

but the night was so dark

to Skybreeze Retreat, they

stepped inside to see Stella sitting on the floor, playing

up and hurried over, worry etched across her face.

with a small smile. "Why did you come over?

going to be swamped with work for the next

busy. There's not much happening on my end. You really

as well as she did, she might have been

me," Stella said, tugging Briony up to

a bedroom and closed

a word, Stella pulled her into a tight hug. "Cry if you

stood still for a few seconds, then gently pushed

frowned, studying

"Star, I'm not feeling that kind

really hate

not hate." Briony shook her head. "The moment

my

your heart died

turned to look

glass, the night was pitch black, nothing visible in

sounded soft, almost fragile,

anything. I'm not devastated by Stewart's death. It just feels... unresolved. It

her hand. "You

Briony didn't deny it.

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