Jason stared at the grave. She was here. His girlfriend was under 6 feet of dirt, and it was all his fault. He was the one driving; he was the one not paying attention. If there were any justice in the world he would have been the one in the ground, not her.
"That's not true, Jason, and you know it."
Jason turned and saw Trini standing behind him. "What are you doing here?" He demanded.
"I wanted to find out how you were doing." Trini replied, sitting down on the grass next to the burly teen.
"I'm fine." He voice husky with unshed tears.
Trini scooted over and put her arms around her one-time leader. "You don't have to be strong in front of me." She whispered.
With a shudder, Jason finally let himself feel. Trini held him as he sobbed, huge heaving sobs that racked his body.
Trini didn't say a word as Jason cried. Nothing she could say would make the pain go away. So she simply held him as he let the emotions out.
"Why?" He asked as he pulled away from his friend.
"Why am I here or why isn't it true?" Trini asked instead.
Jason stared at her. He felt his face flush and he looked away. "Why you're here, I guess." He mumbled.
Trini gave him a sympathetic smile. "Jason, I'm your friend, and you're hurting. I know I can't take away your pain, but at least I can be here to support you."
"Who says I need support?" He asked her.
"Jason, you don't have to be strong all the time. It's okay to lean on someone. This isn't your fault. It was just a senseless accident. It wasn't anyone's fault. Don't feel guilty about living, Jason."
"You weren't there!" Jason screamed. "You don't know what happened!"
"You're right. I wasn't there, and I don't know what happened. That doesn't matter anymore, Jason. What matters is that you live your life. Remember Emily, always keep a part of her in your heart, but don't stop living Jason."
Jason looked away from Trini. What she was saying made sense. He couldn't change the past; couldn't bring Emily back from the dead. All he could do was live. Live for him and live for Emily. "How? How do I do that? I look at my future, Trini. I don't think I can do it. I can't imagine my life without her."
Trini wrapped her arms around Jason again. "Then don't look at your future, Jason. For right now just take it one day at a time. No one's saying you have to get over Emily right away. No one's expecting that. But you can't shut yourself off from the world."
Jason clung to Trini. "I know. I know. I just wish...I'm so scared."
"I'll be here for you. All of us are here for you. Anytime you want or need to talk. You're not alone, Jase. Never."