The first 6 months, my parents forced me to stay with them. By that point, I really didn't care where I stayed or what I did. I kept playing back that night in my mind. What if I had gone with Stefan? Maybe we could have died together? Maybe I wouldn't have to live like this? This wasn't living. Without Stefan I felt like a corpse. A corpse that everyone was trying to bring back to life.

Brittney and Ryan constantly visited me. They tried to get me to eat to move. I couldn't stop thinking of Stefan. How can somebody just die like that? They couldn't even find his body... My Stefan....

It hurt to think of him. But it was unbearable to try to not think of him. I went my house once in those six months. I brought his clothes with me so that I could sleep in them when I needed him. But his smell was fading. They were becoming what they were. Just clothes.

I hadn't heard from Stefan's grandma or his sister. I kept thinking about them and I did want to visit them. I wanted to be around people who had been close to him, known him, loved him. But I was afraid to face them. To tell them that I had been the last person to see him. That he died because of me. Because he loved me. Because he wanted to quit being the bad guy. Because he wanted to be normal. I was also afraid that his uncle would find them and hurt them. But six months had been enough. I was going to see them today.

So, I drove to the woods. The place Stefan had taken me to a long time ago. How we had laughed and talked... How we had fallen in love...

I whimpered. It still hurt. Six months gone and it still hurt like the first day. Soon I reached that place. I parked my car a few miles away and started walking. Soon I could see the cottage. I knocked and grandma opened the door. She was holding a gun and Sofia was hiding behind her.

"Kiera!!!" Sofia screamed and jumped to hug me. Grandma put away the gun and hugged me too. I couldn't stop the tears that flowed. Grandma was crying too.

"I wondered what happened to you, child. You hadn't contacted us and I thought they got you too. My son killed my grandson...," she mumbled.

"I'm sorry I didn't know whether it was safe to come," I muttered.

"I'm glad you're okay," Grandma said and kissed me on the cheek.

"Sofia, how are you? I missed you so much," I said kneeling down.I couldn't stop my tears. I still had people who knew me, loved me. But this sweet child? She only had grandma and Stefan. And now Stefan was gone....

"I'm okay. I was scared for you. I know brother will come back someday. He promised he would always be there for me," she said and her words pulled at my heart. Such innocence.. Such trust...

"Kiera I wanted to talk to you about something," Granda suddenly said.

"Okay," I replied. What would she want to say? Why did it sound so urgent?

"Sofia, go to your room and close the door for a moment," she ordered her granddaughter.

Sofia nodded and left.

"Kiera, Sofia may still be in danger. If anybody found out she is alive and well they would come to get her. She is a living heir of the Salazars. Her uncle would to anything to get all the property. I'm old now and I don't know how long I'm going to live," she said in a grave tone.

"Grandma, what do you want me to do?" I asked nervously.

"You need to get over Stefan. It hurts me to say this but my grandson is dead and you need to move on. I know you still live him but he is gone. You should leave this place behind. I want you to take Sofia and leave. You are an adult now you can leave this place. Please save my granddaughter," she said the last words in a pleading tone.

"I will. Of course I will save her," I heard myself say. If she noticed that I didn't comment on the 'move on' part, she didn't say anything.

She went inside a room and brought a bag. She handed it to me.

"There is cash. Enough to get you two plane tickets to another country. You could buy a house. There are bank cheques inside under different names for the accounts that Stefan made. We were always prepared for danger," she said.

I took the bag from her. She went and knocked on Sofia's door. Sofia came out. The look on her face said that she had eavesdropped. She hugged her grandma for what could possibly be the last time. Then she came and held my hand.

"Kiera, I trust you. My grandson trusted you. I'm glad he had found you. I hope you find someone better in life. Live life. Stefan would want that for you. And take care of my Sofia," she said. I could see how hard she was trying to put up a strong front.

I kissed her cheeks, hugged her and took Sofia with me. We got out. I quickly took her to my car. We got in and I started driving in silence.

Sorry that I haven't updated in this long. My exams have ended and now I'll try my best to update regularly. Please vote and comment <3 <3