Chapter 9

And just like that a month had passed since Camille's death.

Dean still wasn't okay, not even in the slightest... he acted as though he was okay around his friends and his family... but when he was alone... he just felt nothing.

An echoing of time and space...

Time went on and he lived. He didn't forget her... or how she looked, and how much he loved her... but was hurting him was that he was starting to forget how she sounded, her laugh, her singing... he was starting to forget.

6 months had passed by now.

He had started college, he got accepted into Dartmouth and he left home to travel and attend there. He was three months into college and he had just turned 19.

He didn't have any friends yet, he just couldn't bring himself to want to socialize. He preferred to be alone. And so that's what he did, if he wasn't in class or the cafeteria eating, he was in the library with headphones in listening to music.

He didn't feel lonely, he just didn't feel like faking it with everyone else, so he didn't, he stayed away.

His roommate was kind and a cool guy and all, but Dean would say hello and then go into his room. Either to sleep or study... he knew he was in a funk right now, and he wanted to break out of it, but he didn't have the strength.

He lived this way everyday, it wasn't until a few weeks later when his mother has finally been able to visit.

He embraced her tightly after spotting her reading the campus signs.

"Aww honey I missed you too."

She patted his back and then he finally pulled away.

They walked and found a little picnic bench and she brought out the lunch box she had brought for him.

"So how have your classes been?"

"Good." Dean replied as he ate.

Samantha seemed to hesitate before asking

"Have you made any new friends?"

Dean sighed and then said, "No, don't need to."

Samantha hurt for him.

"Dean... I understand what happened, and while I may not understand exactly how you feel, I know how I felt and still feel about it... And I know it's hard to talk about... But you can't live like this, it's okay to be upset, it's okay to grieve her... But you also need to make sure you're taking care of yourself especially because I'm not with you everyday... Dean I worry about you."

He looked up at her.

"Mom, you don't have to worry, I'm fine, I've been fine."

She sighed. He didn't want to accept anything that had to do with talking about it.

"Okay then promise me this week you'll try to make at least one new friend."

Dean rolled his eyes.

"Uh-uh, don't roll your eyes, promise me."

A smile broke out on his face and he wrapped his pinky around her waiting pinky.

"I promise."