Betaed by Lyn.

Warning: Death Story, written on the spur of a (bad) moment. Be sure you really want to go there; death of major character.

Un-dreamed

By Demeter

EMAIL: Demeter

Lindsay didn't know how, but somehow her legs carried her into the room. She had lowered her gaze, not to see Claire's concerned gaze, or Jill's terrified one.

Same old story; she didn't want anyone to feel sorry for her. She felt enough terror of her own.

Lindsay stepped closer to the bed, all the while taking in the glass and the little box on the nightstand; then she bent to reach out and wrap her fingers around Cindy's. Still warm. They'd been too late only by minutes.

The guilt clawed at her, as the realization sunk in - Cindy had never gotten over having been kidnapped by Kiss-Me-Not, over what he'd done to her, and threatened to do.

For Lindsay, the case had been closed with the monster's death. Cindy had simply put on a brave face. Add to that the attraction Lindsay had always known Cindy felt for her, but couldn't answer the way this young, beautiful woman had wanted her to.

Or maybe she could have, given just a little more time.

There'd never come a second chance, though.

Lindsay stayed through all of it, exchanging a few words with Jill and Claire, their meaning lost the moment they were said and vanished into nothing. She wasn't going to burden them with her pain; they had their own cross to bear.

After what seemed an eternity, Lindsay excused herself, walking down the stairs of Cindy's apartment, through the front door of the building, onto the sidewalk, back to her car. She opened the door and sat inside, finally letting the ghost of regrets consume her as she started to cry.