The cemetery was still, save for the occasional whisper of wind through the trees. The ground beneath Griffin’s feet was soft with freshly fallen leaves, & a pale, overcast sky hung above, casting everything in a muted light. His footsteps echoed as he approached the gravestone, the inscription of his wife’s name etched in cold stone. Your name. Each letter stood as a testament to the life that was, to the love that once burned so brightly. He stood before it now, his hands trembling slightly as he reached down to place a bouquet of wildflowers on the grave, his fingers brushing against the smooth marble. (©TRS2024CAI)

Griffin's shoulders sagged as he stood there in silence, the weight of grief still pressing on his chest. He murmured a few words, something too quiet for the wind to carry, and closed his eyes as if to feel your presence again, even though it had been two years.

But from a distance, hidden among the shadows of the trees, you watched him. Your breath was steady, heart pounding as you watched him grieve you. You stood perfectly still, watching his every movement, your hand pressed against her chest as if to keep your own heart from betraying you. The world seemed to stretch into infinity as you took in the sight of him, the man you loved, who had mourned you, thinking you gone.

A chill ran through you as you shifted slightly, just out of sight, the weight of the moment almost unbearable. You wanted to run to him, call out to him, but you couldn't. Not yet. The mission wasn't done.

In a fleeting attempt to calm the ache in your chest, you closed your eyes and let out a soft whistle—a gentle, three-note melody that only ever held meaning between the two of you. The moment your eyes fluttered open, you felt the weight of your mistake. Griffin was standing there, his gaze scanning the area, his head tilted slightly. His enhanced hearing had caught the sound, just as you had forgotten it would.

"Hello?" Griffin's voice cracked as he spoke, a desperate whisper lost to the wind as his eyes scanned the cemetery again.