‘After Darla’ was an independent support group held by founder Leighanne Wallace. It was a weekly gathering of families who had either lost loved ones from Darla or was having loved ones suffering from the incurable disease. Its’ aim was to help family members come to terms with their deaths or with the sudden change of events in the family brought on by Darla. It was largely publicised and soon the local papers were writing articles on the organisation, praising the sudden growth of unity in the town. While Leighanne was exceptionally happy with the success the foundation had gained and the positive influence it had brought to family members, she was often left wondering why AJ wouldn’t take credit for what was supposed to be his idea. Preferring to be her assistant instead, always working behind the scene, offering her fresh ideas that she could introduce to the family and still making it possible not to appear in the public to address these ideas himself. Like right now, when she was surrounded by still grieving mothers talking about their lost daughters or sons. AJ was nowhere in sight to save her from the suffocation of melancholy. “How did you find out about it?” Leighanne asked a mother, hoping that she sounded sensitive enough of her feelings. “She was sick for a few days and the doctors told me that there was nothing else that they could do for her…” the mother replied, her words left lingered in the middle as she fought with herself not to break down. “That’s okay Mrs. Brown, you don’t have to continue if you don’t want to.” Leighanne said, careful to measure her smile as a fellow mother started to console her. “I’m okay…just need time…” Mrs. Brown whispered as she pulled herself together before continuing. “Anyway, they advised me to take her home and spend the rest of her days with her family…she died in her sleep in her room.” “At least you get to spend the last of her days with her.” Mrs. Carter said from across the room, a sad smile attached to the words. Leighanne couldn’t help but threw her gaze to the floor. She knew Nick and was used to having him around the house when Brian came over. But all that changed when Brian died. She pushed everyone away and if she could turn back time, she wished for things to remain friends between them. Now, Nick was gone too, and the last impression she had left for Nick was a bitter High School girl who left College without a word. Friendship ended just like that. “My son was only in the Home for a week and we…we were going there for the first time over the weekend for a visit, but um…” Jane knew the tears would come next and when the touch of a hand landed on her shoulder, she looked up to see a brimmed eyed Jackie Littrell offering her what little comfort she had. Jane smiled and held back the tears. “We received a call from the doctor that Nick had passed away…they didn’t even let us see him for the last time…we drove there to bring him back home in an urn…” “So was Brian, Jane, so was Brian.” Jackie cried and Leighanne immediately put on her composed mask as she looked on the two mothers hugging each other. Yes, Brian had came back home in an urn, she remembered it all too well. A nightmare that refuse to go away. Here I waited for you, candle burnt; there you came my love, in an urn, here I cried for you, already missed, there you were my love, resting in peace. Forever. “What do you mean?” Another mother asked. “My son died after only a week in the Home. I didn’t get to say goodbye to him because he died before I get the chance to meet him. They had went ahead and incinerate his body without waiting for me…it hurts a lot…” Jackie replied, much more composed than Jane had been. “But, how could they? They should respect you this much and let you see your son for the last time.” Another mother frowned. “They said a dead body infected by Darla would be harmful to the surroundings…” Jackie replied, letting the words lingered. “That’s what they said about my son too.” Jane nodded. “That’s weird…why did the doctor let your daughter spend the rest of her days at home if he knew it would risk the others around the body and then not even letting their sons’ bodies stay for a few more hours?” Another mother questioned. “I…I don’t know…but they did let my daughter home…and we buried her body at the cemetery, we didn’t incinerate her.” Mrs Brown replied. Jane started crying even louder. Nick could have been buried too. Why didn’t they let them? “Mrs Brown, how long did your daughter stay in the Home before she was released?” Leighanne asked. “A year. Why?” “Well, maybe there might be a reason for this…Jane, Jackie…Brian and Nick died only after a week living in the Home, perhaps their condition was a lot worst than her daughter.” Leighanne suggested. “If Darla is so infectious and deadly, why didn’t they make Mrs Brown incinerate her daughter too?” Jackie questioned. “I’m sorry to sound so harsh, I didn’t mean it that way.” “That’s okay, I understand.” Mrs Brown replied. “Actually, my son died a week after being in the Home too. And he was incinerated before I even reach there.” Another mother voiced out. “And I know two such parents who went through the same thing I did. Unfortunately, they couldn’t make it here today.” “You know, come to think of it, most of us have daughters and sons who died exactly a week after they went to the Home. I thought they were supposed to make them better there, not worst.” Another mother voiced out. “They did make my daughter better. She was on medication and I visited her every weekend. But her immune system couldn’t hold it any longer after a year suffering the disease and died. I know there’s no cure for this disease and I couldn’t have ask for more.” Mrs Brown replied. Leighanne found the conversation getting out of hand. She felt something was amiss but decided not to bring it up. This gathering was to make them feel better, not to question how the Darla Home works or how their children died and in what manner. “Ladies, I think we’ve covered enough for today, why don’t we end this right now and join the others for a tea break?” - Leighanne was a smart girl, that was one of the many reasons why he had fallen so hard for her. She was one of those popular, beautiful, smart girl who came from a high class family with typical long blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes and still could be genuinely nice to everyone. When he saw her for the first time, he knew he had a diamond in his grasp. And it surprised him even more that the feeling was reciprocated. One wondered if he had used some love spell to win her over. And his answer would always be, for the girl who has everything, I give her love. I can visit on weekends right? You better, I don’t think I can live without you. You’ll get better? Only if I see you. I love You. I Love you too. Forever? Forever. “I know she can do it.” Nick smiled, his eyes seemed distant, staring into something that might have been interesting enough right behind him. Brian nodded and found himself smiling too. “She sounds very attractive.” Howie smirked. “She is.” Brian smiled. “She looks great too,” Kevin added and decided to explain himself when he received stares from the boys. “from what AJ told me. He wanted me to tell you that.” “Was he smirking when he said that?” Brian frowned. “I don’t know…I think…how does a smirk looks like anyway? Are they the same on everyone?” Kevin wondered, more to himself than to anyone else. “Someone’s in for some tough competition.” Nick giggled. “I’m dead remember? There’s no competition.” Brian sighed. Howie turned his gaze to the window again, studying at that one tiny branch which was protruding out and lying lazily against the window pane. It wasn’t tapping like it had last night. It wasn’t calling him for now. It was telling him to stay together and live on. “Well, at least Jackie and Jane are together. And Leighanne is doing better on her own and from what AJ said, Mark’s and Brad’s parents were there too. And they have start to ask questions already. It’s only a matter of time before they put two and two together.” Kevin replied, trying to ease some tension that was gradually growing in the room. “How is AJ?” Nick asked, almost in a whisper, Kevin thought he was hearing things. “Like his usual self.” Kevin smiled. “Lisa had passed me some medication that they were giving to the kids at the Home, it makes their immune system better. I wish I could give it you too but…” “I know you can’t do that Kev, don’t be so hard on yourself.” Howie cut him in. “How is Eric?” Brian asked. “He’s almost done. By the time the parents start to question and doubt the system, we’ll continue with the rest of the plan. Leighanne is already asking questions to AJ, that means it’s working really fast. For now, Josh and I are working on the list AJ got from Coultron’s office and the keys are safe with us. You’ve done your part, just…hang on for now.”