His safe place.

There was nothing Audrey could do for him. He refused to cry anymore, or talk about it. He was drowning in his grief and she couldn’t help. All she could do was to be present for him.

​ “Thank you for coming,” Lucien said to another guest without looking up.

​ “Lucien.”Audrey placed her hand on his chest. She could feel his heart hammering away, but his face gave nothing away. “That was the last guest. We have to go inside.”

​ “Right,” he answered. There was no strength in his voice. Lucien didn’t move.

Audrey took his hand and led him inside. Paparazzi snapped photos of them as they walked towards the front. Audrey hated that they were there. They were nothing but predatory, opportunistic buzzards that thrived off of people’s private suffering. But she knew she couldn’t do anything about them. She wouldn’t cause a scene at Gary’s funeral.

​

Lucien and Audrey took their place and the service began. People around them cried. Some reached over to them, lamenting about Gary’s loss.

Audre