And that was just it, after two weeks the questions stopped. Morbid curiosity faded, to be replaced by an awkward acknowledgement of past suffering.

"I don't want to talk about it" became Jason's refrain, Josh preferred silence.

Matt supported Wendy, and Wendy moved on.

All in all, they changed very little.

"Do you see a future?" asked Jason

"With you" He said, and that was what they did.

Oooo

"Wendy, do you have the bikes?" Matt asked

"They're on the car, let's go!" She yelled, already sliding into the passenger's side.

Matt smiled and took his time, grabbing a jacket and the two helmets Wendy had forgotten. Even as he drove to the biking trail the road seemed longer than it ever had been, and the speed of the car a crawl. The urgency was gone, because he had left the valley of death…

Oooo

"This is a really stupid idea, just saying." Bernd was trailing behind Dirk, trying to keep his stupid green t-shirt in sight. Dirk made a sudden sharp turn, and Bernd had to run to keep up with him.

When Bernd finally caught up he punched Dirk in the arm, and would've said something insulting, if he could breathe. They were somewhere in one of Dirk's friend's house, he couldn't remember who it was this week. Dirk was smiling as if he was about to say something witty.

"You've got the rest of your life Bernd, have some fun", and for the first time in a long time, Bernd did just that, with a little help from Dirk.

Oooo

The memory of Jack died, and amounted to nothing but a whispered warning, leaving but the slightest impression upon the insurmountable terror of an unknowable hatred.

End.