It had been months since the Handy's death. The candle had blown out within minutes, but life still went on.

"Yeah, I'll be there." Aaron hung up his cell phone and shoved it into his pocket. The fresh leaves on the trees, and new flowers that bloomed hinted at spring. The warm sun and cool breeze seemed to welcome all that passed by.

Aaron felt a cool metal in his pocket. Violet's voice still rung in his ears, even after all this time. He could still see he nails that shined like lost treasure.

With one swift motion, he entered a cafe. It was filled with people. Men and women talking over a latte, children asking their mothers to get them coco, young women resting their laptops on the table. Aaron led himself to the nearest table and sat down.

This was the very spot.

He shook his head. Trying to let it all go. The past was something that needed to remain in the past. He ran his finger across his cheek. His scar was now hidden with a large bandage that nearly took up his entire face. It was still there. But he still lived. He ordered a coffee to go.

"Hey did you hear?" a women from behind asked. The man next to her shifted his weight and cleared his throat.

"No, what?"

"I heard on the news there was this guy who was selling fake medicine to people with the C-virus."

"No fuckin way."

"Way. That's fucked up."

"You're tellin' me."

"But, it's alright. I heard they caught him. He had already made thousands before they caught him. Can you believe that?"

Aaron grabbed his coffee and left. And as he walked, he tried his best to hold back a smile.

-

The ring in Aaron's pocket still burned him each time he placed his hand near it. It was a cold burn. A burn that would turn your heart to ice. The journey to the clinic was becoming shorter and shorter. They fixed the place up. The graffiti on the side had been cleaned. It took them weeks to do it, but it was done. The old building shined with a new light, just like a candle. Aaron had made his new home there, at least until he got a new apartment.

"Hey new guy. Where ya' been? The meetin's about to start."

Oscar still the same guy. Cold and hard. But, Aaron could still see a fire in his eyes. It still hasn't gone out, has it Oscar?

"I'm coming man, wait up."

The two walked side by side into the next room. What once was a large empty place was now filled with candles. Each one lit and each one bright. Each, except one. This one candle stood unlit, in the center of all of them.

"Would you like to do the honors new guy?" Oscar asked as he limped over to his chair and sat down.

"Uhm...is this the life support clinic?" A strange voice asked.

Aaron turned his head to see a small looking figure. He was skinny and his fingers fell to his sides.

"Are you here to sit in with us?" Aaron asked with a smile. The man walked closer. Nodding his head.

"Great, come and sit down. Tell us your name."

The man sat down. He looked little more than a boy. His hair hung loosely from his head, and hung over his face.

"I...well—"

"It's alright. My name's Aaron, and that guy-" Aaron said pointing to Oscar. "is Oscar."

"I'm Luke." He said, moving the hair from his face. He looked so young.

"So, let's begin. Luke, you have the virus right?" Luke nodded. His head bounced up and down with each movement.

"Do you have any family, or friends? Do they know?" Luke shifted away, Aaron could tell from his body language that he wasn't comfortable with a question like that.

"Well, I'm sorry I as—"

"Wait." Luke said, his voice jumpy. "I have a girlfriend." Aaron's face lightened up at this.

"That's great. But..." He hesitated. His tongue refused to move. But, does she know?

"She knows about the virus." Luke added. His voice rung throughout the entire building. It's message echoing against the walls. "Even though, I'm sick. She still..." His voice trailed off, unable to get the last words out. Unable to admit something so simple.

"Loves you?" Aaron asked.

"Yeah." Luke began to smile. "She loves me."

"Really?" Aaron could feel a slight pain in his heart. But, a slight joy as well. "Have you asked her to marry you then?"

"No, I can't find a ring."

Aaron reached down into his pocket. He felt a slight chill reach down his spine, and with each passing second he felt the cold fire become more and more intense. He grabbed hold of it. A round cold metal that had a sharpness too it. I can't watch you die...

"Here, give her this." Aaron tossed the ring. It's diamond shined against the candle's light. It almost looked, warm. "A girl like that is hard to find. Cherish her." And never let go.

"Hey, Aaron. Aren't you forgetting somethin'?" Oscar asked.

"Yeah, that's right. Oscar, toss it to me."

Oscar reached into his pocket, and pulled out a match. With a quick motion, he tossed it right into Aaron's hands. He slid it against his pants, and lit the middle candle.

They didn't know why, they couldn't understand why. But that candle's light was the brightest in the whole room.

"What was that for?" Luke asked, his fingers rubbing against the ring.

Aaron only sighed and continued to gaze at the candle's warm light. "It's for remembrance." He returned to his seat, even the sickly chairs seemed a little warmer now. Everything did.

"So, are we goin' to keep goin' or what?" Oscar asked.

"Yeah, let's keep going. So, Oscar. How's it been with the virus as of late?"

Their voices seemed to fade away into the candle's warmth. There wasn't only one candle any longer. No one candle had to carry warmth, or fear, or sadness, or hope all on it's own. Each one shined and lit the entire room, not as one, but as many. And there, Aaron could almost swear he heard a voice. A warm and familiar one that seemed to whisper. "You're not alone."