Travelling back was bittersweet. It was full of excitement and fear. It was confusing.
Claire sat beside Katherine, both chatting about some movie that came out. Pierre slept in his seat, in the same town but on another side of the aisle. Samuel Harris was excited that Claire agreed to go to meet with Diamond Corporate, and he sat with his assistant a few rows ahead.
Claire wondered how things will go. She wondered whether she truly couldn't be Claire anymore and if she had to remain as Elise Cooper. She didn't truly understand how things will fall back into place. She didn't know if she was safe to return. Her or Katherine. Michael Moore was still free. The hearing later in the day was potentially going to be ruled in his favour. There was no guarantee. But Claire needed to be there when it happened.
Once they arrived, Pierre disappeared to deal with something. And Samuel Harris and his assistant went straight to the hotel. Claire managed to excuse herself and with Katherine, she found her way towards the courthouse where hundreds of supporters stood outside.
The cheer, the chanting, and the posters they held. Claire only now fully understood the expense of the work she did.
"Wow… this is insane." Katherine said towards her.
"I know. I never expected it to be this big." Claire grabbed Katherine's hand and they both moved through the crowd, finding a spot where the view was clear.
The screens were set up where the live stream was on.
Claire and Katherine (or rather Diane) squeezed their hands in anticipation. Once the verdict was announced, the cheers became deafening. Claire and Katherine both cried, for a different reasons to most. It was the tears of joy, of knowing more than most around them.
As Gabriel came out of the courthouse, the screams and cheers sounded to welcome him. Lights were flashing. It was almost as if he was a celebrity.
Claire stared at him, in disbelief that he was so close to her. But he didn't notice her as the crowd pushed her out of the way.
It took a while for the crowd to dissipate. Claire walked Katherine to her hotel and then she escaped herself. She wondered where Gabriel might be after the hearing.
She wandered around near the square before she noticed him. He held a bouquet and walked quickly. Claire hesitated. She wanted to run behind him. She wanted to pounce on him. But something, an invisible barrier, stood in her way.
Instead, she followed him, building up her courage.
Claire stood at a distance, watching a very familiar figure that somehow seemed so out of reach. Without much thought she followed him down the path, readying herself to walk up to him. All the courage she had was long gone. She was re-opening the old wounds.
It took her by surprise when she realised that she walked through the cemetery and even more so when she noticed Gabriel stop to place some flowers by the marble gravestone.
He stood there, bowing his head. The world was silent. So silent that you could hear a mere rustling of the leaves in the wind and the distant song of a bird.
Claire stopped, watching Gabriel, feeling herself crumbling into pieces.
She heard Gabriel talking to himself, or maybe the person that was buried there.
It was upsetting to see him talk to someone who wasn't there.
Claire took a few steps forward and only now she was able to read the name engraved into the stone. 'Claire Elise Moore née Thompson'.
"I had a rather rough day yesterday. If you were here you would have definitely told me to buck up. I know. But it was hard. It was hard because you weren't here." Gabriel spoke quietly and sincerely. "Some days are hard beyond anything. I struggled to get up again. I was afraid. I was lost. But I've made it. And today I finished what I've set myself to do. I've done it."
He went silent, looking down at his hands. And then he looked up. His eyes were searching for something or someone.
Claire stood frozen.
"Gabriel…" she whispered. Her voice barely left her lips, and just by miracle, it reached him. As it did, it cut deeply into his heart, shattering it once again over the life he couldn't attain and promises he couldn't keep. Reminding him of his failures and inadequacies.
Gabriel slowly turned around, hopefully searching for the familiar face, convinced that once again his ears tricked him into hearing the non-existing voice that he so longed for.
As he was about to give up his search, the glimpse of the dark brown eyes caught his attention. He froze.
He stood there, watching Claire in disbelief, convinced that if he barely moves she'll disappear, convinced that she was a mere mirage. He was afraid that it was yet another trick of his broken mind. Or perhaps, it wasn't her at all. Her hair and eyes were dark. So unnatural in some way. But… her face was still hers.
Claire stood still, afraid of his reaction, afraid of the rejection, but more so afraid of facing the heartbreak that she caused. Claire's words, so many that she wanted to say, remained within her, unable to escape her.
The world stood still but yet it didn't stop. The seconds were passing, but they were both mere observers of the time-passing, not active participants.
Gabriel took a step forward, hesitating, fearing that the image will disappear like so many times before.
After the first step, he took another. As he moved closer, Claire's image only became clearer. He took another step, and another after that, and then he ran towards her.
He grabbed her into the embrace. His hands were shaking, he was sobbing. Her smell was so real. Her touch was so real. Claire gripped her fingers into his back, pressing her head into his chest. Tears escaped her eyes too. He was never going to let her go.
Claire looked up at Gabriel's face, his eyes fixated on her. Gabriel smiled through his tears.
"May I kiss you?" He asked cautiously, still convinced that it was a dream.
Claire's words failed to leave her mouth. She could only nod.
Gabriel's lips gently touched hers. They were soft and warm and salty. They awoke the fire inside of her that she forgot even existed. Claire moved her hands up, grabbing Gabriel's back of the head, and gripping his short hair. Holding him tightly, afraid that he'll let go. But he didn't, he couldn't let her go.
Their kiss deepened, filled with passion and sorrows.
At last, unwillingly their lips separated. They both yearned for air.
Gabriel started laughing, landing soft kisses on Claire's face. Gently stroking her cheeks. Still sure that it was some trick.
"Claire, is it really you?" He managed to utter at last. Claire nodded. It was enough of an answer for Gabriel. His knees weakened and he dropped to the ground, shaking, laughing and sobbing. Claire kneeled beside him, holding his hand.
He pulled her back into the embrace, still ugly crying and laughing like a maniac.
"I love you." Gabriel said between the tears.
"I love you, too." Claire whispered, touching his face with her shaky hand. Studying it carefully. Seeing the man she loved behind the sunken cheeks, dark circles under his eyes, his thinned-out hair, and ghastly pale skin. She hated herself for what she did, no matter the reasons. As much as she thought she was saving them all, she knew that she killed them in a different way.