Stop Running...

the day after Carolines death, Ethan arrived at her funeral.. He was late but he noticed Gwen was also in attendance, and when she saw Ethan, she attempted to walk toward him. However, a gentle hand halted her approach—it was Peter, silently indicating that now wasn't the right time.

Taking in the scene, Ethan's gaze fell upon Maria. Observing her expression, he noticed that no one seemed to approach her. She stood alone, gazing blankly at her sister's burial site.

Ethan considered going over to stand with her, but he hesitated, uncertain if his presence would be welcome or disruptive. In that moment, as he turned to leave, someone reached out and grabbed his hand. Turning back, he discovered it was Gwen.

"Leave?" Ethan's tone was gruff, his instinct urging him to shake her off and walk away. However, sensing Gwen's determination, he realized she wouldn't let him escape this time.

"Don't run away again," she said, unfazed by his rough demeanor.

Ethan contemplated arguing with her, but as he looked into Gwen's eyes, he sensed a genuine concern. Reluctantly, he took a deep breath and replied, "I'm not leaving. If I were, I wouldn't have come here in the first place."

Gwen shook her head and responded, "I'm not just talking about the funeral." She turned to glance at Maria.

Surprised by Gwen's knowledge of Maria and her apparent care for her, Ethan questioned her, "How do you even know about her? Why do you care?"

Gwen held his gaze and replied, "It's not solely about her. By avoiding her, you're avoiding facing your own pain. You need support even if you keep denying it. you're just running away frim it. So stop running, not just for yourself, but for her too."

As Gwen finished speaking, Ethan contemplated her words. Despite his initial inclination to pull away, he realized that she was right. He couldn't continue evading his own emotions and responsibilities. Determined, he removed Gwen's hand from his own, only to have her grasp it firmly once more. Finally, With a solemn nod, she left him to his thoughts again.

The funeral came to an end, and all the guests had already departed. Yet, Maria remained, seatin on the bench alone, her eyes fixed upon Caroline's grave. Ethan approached her cautiously, unsure if his presence would be welcome or intrusive. However, driven by Gwen's words, he mustered the courage to approach.

Without a word, he took a seat beside her, his gaze also directed at the somber sight before them. The air hung heavy with silence, neither of them finding the strength to utter a single word.

Ethan stole a glance at Maria, her expression as silent as her voice. He could see her attempting to put up a facade of strength, but he knew deep down that she was crumbling inside. He felt helpless, unsure of what he could do to ease her pain.

"I'm not good at this," he thought to himself, his confidence waning. He rose from the bench, ready to retreat, convinced that his presence was futile. However, just as he made his move, a desperate hand latched onto his coat, preventing him from leaving. He turned to face Maria, his heart aching at the sight of her tear-streaked cheeks.

"Don't go, please," her voice quivered, her tearful eyes pleading with him to stay a little longer.

As her words pierced his heart, the weight of her guilt became evident. "I could have saved her you know," she confessed, her voice choked with sorrow. "I was there, in newyork when it happened, i was at the right place to save her. But I never even considered the possibility that something could happen to her. I only found out when she was already in the hospital... I'm a horrible sister... I'm terrible..."

Unable to bear her anguish any longer, Maria turned and clung to Ethan, burying her face in his chest. She cried, her sobs echoing through the empty space, as she kept repeating her self-blaming words. Ethan's arms wrapped around her, offering solace and comfort without uttering a single word.

He understood her pain all too well, the burden of his own regrets weighing heavily upon him. He wanted to confess his own failures, his lack of thought for Caroline in those crucial moments. But he remained silent, knowing that his presence alone could provide her with a semblance of solace.