~BACK TO CAMPUS~

~Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower, we will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind~

- William Wordsworth

Song - Pretty Slowly by Benson Boone

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Aubrey stood outside the university gates, his heart racing with a mix of emotions. It had been weeks since he'd last set foot on campus, and he wasn't sure if he was ready to face the familiar sights and sounds.

He took a deep breath and stepped through the gates. The campus was bustling with students rushing to and from class. Aubrey felt a pang of anxiety as he navigated through the crowds.

As he walked, Aubrey couldn't help but think about Sophie. He remembered the way she used to smile at him on campus, the way she'd laugh at his jokes. He felt a lump form in his throat, but he pushed on, determined to take this first step towards healing.

Aubrey made his way to his first class of the day, his eyes scanning the crowded hallway for familiar faces. He spotted a few of his classmates, who nodded in greeting as he passed by.

Emily finally agreed to let him study what he wanted, and he chose law.

He had his reasons.

The lecture hall was already filled with students when Aubrey arrived. He slipped into a seat at the back, trying to blend in. But as he looked around, he couldn't shake the feeling that everyone was staring at him.

The professor began to lecture, and Aubrey tried to focus on the material. But his mind kept wandering back to Sophie, and the memories they'd shared on this very campus.

As the lecture drew to a close, Aubrey felt a sense of relief wash over him. He'd made it through his first class, and it hadn't been as painful as he'd expected.

He gathered his things and filed out of the lecture hall with the rest of the students. As he walked out into the bright sunlight, Emma came in front of him, a look of concern etched on her face.

"Aubrey, I'm so sorry," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've been wanting to talk to you for weeks, but I didn't know how."

"What are you sorry for, Emma?" he asked, his voice cold.

Emma took a step back, her eyes welling up with tears. "I'm sorry for what I did to Sophie," she said, her voice cracking. "I had no idea she was going through...what she was going through. I was so stupid and insensitive."

Aubrey's face twisted in anger. "You think?" he growled. "You humiliated her in front of everyone. You took off her head sock and revealed her bald head. Do you have any idea how much that hurt her?"

Emma shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "I didn't know," she repeated. "I was just trying to be funny, to get a rise out of her. I had no idea she was battling cancer."

Aubrey's anger boiled over, and he took a step closer to Emma. "You should have known," he hissed. "You should have been more considerate. But instead, you just acted like a cruel, heartless person."

Emma crumpled, sobbing uncontrollably. Aubrey stood over her, his chest heaving with anger. He didn't know if he could ever forgive Emma for what she had done.

"Stay away from me," he said dryly, looking at Emma straight in the eye.

Emma's sobs intensified as she shook her head frantically, her eyes red and puffy from crying. "I'm so sorry, Aubrey," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'll do anything to make it right."

"There's nothing you can do to make it right," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "Just stay away from me, Emma. I don't want to see your face around campus. I don't want to hear your voice. Leave me alone."

Emma nodded, still sobbing uncontrollably. She slowly turned, her eyes fixed on Aubrey's face. For a moment, they just stared at each other, Aubrey feeling no remorse.

Then, Emma ran, disappearing into the crowd of students milling about the campus. Aubrey watched her go, his expression unchanging. He felt a sense of satisfaction, knowing that Emma was finally facing the consequences of her actions. Deep down, he knew the pain and anger he felt would take a long time to heal.

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Aubrey walked onto the basketball court, his sneakers squeaking on the polished floor. He was dressed in his practice gear. He felt a sense of familiarity and comfort as he gazed out at the court.

Coach Harrison, a tall, imposing figure with a whistle around his neck, caught sight of Aubrey and broke into a wide smile. "Aubrey, my man!" he boomed, striding over to him. "It's great to see you back on the court. How are you doing?"

"I'm doing okay, Coach," he said. "Thanks for the advice the other day. It really helped me to get my head back in the game."

Coach Harrison clapped him on the back. "That's what I'm here for. Now, let's get to work. We've got a lot to cover before the big game."

Just then, Jake jogged over to him, a big grin on his face. "Hey, man! Welcome back!" he exclaimed, clapping Aubrey on the back. "We've missed you around here."

"It's good to be back."

Coach Harrison blew his whistle, and the team fell silent. "Alright, let's get started," he barked. "We've got a lot of work to do if we're going to win that championship."

The team began to move, jogging onto the court to start their warm-up drills. Aubrey joined in, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation. He was back on the court, and he was ready to give it his all.

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Aubrey walked through the doors of Saint Patrick's orphanage home, a warm smile on his face. He was immediately greeted by the sound of laughter and chatter, and the sight of children running around, playing with each other.

Mrs. O'Connor, spotted him and hurried over to give him a hug. "Aubrey, it's so great to see you!" she exclaimed. "The children have missed you so much."

Aubrey's smile grew wider as he hugged Mrs. O'Connor back. "I've missed them too," he said. "I've got some gifts for them. Can I go play with them for a bit?"

Mrs. O'Connor nodded, and Aubrey made his way to the playroom. The children's eyes lit up as they saw him, and they swarmed around him, clamoring for his attention.

Aubrey laughed and handed out high-fives, hugs, and fist bumps as he made his way to the center of the room. He pulled out a big bag of gifts and began to hand them out, one by one.

There were stuffed animals, coloring books, crayons, and puzzles. The children squealed with delight as they received their gifts, and Aubrey watched with a warm heart.

That little boy, Tommy, climbed onto his lap and gave him a big hug. "Thank you, Aubrey!" he exclaimed. "I love my new teddy bear."

Aubrey hugged him back, feeling a sense of joy and contentment. This was what it was all about, he thought. Making a difference in the lives of these precious children.

As he played with the children, Aubrey couldn't help but think of Sophie. She had loved visiting the orphanage with him, and the children had adored her. He smiled, remembering the way she used to read them stories and play games with them.

Tommy stretched out his fist to Aubrey for a bump. Aubrey smiled bumping his tiny fist. But as their fists touched, Aubrey's mind suddenly flashed back to a different fist bump, one that he used to share with Sophie.

Their special handshake, one that they had created together. Aubrey's heart skipped a beat as he remembered the way Sophie used to smile at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief, as they bumped fists.

For a moment, Aubrey felt like he was back in time, reliving the happy memories he had shared with Sophie. But as the reality of the present moment hit him, he felt a pang of sadness and longing.

He missed Sophie, he realized. He missed their special handshake, their laughter, and their adventures together. Aubrey's eyes began to prick with tears as he looked at Tommy, who was still smiling at him, expecting a response.

Aubrey forced a smile, trying to compose himself. He completed the fist bump, intertwining his pinky finger with Tommy's, trying to shake off the feelings of sadness that had washed over him.

After a while, Mrs. O'Connor called out that it was time for the children to have their afternoon snack. Aubrey helped to hand out juice boxes and cookies, and then he said his goodbyes to the children.

As he left the orphanage, Aubrey felt a sense of peace wash over him. He knew that Sophie would have wanted him to continue visiting the children, and he was determined to do just that.

Before getting home, he stopped by the church. He walked into the quiet, dimly lit church, the scent of old wood and candles filling his nostrils. He slipped into a pew, running his hands over the smooth wooden surface.

As he sat there, he felt a sense of calm wash over him. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, and began to pray. After praying, he visited the cemetery with a bouquet of flowers.

He walked over to Sophie's graveyard and placed the bouquet of flowers there.

He sat on the ground, examining the cement where Sophie's full name was engraved, along with her date of birth and death date.

"Sophie Emerald Jackson.

"December 31st, 2005 - December 30th, 2024"

"Hey, Soph," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I visited the kids today, y'know? Everyone misses you so much."

Aubrey paused, collecting his thoughts.

"I know you're not here with me physically, but I feel you with me, Soph. I feel your presence, your love, and your encouragement. You'd want me to keep visiting the kids, to keep making a difference in their lives. And I'm going to do just that."

Aubrey's eyes welled up with tears as he spoke, but he didn't try to hold them back. He let them flow, feeling a sense of release and catharsis.

"I miss you so much, Soph," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "But I know you're in a better place, watching over me, and guiding me. I'll keep moving forward, my love bug, because that's what you'd want me to do."

As Aubrey finished speaking, he felt a sense of peace settle over him. He sat in silence for a few moments, feeling the stillness of the cemetery, and the presence of Sophie's love.

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