-----------------------2020----------------------------

Mia Hunter's condition had worsened very suddenly. She had managed to hide it for a few more days after her children had left her – again. But on the fifth day, all her strength had left her and she had met the floor.

Aunt Tina had called an ambulance and Mia was taken to the hospital. But all hope was lost, because Mia Hunter didn't want to fight anymore. Her husband had left her to a better place. Her children had left her to Denver. And Mia was all alone.

Elena couldn't shake off the guilt for leaving her mother. Maybe she would still be alive if only they had stayed. Maybe she would have stayed alive for many more years if only they had stayed a few more days.

Many people from town came to the funeral. Julie was there to support Emily, and even Damon had managed to come to Saint Charles for Kay. Asher was there too, but Elena wasn't sure if that was comforting or not.

When the funeral ended, the Hunter siblings walked home. No one felt like taking the car and sitting too close to each other. Everyone needed space, because no one could believe they lost their mother just two weeks after they lost their father.

Asher walked next to Elena, but he didn't say anything. She liked it. She appreciated his silence, but she adored his presence even more.

Maybe it was just a moment of weakness, but after being in Denver for five days, she realized it was nice to walk next to Asher again. She couldn't find it in her to push him away, and she couldn't deny she liked his presence.

When they rounded the corner, Elena could see the house. She didn't want to go home where everything wouldn't just remind her of her father, but of her mother as well.

Before she knew it, she had stopped walking. Asher stopped too and looked behind him at her.

"I don't want to go home," she told him.

Asher shrugged. "We could go for a walk in town if you want to."

She pursed her lips and nodded. She shouldn't like walking next to Asher, but she did. He was silent for a long time, and she enjoyed it. She feared that once he would speak, she would have to talk more about the past. But all she wanted to do now, was leave the past behind.

"There's more, huh?" Asher suddenly asked. They had reached the park of 'the youth', which was empty. They sat down on the red bench like they always did. It was like second nature.

"More what?" Elena wondered.

"More that you haven't told me about why you left."

Elena sighed. "Asher, just... just leave it."

"The past is the past, I know," he responded with a shake of her head. "But I can't stop thinking that there is more that's keeping you away from me."

She remained silent and watched her hands. She fidgeted with her fingers while she tried not to think of what he was talking about.

"There you have it," Asher said. "If I was wrong, you would have told me. But you didn't, so... there is more."

A sigh escaped her. "I know I made bad decisions – we both made them. And I know everyone makes them. But right after the accident, I made the most difficult decision of my life.

-----------------------2014----------------------------

Elena rushed out of the bathroom. She felt happy – excited even. She didn't know how Asher would react, but she couldn't feel sad or shocked. With a big smile, she took her phone and rang Asher. After a few beeps, he picked up.

"Hey, babe. What's up?"

"Are you in your car?" she asked, ignoring how dangerous it was to drive and call at the same time.

"Yes, I'm driving to your place," he answered. "We're still on, right?"

"Yes, yes, we are. And that's why I'm calling. You have to hurry up, because I need to tell you something."

"I'll be there in a few minutes," she heard Asher say while the engine of his truck became louder. "I just entered the town. But if you're so eager to tell me, you can say it over the phone."

"I would love that," she admitted, "but I can wait. I want to see your face when I tell you. And you're in a car. It wouldn't be very safe if I shock you while you're driving."

"Shock me?" he murmured. "I'll be there in like, three minutes."

"Okay. Hurry!"

She heard his engine become a little louder. "Yes, yes, I am hurrying. Start walking to your front door. By the time you have opened it, I'll be pulling up."

"Alright," Elena said with a big smile. She made her way toward the door while still clutching the phone tightly. "I'm almost at the door."

"Don't walk too fast," Asher said with a sigh. "I can't fly to- shit!"

A loud cracking sound came from the other side of the line, so loud that Elena pulled the phone away from her ear. Her heart stopped as she wondered what that was. Fear gripped her heart and she moved the phone back to her ear. All she heard was silence.

"Asher?" she called, unable to keep her voice from shivering. There was the sound of glass falling to the ground. "Asher?!"

Without thinking, she threw open the door and ran outside. She found herself on the middle of the road, sprinting toward Main Street. The phone was still on her ear and she was calling Asher's name, but she didn't get a response.

Her heart started racing when she saw something ahead of her. She couldn't see what it was until she was close enough. Her feet stopped moving and the phone fell out of her hand.

Silence was the only thing Elena was aware of as she watched the wreckage of what used to be a red pickup and a black BMW.

She didn't feel her heart beating. She didn't feel her hands shaking. She didn't feel tears run down her cheeks. She only heard a deadly silence.

Someone crawled out of the wreckage and moaned loudly. But Elena couldn't look at him because he wasn't Asher.

Her eyes stayed on the car, waiting for Asher to crawl out of the wreckage too. But he didn't.

Asher didn't make it out of the truck.