#notcanon but I wanted to write how Laura would react to finding out about Lucie's death because I love making fictional people suffer

t/w murder, suicide

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Laura Easton flipped through channels, just stopping on the news. If no interesting shows were on, she'd probably find herself entertained by political jargon she did not understand at all. Sometimes they'd talk about a murder or some violent atrocity or whatever. Today, they seemed to be talking about a murder.

"Lucie David, a sixteen year old girl, was murdered via a slit throat three days ago in her home in Felicity Valley, Massachusetts. Lucie had escaped from a Canadian cult, as said by her foster mother, Emilia Flores. Police are currently investigating her murder and trying to track down where the cult, known as The Church of The True Stars, is. Lucie was born and rais-"

Laura turned the TV off. So, she'd been alive all this time. She'd been fine, all this time. Two years ago, Laura had accepted her death. As much as she hated to say it, Lucie was weak, wouldn't survive five minutes on her own. But then she found out she had, somehow, survived for four years. Sure, not entirely on her own, but still.

And suddenly Lucie was dead. Suddenly, her best friend was dead. This wasn't just some dark, pessimistic thought Laura secretly hoped wasn't true. This was real. Her lungs felt like they were being crushed in. She'd seen her best friend's smiling face right there on that TV screen as they talked about her death. She was a bit older and taller, but Laura would know that face anywhere. Lucie Maria David was dead. This was real.

-

Laura managed to get into contact with that Emilia Flores chick, finding her through Lucie's account, which she found through Delphine Zhang's account, after Delphine made a tribute for Lucie. So, Lucie had been friends with an actress. Good on her.

Laura said she was sorry about Lucie, she said who she was. She got invited to the funeral. She declined. A week after that funeral, she flew to Massachusetts. She stared at that grave for hours. The inscription was simple.

LUCIE MARIA DAVID
truly free as a bird
date - date

Laura blamed herself. She'd blamed herself for Lucie's 'death' from the get go, but this was concrete. If she had just been more alert four years ago, maybe if she'd let herself sleep beforehand, she wouldn't have left Lucie behind. This was her fault.

Even with the pessimistic thought of Lucie being dead, Laura still had that (admittedly small) hope that Lucie was still alive out there, that someday she could see her again, fill her in on, well, everything. That small hope was the only thing keeping her going.

She did fill Lucie in on everything when she stared at that grave. Not like Lucie could say anything back.

When Laura got home, she slit her own throat and let herself die, let herself be with Lucie.