Song: Young And In Love - Hunter Hayes

I stand in the familiar feel of the warm city night. Though it's dark, there's a happy feeling to it. The rooftop I stand on is one that always soothes me. The very air seems to have some kind of joyful cheer in it. However, this time, I'm too angry to be comforted.

   "He's just so inconsideration!" I complain to Master Splinter, who's in front of me with a thought expression on his face. "Leo has some serious issues he needs to work out."

   To my astonishment, Master Splinter doesn't agree with me. He blinks slowly, as if considering his words carefully, then says, "Leonardo is right."

   My eyes widen as I gaze up at the tall rat. "What?!" I demand irritably. How can he agree with that idiot?

   "You have been lost in your grief for far too long, Raphael," Master Splinter goes on in a tranquil tone. His brown eyes never once leave mine as he emphasizes his words. "You remember how Leonardo was after I passed. His brothers almost perished because of his foolish behavior. You must not make the same mistake. Do not let grief take over your life."

   "It's not!" I protest, but Master Splinter won't hear any of it.

   "You need to complete the stages of grief in order to move on," my father says as he strokes his beard wisely. "You have become stuck in depression. I will say this once and only once: you must finish your grieving before you attempt anything else."

   Though he's my father, I can't listen to him anymore. His advice isn't enough to break through my anger. He just doesn't understand what I'm going through. Losing Tang Shen wasn't as bad as losing Charlotte. I couldn't save her, but I could have. He doesn't realize that I blame myself for her death.

   "I don't need to finish anything!" I spit viciously as I step away from Master Splinter. "I'll never accept her being gone. I loved her! She was the one thing that gave my life meaning, and the Shredder took her away from me!"

   Master Splinter blinks, a solemn expression in his eyes. "My son, I know what you are going through. I once had a woman I loved stolen from me by the dark master. But you must remember that she would not want you to dwell over her. She would want you to be strong."

   "How would you know?!" I snarl, clenching my fists tightly. "You don't know her! So stop acting like you do!"

   "Raphael-" Master Splinter starts to reply, but I'm exploding at the seams. How dare he speak for Charlotte? He died before he could meet her! He has no right to talk on her behalf.

   "Shut up!" I retort. Just as I do so, the wonderful city begins to dissolve into the background. It's soon replaced with the dojo. It's much colder and empty than it was before I started meditating.

   As I puff in anger, I realize the pain of what just happened. I yelled at Master Splinter, the only member of my family that is helpful. He probably hates me now, along with Leonardo.

   I cringe as I think of the blue leader. He just thinks I'm a waste of time. I suspected that for a month now; but after our recent argument, I know I've correct all along. Donatello and Michelangelo clearly think the same thing, because they didn't even try to calm me down when I came home. They just headed straight out of the main room.

   My whole family hates me.

   I don't mean for it to happen, but tears start to flood my eyes. Hot drips roll down my cheeks as my face glows pink with rage. Without thinking much about it, I jump up and charge to my room. More tears soak my cheeks as I burst into my bedroom and slam the door shut behind me. I leap onto my bed and stare up at the ceiling as I let my sadness take me over.

   Once I start crying, I can't find the strength to stop. Brushing tear after tear away becomes monotone after a while and my chest begins to hurt from my sobs. Putting a pillow over my head, I roll over to muffle my sniffles and close my eyes. The tears must swell my eyes up rather quickly, because sleep claims me in a matter of seconds.

   In the milky darkness of unconsciousness, I feel something brush by my hand. Smooth fingers intertwine with my own and a warm aroma washes over me. A soft, delicate laugh sounds throughout my mind; it's something I can never hear enough of.

   The black fog splits and a beautiful picture is painted before me. A girl with shiny, jet-black hair and creamy brown eyes stands in front of me. Her thin lips are curled into a wide smile as she giggles, squeezing my hand and pulling me forward.

   She leads me into a green forest. Trees that are taller than skyscrapers enclose me, and little flowers dance on the ground. Tree roots, which would normally trip me up, seem to move out of the way as she leads me through the woods. The air feels like summer, so I know it's a dream. Yet, I find myself enjoying the presence of the girl I came to love so long ago.

   "Come on, Raph!" Charlotte laughs as she tugs me onward. I'm not able to find a voice, but I am able to keep up with her easily. Hand in hand, we charge through the trees, clearing obstacles and grinning all the while. It's how things should have been when she was alive. In fact, the entire world should be like this all the time, with no evils or worries.

   As I race with Charlotte at my side, I can't help being remorseful. All the times that I took her for granted come rushing right back. I wish I had treated her better, that I was more sympathetic towards her condition. I shouldn't have fought against every breath she took. I shouldn't have... I shouldn't have done a lot of things.

   Suddenly, the world before me changes. The trees melt into buildings and the streams shift to roads. The sky becomes dark and casts mysterious shadows across the ground. The atmosphere reeks of garbage and gasoline. Blood splatters the ground like paint and motionless bodies decorate the street like sprinkles. Screams and shrieks split the air as well as my ears. All around me, I see mindless mutants battling innocent citizens. They scratch and pile on top of people, slowly but surely killing them.

   Charlotte is still holding onto my hand, but her joy has altered to panic. She pants heavily as she tugs me into the shadows, safe from the chaos surrounding us. She faces me with fear lighting up her gaze, an expression she hardly ever used to share with me.

   "Raph, this is how the city is going to be if you don't let me go," Charlotte whispers. She makes it sound so urgent that my heart almost jumps out of my chest.

   "What do you mean?" I ask, unable to come up with anything intelligent to say. She's scaring me, and the screeching in the background doesn't help.

   "You have to focus on saving the city from this infection," she insists, a flare of her usual stubborn nature. "You can't keep thinking about me all the time. You're a hero, Raph. Heroes have responsibilities."

   I blink. I know it's just a dream, but something about it seems so real. The noises of people dying behind me and the emotion in Charlotte's whole being are too life-like. Chills begin to creep up my spine as I realize something strange is going on.

   "I can't let you go," I tell her, grabbing her other hand and pulling her to my plastron. "I won't. I refuse."

   Charlotte doesn't pull away, but she shakes her head to show her disapproval. Tears wet her eyes. "This is serious. The city will be in ruins if you don't, and eventually the world will go under as well. You've got to focus and stop this now before it's too late."

   I open my mouth to protest again, but a familiar scream distracts me. I spin around to see all three of my brothers closed in by hundreds of mindless mutants. They cry out in agony as the creatures pile on top of the turtles, and they disappear from my view.

   "No!" I yell, but the mindless mutants don't stop. They continue to crush my brothers, until their screams are no longer heard. With my heart beating furiously, I turn back to Charlotte and say, "This is a dream! You can help them, Char! You have to!"

   But Charlotte only shakes her head. "You're the only one that can save them. And in order to do that, you have to let me go. No, listen." She puts a finger up to my mouth to silence me when I try to interrupt. "They can't do anything without you. You're the only chance they've got. You've got to get over me, Raph, or you're not going to have anyone left!"

   Her words are like a slap to the face, but they're true. If I don't get my act together, I won't have anyone left to protect. I need to stop letting grief control my life and grab the ram by the horns. My brothers are counting on me, whether they know it or not.

   A single hot tear rolls down my face as I stroke Charlotte's cheek. It's good to feel her soft skin again. I would give anything to stay with her in the dream world forever, but I know I can't do that. I have a duty to fulfill.

   "I'll let go," I promise quietly, my voice cracking.

   Charlotte's stern expression softens and she engulfs me into a hug. "And Raph?" she murmurs, turning her brilliant eyes back up at me.

   "Hmm?" I mumble as I ran my fingers through her hair. It tickles my hand and makes my heart flutter a little as I do so. I miss her so much.

   "I hate your guts," she replies softly, a flicker of humor in her gaze.

   A chuckle escapes my lips for the first time since she died. I ruffle her hair with my fist and say, "Good, because I hate yours too."

   With a tiny smile on her face, Charlotte steps out of my arms. "Go save your brothers," she orders with a small jerk of her head.

   I nod wordlessly, my grief for her beginning to dissolve. The scene around me fades into blackness as I start to wake up. As Charlotte disappear into the dark, I hear her say one last important thing:

   "Tell my brother that I love him!"