Part 6

Shutting the engine off, Jude looked out her windshield. A small wind had picked up outside causing ripples on the lake's surface. Glancing to the side, she picked up the CD. Only four words were scrawled onto the CD. Jude opened the case and placed 'You Could Be Happy' into her car's CD player. Her breath caught in her throat as his voice flowed through the speakers. "The date is November fifteenth 2009. 'You could be happy' take one." That voice, one she hadn't heard from in thirty years, could still grab a hold of her heart. She recognized the date and felt a lump in her throat. That was a month after they had broken up for reasons she was now seeing as foolish. "Who's it for?" another voice had said. She could hear Tommy's deep breath before responding "For her, always for her." Silence had followed his words and she panicked, scared that this was some cruel joke and that the CD was blank. She froze when she heard it. Something resembling a lullaby began to play, his soft voice soon followed.

You could be happy and I won't know

But you weren't happy the day I watched you go

They had gotten married after two years. She was only twenty years old, he twenty seven.

And all the things that I wish I had not said

Are played in loops til it's madness in my head

Life had been perfect. She had made two more platinum records and was excited to make another when Tommy asked her.

Is it too late to remind you how we were

And not our last days of silent screaming blur

He was starting to get older and wanted kids. He knew how important her music was to her but he didn't want to wait any longer.

Most of what I remember makes me sure

I should've stopped you from walking out the door

She refused, wanting to focus completely on her work. She wanted to wait a couple more years.

They had a huge fight and after that everything began to fall apart.

You could be happy

I hope you are

They became more distant, both working late into the night in order to avoid the other.

You made me happier than I'd been by far

Somehow everything I own smells of you

And for the tiniest moment it's all not true

Jude's tour was what finally tore them apart. Four months apart was not what they needed.

Do the things that you always wanted to

Without me there to hold you back don't think just do

When Jude returned, they realized they both wanted different things. He wanted to start a family, she wanted to continue her career.

More than anything I want to see you girl

Take a glorious bite out of the whole world

The soft drums fade out and Jude is left in silence again. Removing the CD, she looked at it in disbelief. She thought of all the time they had wasted. Years they could have spent filled with love together instead of the years they had apart. Almost two years after the split, she had heard from Kwest that he had gotten married again. Her name was Marie and they were living in the states. It wasn't until she heard of his marriage that she realized she had made a huge mistake. For years after she lived with regret.

Jude placed the CD back into the case and left her car. Walking towards the lake's edge, she glanced up towards the sky. The CD case fell to the ground as she dropped to her knees, apologies coming from her lips and tears flowing down her cheeks. She looked down at the CD case and noticed a small piece of paper had been hidden inside. Picking up the slip of paper, she recognized his handwriting. After reading the note, she felt a strange sense of peace fill her being. She picked herself off the ground and held the paper against her heart. Jude closed her eyes as a light breeze blew around her. She looked up into the clear blue sky once again and smiled.

"In spite of everything, I'll always love you. I still do."