Okay all, since this site doesn't seem to want me to post a link to PoTL and since I don't have everyone's email I have decided to just post the sequel here. It's under the rating M because the subject material is even darker than Bent and the language is more harsh in places.

That said, I really hope that everyone finds it okay! Thanks for reading and replying all! I'm glad that you've enjoyed it! Sorry that I haven't replied individually yet, but my IE suddenly decided that I couldn't add a new story to FFNET so I spent the last four or so hours doing virus scans and spyware removals before finally downloading Netscape, which apparently has no problem with me starting a new story. (Thank you Netscape!) Anyway, if you reply to If You're Gone, I will reply individually when posting Chapter One. Honestly, I'm just too tired right now. Thank you again for reading! I'm glad you enjoyed the story!

Snowie

Epilogue: Silence

Give me release

Witness me

I am outside

Give me peace

Heaven holds a sense of wonder

And I wanted to believe that I'd get caught up

When the rage in me subsides

Passion chokes the flower

Until she cries no more

Possessing all the beauty

Hungry still for more

Heaven holds a sense of wonder

And I wanted to believe that I'd get caught up

When the rage in me subsides

In this white wave

I am sinking

In this silence

In this white wave

In this silence

I believe

I can't help this longing

Comfort me

I can't hold it all in

If you won't let me

Heaven holds a sense a wonder

And I wanted to believe that I'd get caught up

When the rage in me subsides

In this white wave

I am sinking

In this silence

In this white wave

In this silence

I believe

I have seen you

In this white wave

You are silent

You are breathing

In this white wave

I am free

He was gone. She knew that the instant that she woke. Even after the time they had just spent together, a shot of fear went straight to her heart. She sat up and looked around the room. "Pace?" The room was empty. She got out of bed and pulled on the first article of clothing that she came to, which happened to be Pacey's shirt. She then pulled on her jeans and hurried out into the living room. She checked the first floor of the B&B quickly. He wasn't there.

"Damnit!" She exclaimed. Where had he gone? She ran to the front door and threw it open.

He was kneeling on the lawn, his head bent, as the rain fell on him in torrents. He was wearing his jeans, but his feet were bare. He looked so alone… One of Joey's hands flew to her mouth. What had happened? What had brought him to this?

"Pace?" She asked uncertainly, approaching his crouched figure with fear in her heart. She wasn't prepared for what she saw when he raised his head.

Pacey looked up at her, a smile of pure joy on his face.

"Pacey?" She questioned again, her eyes wide with shock.

Pacey laughed, a sound of pure delight and freedom. He stood up and spun around in place his arms open wide, his face open to the torrent of rain that had long since drenched him. "I get it," he said simply. "After all this time, I really get it."

Joey couldn't help but laugh with him. "Get what?" she asked, still having no idea what they were talking about.

"Life," Pacey said, taking her hands and holding them tightly in his. "I finally get it."

"What about it?" Joey asked uncertainly.

"What it all means… What the point is… I get it."

"Let me get this straight," Joey said slowly. "You've figured out the meaning of life?" Pacey nodded. "Then by all means share."

"This…" Pacey said.

"This?" Joey asked, confused. "You mean the rain?"

Pacey laughed. "The rain. You. Me. Us. All of this. Just… Life. That's all it is, Jo. The point of life, is to live. I get it."

"That's it?" Joey said doubtfully.

"That's it?" Pacey repeated, mimicking her tone. "That's everything Jo. You have no idea… I was to busy trying to figure out what life was all about that I stopped just living it. Tonight… tonight, I just let everything be. Tonight, I just lived… And that's all that life is. That's all that anyone can do. I didn't know that. I stopped believing in life a long time ago. You gave that back to me. You gave life back to me."

"Pace…" Joey said breathlessly.

"I love you, Joey Potter. Thank you for making me part of your life."

"I love you too Pacey," Joey said. She stepped forward and Pacey enveloped her in his arms. He kissed her gently on the top of the head, holding her tight. They remained that way for a long time, mindless of the rain that fell on them, knowing only that they were together… and that they always would be. And in the end, that was all that mattered.

If I fall along the way
pick me up and dust me off.
and if I get too tired to make it
be my breath so I can walk

If I need some other love
give me more than I can stand
and when my smile gets old and faded
wait around I'll smile again

shouldn't be so complicated
just hold me and then
just hold me again

can you help me I'm bent
I'm so scared that I'll never
get put back together
you're breaking me in
and this is how we will end
with you and me bent

If I couldn't sleep could you sleep
could you paint me better off
could you sympathize with my needs
I know you think I need a lot

I started out clean but I'm jaded
just phoning it in
just breaking the skin

start bending me
It's never enough
I feel all your pieces
start bending me
Keep bending me until I'm completely broken in

shouldn't be so complicated
just touch me and then
just touch me again