Coffee and Cigarettes

It's been five years since that day at the hospital, but it still feels fresh in my mind. Even though she was sick and lying on her deathbed, I've never in my life seen anyone as beautiful as her, inside and out. I miss her everyday and I hope she still knows that I love and miss her with all my heart.

I remember on the day of her funeral, Frank came to my door with two red roses, one for me and one for my sister. He hugged me close as I cried into his shoulder and he promised me it would be alright.

I don't want to dwell on the past. What's gone is gone, and we can never get it back.

Jon Bishops was put away for assault and rape. We told he police not long after Blair's death, and they managed to match their same strain of the AIDS virus. Not to mention the fact that three other girls came forward to testify against him. I think it was for the best.

Libby's mom is still alive. She never gave birth to Jon's child; she miscarried during her second trimester during a car accident. She was having dizzy spells and accidentally ran a red light.

Libby's doing pretty well, actually. She moved out of that house a long time ago and now she's finishing up her cinematography and film courses at college.

Bob's band is really famous now. My Chemical Romance is doing exactly what I knew that they were capable of doing, which is making an impact. I couldn't be more proud to call Bob my brother.

Libby even collaborated with Marc Weber and the boys when they filmed the video for I'm Not Okay. I do believe it was her idea to have someone 'peeing' into a jock's football helmet...and that whole locker room scene was her idea too.

She and Mikey are still together and he's always been there for her whenever she needed him. He's a great kid, and they're both so lucky to have such a strong connection.

Gerard is still clean and sober. He hasn't touched a drop of alcohol since that day so long ago, and he's doing a great job.

Ray's always been the same--a great guy who loves music and everyone around hi,. He's the greatest musician I know and one of the best friends I could ever ask for. I don't know what I'd do without our late-night phone calls and how we always make fun of Bob together.

And as for Frank? Well--

"Morgan," he whispers into my ear, hugging me from behind. "How's your book coming along?"

Frank and I live together now. Just moved into this great apartment in New Jersey with an amazing view of the city skyline.

Oh, and did I mention that he proposed three days ago?

Even though my sister is no longer on this earth, I still can't help but smile. The band is getting its much-deserved success, Libby's almost done school, Gee's sober, and my semi-autobiographical book that has been five years in the making is almost done.

"It's great," I say with a grin. "The ending's perfect."

He kisses me lightly on the cheek as we stare out into the setting sun. "What'll you call it?"

I smile and say, "I think I'll call it 'Coffee and Cigarettes'."