Time stood still as grief washed over him in waves. Each degree of grief seemed impossibly more intense than the last. Each wave struck home, and continued coming as a solid block. The hurt and turmoil within his heart was taking his breath away, and squeezing his soul.

In anguish, he sank to his knees upon the freshly tilled earth. Grey eyes beseeching heaven ward as if the good Lord would intervene. The sickening sweet scent of the Earth in which his lady love would eternally call home engulfed him. The heavy scent seemed to envelop his already troubled heart.  If only...I had listened to her. If only I let her explain, and we did not get into that car, Ahhh! Jarad screamed desperately to no one in particular, for now he was so utterly alone. 

And just as suddenly the air somehow became even chillier, and the harshness now became still. Jarad had the distinct feeling he was being watched. From across the line of graves his eyes scanned. Looking, but not sure what he would find. His eyes settled on a lone tall figure standing beneath an old bent Weeping Willow tree.

Over hanging branches almost made it impossible to see. As if beckoned, the figured stepped away from the over hanging branches into the failing light of day. Johnny from the party! Jarad's face registered surprise. Never would he have dreamed this chance encounter would occur. Before Jarad could stand on his feet, Johnny pulled an object from behind him and in a matter of seconds, Jarad heard the loud shot and felt the accompanying burning sensation in his left shoulder.Jarad would swear he could smell the aroma of cooking human flesh.