------------------- Epilogue: The Dark ------------------- Your eyes open reluctantly to the light of the world as you are released from the asylum. You leave the journey you just endured behind you only to find an even more difficult one in front of you. You know you can never truly leave behind the horrors of your past, and wonder if it's even worth trying. You walk aimlessly through the world. You think about looking for your father, but dread what you might find. The mere thought of talking to your mother causes you to begin crying uncontrollably. You can't even bring yourself to visit Charles's grave to apologize. Time passes, and you try to incorporate yourself into society. Despite your best efforts you just can't concentrate on school, and can't hold down a job. You wander the streets, desperately trying to survive off the donations of the few souls that pity you. One day you stumble past a broken down iron gate; it's the entrance to the town's cemetery. You crawl to the top of the hill where Charles is buried. The grave is unkempt, no one even bothers to clean this crumbling headstone clean. You brush away a few weeds and lay down in the slight indentation of the dying grass. You speak no words, your tears stream off your face. "At least", you think "I'll be able to save this grass." The dark of night comes quickly, winter's grasp is especially bitter this year. As you close your eyes for the last time you hum the song of your fathers music box, wondering if Charles gets to hear it in heaven.