It was almost Halloween; two months since his mother had died. Joshua thought back to the Labyrinth, and to the older version of himself that he had spoken to. Looking back now, he could see how close he had been to becoming that person; hating and resenting himself as much as he did everyone around him.
"Whatcha thinking about?" Brandy asked as they sat on the porch.
"How difficult it was," he said, "and how much you helped me through it."
"I love you," she smiled, "and I didn't want to lose the you that you are, if that makes sense."
"It really does."
"I think the key is finding something to keep you going, whether that's working so much that you don't have time to think about it, or volunteering for non-profit organizations."
"You know what I think we should do?"
"What's that?" she was intrigued now.
"We should host a masquerade ball."
"That sounds amazing," she exclaimed, her eyes bright with excitement, "what kind of music?"
"Oh, you know," he shrugged, "Breaking Benjamin, Godsmack, Disturbed."
"Really? I never pegged you for the Breaking Benjamin type."
"I know," he winked at her, "I know.
