Work Text:
She was in the common room, sitting in the corner of the room where the light was so dim that it almost didn't reach.
The television was on.
She was intent on writing yet another song, always dedicated to him. To Paul Spector. Who else but him?
The music of the special news edition caught everyone's attention, except hers, which remained of course focused on the page. She was very concentrated on it.
But suddenly the words "Paul Spector" and "dead" rang out everywhere. In her ears, in her heart. She dropped the pen on the table, her eyes wide in emptiness. She turned quickly, glancing at the flickering screen. A special edition of the news was being broadcast to update viewers tuned in to the Belfast Strangler, Paul Spector, who had committed suicide by hanging.
Every sound became deafening at first, and then every image became blinding. As if she couldn't hear or see anymore. Deaf, blind.
And Katie lost track of even herself, wondering where Paul might be.
"...Paul..." the girl whispered, still gazing vacantly at the screen that had already moved on to the next news item.
She was gone, too.