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Trina walked along the seemingly deserted campus of PCU. It had been an unexpectedly big day, thanks to Aunt Stella. After some encouragement, Trina took a step forward toward her Spencerless future. She had reenrolled into PCU and signed up for some classes for the fall semester. She had reservations about doing such a thing...she still did. But she did it. She still didn’t know if art was a big goal of hers. She still was unsure, because she was still reeling without the presence of the man she loved. But she at least did something to move forward out of the malaise that her life had become.
“There you are, pretty girl.”
She saw him over near the student union, leaning against a tree. A warm smile reached his eyes as she approached. His presence there was such an unusual one, even in life. They had talked about him signing up for classes once, but he never did. He just couldn’t see himself sitting in a classroom.
“Spencer! I am so happy to see you!” She rushed into his arms, hugging him tight.
“I am happy to see you, especially here. You had me worried for a little while,” Spencer chuckled hugging her back.
“Aunt Stella kind of lit a fire under me,” she said with a wry smile as she pulled out of the hug. “I wasn’t even aware that anyone was paying attention that I wasn’t making any moves to re-enroll. Especially with all that’s happening with TJ...but I should have known that Aunt Stella would have noticed.”
“She’s keeping a close eye on you. I have to say, I’m glad. I was worried here, myself. I didn’t like to see you stuck like that.”
“Really?”
“Really. I stopped Esme and made sure she couldn’t bother you again because I needed to make sure that you could go on with your life, baby. I want you to live your best life and be great in whatever you decide to do. I don’t want you to be stuck grieving me forever. I mean...you can still grieve...but don’t let it keep you in one place. Don’t let it stop you from living your life and taking some much-needed steps into the future. Live, Trina. Live for the both of us,” He gripped her hands in his, his dark eyes boring into hers. “You have all my love and I will always be with you. I’ll always be rooting for you. Just because I’m...dead...doesn’t mean that I’m not here for you. I always will be. Even when it feels that I’m not.”
“I just don’t want to forget about you...and I’m afraid that’ll happen if I move forward,” Trina confessed, a tear leaving her eyes. “I don’t want to forget about you!”
“You won’t! You’ll never forget about me and what we had because it was that special. It still is...but you can’t let that keep you in one place, Trina. That’s not healthy. I may be dead, but you’re not. You’re still alive. You still have a life to live, one I died so you can have one and I need you to live it! Live it loud and proud! Be the best Trina that I know you can be.”
“But what about you? Us?”
“I’ll be around, cheering for you and being proud of the woman you’re becoming. Happy that I made that sacrifice. I’ll happily watch as you find that great love once again...have babies and watch them grow and die an old woman, warm in her bed. Then we’ll meet again, Trina Robinson, and head for the next life together. That’s a promise.”
“Look at you, Spencer Cassadine. Getting your Jack Dawson on...again.”
Spencer just laughed. “Well, Hollywood does have some great lines. But he wasn’t wrong, right? And he and Rose did meet up at the end there. That will be us, Trina. We’ll have that big Jack and Rose moment at the end of Titanic. But I need you to continue on with your life and become unstuck, first.”
Trina simply smiled and gave a small nod. “It’s hard.”
“I know. But it’ll be worth it. And like I said, I’ll be around whenever you need me. I’m never too far from the next dream.”
“I love you, Spencer Cassadine. I always will.”
“I love you too, Trina. Now and forever,” Spencer smiled, leaning in to kiss her.
….
Trina gasped as she woke up and frowned as she realized that she was in a moving car. Her gaze fell on her Aunt Stella as she drove the car, heading to the Quartermaine estate, where Trina’s new apartment was located.
“Oh, I’m sorry for falling asleep,” Trina apologized, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
“That’s alright, honey. I figured that you could use the shut-eye,” Stella gave her great-niece a warm smile. She had made it a point to keep a close eye on Trina and make sure that she got through the grieving process in one piece. For a while there, she had been deeply concerned, but Trina was holding her own and with some gentle, loving nudges, her sister’s granddaughter was making some strides into moving forward and becoming unstuck. Irene would be proud.
“Aunt Stella...thank you. I...I needed that push you gave me today. I...I think I’m realizing that just because I’m moving forward with my life...it doesn’t mean that I’m forgetting Spencer. If anything...I’m making his sacrifice mean something.”
“Exactly, baby. That’s exactly what I mean. He wouldn’t want you to stay in one place. He’d want you to move forward and realize all of your dreams.”
“I just miss him, you know?”
“I know. But he’s in your heart always. He’ll never leave you, even if you can’t see him.”
Trina gave a small smile, her hand slipping into her pocket to play with the small dove figurine there. “I know. I feel him every day.”