prologue:

New York had never seen busier times than it did in the summer's blaze. Sitting in an internet cafe to keep cool, a restless blonde woman tapped her long fingers on the table, as she eagerly waited for a reply on her AIM. The woman was dressed in a white tank top, sun dried denim short shorts, and sandles with an oversized, obnoxious flower on them. Her hazel eyes watched the computer screen with a sudden interest as she got her long awaited message. Her lips curved into a warm, but seemingly cynical smile. The woman answered her friend back quickly and shut her laptop with a quick snap. She hurriedly stood and left her payment for her tea on the table, walking quickly out of the building to hail a cab. Josselyn Ryder had a plane to catch.

chapter one:

England's weather was much milder compared to the blistering heat of the New York metropolis. On the plane ride in, Josselyn had struggled to change into a pair of flattering jeans and a nice, crisp, cotton t-shirt. As she got off the plane, Josselyn looked around at her surroundings and a smile broke out on her face. "Ah, London. How I've missed you so." she said to herself, earning some strange glances from other passengers. Josselyn walked right to the baggage claim and grabbed a sleek black guitar case, and a hiking back pack.

As she walked out of the terminal, she stuck out like a sore thumb. She took a deep breath of the clean British air and fished a small notepad out of her pocket. She fumbled with the reading glasses hanging off the neck of her shirt and read the address printed neatly on the lines. "I don't think its that far from here." she murmured softly to herself as she started to hike through the city.

Josselyn always loved Britain the most, out of all of the strange and wonderous places she had visited. The people were much friendlier han any other place in the world. She smiled pleasently as she asked for directions, and got them without much of a hastle.

During her hike, she noted that the hiking boots she just started wearing were finally being broken in. Being distracted by her shoes, she didn't despise someone was walking right towards her. Josselyn ran right into the solid mass of a man, stumbling slightly. "Oh! My bad, sorry about that sir." she lauhed. nervously as she looked up at the stranger, but she didn't get the reaction she had expected.

"Watch where you're going next time." He said coldly, looking down at her with radiant blue eyes. With that said, he turned on his heel and continued on his way, Josselyn staring at him in disbelief.

"Well, that was rude." she said, her eyes narrowing as his dark head of hair turned a corner. She was in a huff by the time she found her friend's house. Her thoughts dissolved completely when she walked into the quaint little English home. "Elizabeth? Are you home?" Josselyn called out.

An older woman came out from the kitchen, wearing a warm smile. "You must be the Ms. Ryder I've heard so much about." Josselyn looked at the woman with a bit of confusion.

"Are you Elizabeth? I thought you said you were twenty." she murmured, looking even more perplexed with the woman laughed.

"Oh good heavens no my dear, I'm Elizabeth's nurse, Mrs. Hoperton." she smiled sweetly, but Josselyn noticed a shadowy veil of sorrow in the woman's eyes. "I'll show you where Ms. Spencer's room is." the older woman said, leading Josselyn through the small house.

Josselyn saw no pictures on the walls, as if the house were in mourning of someone. The mere thought sent a chill to the pit of Josselyn's very soul. She was led to a small, circular bedroom, and a bed welcomed them, with a fragile girl sitting right in the middle. Josselyn stepped forward and smiled. "Hey Eli, how are you feeling?" she asked.

The girl sitting in the bed broke out in a smile. despite being on the thin side, she was a lovely girl. Her blonde hair looked to be freshly washed, and was falling around her shoulders in a sun ray mess. her eyes were a pale blue, but something was off about them. To Josselyn, they seemed to be losing their light. They were red from what looked like crying. "Josselyn," she started, her voice sounding like the light flutter of butterfly wings. "its an honour to finally meet you face to face. I would get up to give you a hug but..." she shrugged half heartedly.

Josselyn took off her overly large backpack and set it on the floor along with her guitar, sitting in the chair by the bedside. "No no. I know from our messages that you're ill. With what though, you never told me." she said softly, taking Elizabeth's frail hand and holding it gently.

Elizabeth chuckled sadly, enjoying the warmth that flowed through her cold hand. "Cancer. Like my mother had." she said softly. "And I feel, its almost my time." she added, looking right at Josselyn to judge her reaction.

Josselyn stared at Elizabeth long and hard, then let out a small chuckle. "Well, you Brits really know how to break the news gently." she said softly.

Elizabeth smiled. "Yes, its one of our best quirks." she chuckled lightly, then coughed violently. Josselyn jumped at the harsh sound and grabbed a handkerchief out of her pocket, handing it to her. Elizabeth took it with a small nod and dabbed the corners of her own mouth. She grimmanced as she saw the blood, but her face showed no fear. "I will assume that you don't want this back."

Josselyn smiled. "Nah, its alright." she managed to say. Her heart wrenched in her chest meeting Elizabeth like this. Elizabeth had been like a sister to her, the mother figure Josselyn never got to have. "I'm glad I got to meet you in person before..." she stopped.

"Before I kick the jolly old bucket. No need to beat around the bush, love." Elizabeth smiled, then her face took a more serious facade. "Josselyn.. I asked you to come here for a reason. I know its not one of your own songs... but could you please sing it for me?" she asked.

Josselyn knew it was coming, but she nodded and smiled. "For you my friend, I would do anything."

Elizabeth smiled to herself. "Excellent. Then I have twp requests. One, you play Second Chance by The Shinedown for me." she asked.

Josselyn laughed at the tone she took. "And the second, m'lady?" she teased.

Elizabeth looked straiht through Josselyn, which sent an uncomfortable shiver down her spine. "Find someone to travel with. Do not leave London until you do."

Josselyn fumbled uncomfortably with her mother's cross around her neck. "Christ Eli, I don't need someone to follow me around the world."

"Posh. You do need someone, you're just too mule headed to admit so." She said, and her gaze softened. "I would like you to take my brother."

Josselyn raised on of her eyebrows. "Your brother. Are you serious?"

"Completely. I don't want him to waste his days here when I die, and I know that's exactly what he'll do. He'll waste away in his cups." Elizabeth said, shaking her head in disgust. "I don't want him to live that way."

Josselyn sighed. "Jesus Eli." she grumbled. "Fine fine, I will." she said and held her hands up in defense at the glare. "Where is the lovable guy?" she asked.

Elizabeth snorted. "Probably off at the local bar. Benjamin has a horrid drinking problem. He needs to get out of the city." she said, watching as Josselyn picked up her guitar and made sure it was in tune. Elizabeth smiled softly in relief. "You will take him, won't you?"

Josselyn looked up at her and managed a nod. "I will, though he'll probably throw me into the Amazon." she smiled at Elizabeth's light laugh. Josselyn started to play a small introduction as Elizabeth settled back into the mass amount of pillows, closing her eyes and letting out a soft sigh. "This is my favourite American song..." she said softly.

Josselyn closed her eyes and played the song well, her voice sounding like waves crashing on the shore. The way she sang the song, it was hauntingly beautiful. As she did with everything she performed, Josselyn let the music take her, filling every hole that had ever damaged her. The lyrics hit home for both of the women as they listened to the lyrics, realizing just how much it described them both.

After the song was finished, Josselyn loooed at Elizabeth's peaceful expression and a cold knife dug itself deep in her gut. Elizabeth looked too peaceful. "Not a funny joke dude..." Josselyn said, standing up. As she checked for a pulse, Josselyn felt her own heart stop.

"Just the way she wanted..." Mrs. Hoperton said, making Josselyn jump back from Elizabeth's lifeless body. The old nurse had been in the room he whole time, and silent tears fell down her face from he song. "She always wanted to go in her sleep."