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This one comes and this one goes
So here we are across the road

"Sherlock?" __________ couldn't breathe. "H-He-"

John nodded, swallowing hard. "He's gone. O-Our flatmate is gone, actually."

She watched as they wheeled him away on a stretcher. She wanted to reach out for him, to see him, but she was terrified as well. ___________ felt her eyes flooding with tears. She couldn't stop them.

Even in death, Sherlock was the only person able to make her cry so outright.

John turned away and clenched his fists. "That idiot."

_________ felt the sob erupt from her body, suddenly and sharply. She felt cold air channel into her nose as she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She couldn't. She felt her knees tremble, and John caught her. He pulled her close and rubbed her back.

"I-I know. I know."

In whispers, in whispers
You say: let it go, let it go home

They spent months in the quiet flat, hardly able to breathe in the scent of the place without being reminded of Sherlock.

Occasionally, John caught ________ wearing Sherlock's clothes.

Occasionally, _________ caught John brushing the violin carefully, as if he were truly afraid to touch it.

________ expected people would offer their condolences. She dreamed she would angrily push them away. "You never talked to him! You never cared!"

But no one visited. No one stopped by. People avoided her as if her cloud of sadness would rub off on them.

Finally someone said it.

"Let it go."

It wasn't Lestrade or Mycroft or anyone.

It was John.

Taking all our time we rode
Through the town where we grew old
Our stories and pictures
Oh we let them go, let them go home

"John?"

"Let it go, just let him go."

"John-"

"You need to."

"I can't, John. You haven't either, John. He's your best friend and you've let it go? Don't tell me you have."

"Yes, you can, just as I have. You're a strong young lady and I think-"

"John-"

"_________. He'd want you to. He'd say it was a 'petty flaw in your life and that you'd need to start over again' or something remarkably cruel like that. Don't you understand?"

She nodded and smiled soberly. "I'm going to bed, John, it's midnight. I'll see you in the morning."

He nodded and sat down to blog.

Only it wasn't his blog. It was the blog regarding the truth about Moriarty. A futile attempt at shaking off the blood and the arrogance and the foolishness attached to the name "Sherlock Holmes".

His blog had no followers, but still he sat every night typing and typing until he fell asleep with his neck craned and his eyes tired and dry.

___________ sat in bed, scrolling through pictures on her phone.

One of Sherlock glaring.

One of John and Sherlock sitting at the table, drinking tea, scowling at each other.

One of her and Sherlock on the ferris wheel.

"This is idiotic."

But a smile had spread across his face, even if it was.

"I thought we'd grow old together," she mumbled, tossing her phone away. She buried herself under the covers and closed her eyes, trying not to let the tears out.

Oh

Whistles

Suddenly her phone let out that little whistle noise and she sighed. She wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone.

Oh, I have seen your beauty grow
Where all this fades, you shine in gold

You've gotten more beautiful each day I've gone. Since I'm gone now, you're not cloaked in my shadow any longer. You can shine on your own, my dear. I love you. Though these words are strange on my tongue, I cannot deny their truth. Please go on, and forget me - SH

Our love will be legend
If we let it go, let it go home

Surely this love will continue on, I am no idiot. You still wear my clothes, if I am deducing from death correctly. But, if you let this love go, it will be legendary. It will be the substance of stories you tell your children. It will be the most wonderful memory you can remember. It will be the remains of me, and all you must do, is let go. Go on, as I've told you before. Knock me off of my pedestal and dismiss your tears, for I wouldn't want them to fall as I have. That likens you too much to me. Always remember that I love you. - SH