Epilogue #2
Six months after the fire
He stood in the doorway of their home, the quiet hum of a new chapter settling over him as Ethan’s last box thudded to the floor in the hall. Ethan had officially moved in, his life weaving into every corner of this place, and he felt a swell of joy—Jessica’s dreams, her vision for this house, finally complete. The walls she’d sketched, the spaces she’d imagined, now breathed with life, finished with Ethan’s steady hands and his own unwavering love. He walked through the living room, sunlight spilling across polished floors, and smiled, knowing this was theirs—a home built from her legacy and their future.
The office door creaked open, and he stepped inside, his heart catching at the sight. Jessica’s old space glowed with warm light, her notes and drawings framed and hung lovingly on the walls—her swirling handwriting, her pencil sketches of shelves and nooks, preserved like treasures. Ethan had taken it over, blending her memory with his own touches—his military medals pinned beside her art, his police badge resting on the desk, the leather scent of his gear mingling with the faint rustle of her papers. His guitar leaned against the wall, strings glinting, and he grinned as Ethan picked it up, shirtless, his skin golden in the afternoon light. The first strum hummed soft, a melody filling the room, and he leaned against the frame, captivated by the sound—rich, warm, threading through him like a heartbeat.
“You’re so good at that,” he said, his voice low and warm, crossing to sit on the desk’s edge. “Especially without a shirt—keep playing, I could listen all day.”
Ethan laughed, his fingers dancing over the strings, his voice teasing. “Only if you keep looking at me like that,” he said, the tune softening into something sweet, pulling him deeper into the moment. He watched, his chest tight with love—this room, once Jessica’s haven, now Ethans, alive with his music and her spirit, a perfect harmony he’d never dared dream of.
Later, he lay in bed, the cool sheets whispering against his skin as Ethan climbed in beside him, the day’s warmth fading into night. Moonlight glowed through the window, tracing Ethan’s face as he turned to him, their hands finding each other under the covers. “This feels right,” he said, his voice soft and steady, brushing a thumb over Ethan’s knuckles. “You here, with me—I love you so much, Ethan. I’m so excited for what’s ahead, our life together.”
Ethan’s eyes shone, his voice tender and sure. “I love you too, Mark,” he said, leaning in to kiss him, a slow press of lips, warm and sweet. “This house, us—it’s everything I’ve wanted. I can’t wait to see where we go, you and me.”
He smiled, reaching to turn out the bedside lamp, the room plunging into shadow. “Look up,” he said, his voice playful, and Ethan tilted his head, a gasp breaking free as glow-in-the-dark stars flickered to life on the ceiling—a full constellation shimmering above them, a surprise he’d installed that morning. Ethan’s laugh burst out, bright and childlike, his hand squeezing his tight.
“When did you do this?” he asked, his voice alive with excitement, sitting up to stare at the glowing stars, their light twinkling in his eyes.
He chuckled, pulling him back down, their bodies pressing close. “Today, while you were out,” he said, his tone warm and dreamy. “I want us to lay here at night and dream about our future, wishing upon a star—every night, just you and me, building something incredible together.”
Ethan nestled into him, his breath soft against his neck, his voice a whisper. “It’s perfect,” he said, his fingers tracing his chest. “You’re perfect—I love dreaming with you.”
He wrapped his arms around Ethan, their laughter fading to quiet breaths, the stars glowing overhead like a promise. His heart swelled, a boundless joy lighting the dark—Ethan’s music, Jessica’s memory, their love weaving a constellation of their own. They lay tangled, the future shimmering bright above them, a radiant vow of dreams and devotion, unbreakable and true.