Epilogue
Together, Mom and I sit on the edge of the dock, looking out at the water of our favorite place.
To say the journey here has been nothing short of rocky would be an understatement, but we made it.
Today marks the first day of Mom’s new journey, and it’s bittersweet. Over the last few months, we have tried everything in our power to get Sutton to speak to us once we found out she was safe. She wants to meet us, but she is nowhere near ready, and that’s okay.
We have all tried to keep ourselves busy while we waited for answers from Lachlan about Sutton’s recovery. Today marking the biggest thing off our list. It took some time, but when Mom decided she wanted to make Cliff Haven her permanent residence, we placed my childhood home on the market.
Today we are here saying goodbye to the house I called home for most of my childhood and the place we used to escape to.
It came at a perfect time because when we get back, I will be starting a job at Cliff Haven Elementary as the school nurse. Landon wanted me to wait longer, since I was assisting Mom so much as she still struggles with her mobility some days. Mom quickly nipped that in the bud and insisted I take the job. I think she could tell I was itching to get back to work, even if it was a tactic in distraction. Regardless, since I accepted the job, I have felt an overwhelming sense of peace. The only thread left hanging was saying goodbye to this place.
Something hits my shoulders and I look up to see Landon draping my favorite gray flannel of his over me before sitting down next to us, and wrapping his arm around my waist.
The last time we were here, life was so different. We were both shells of humans, drifting from one wave to the next. Now we are here, better versions of ourselves and as one.
Fate is funny. It takes you along twists and turns. Some days you never know if you are going to make it out of the darkness, but then it surprises you and places you on a path that you think is no better than the other, until that one person comes along.
You learn how it feels to finally let go and forgive others and yourself for the trials that you had to face to get where you are today.
Most importantly, they taught you that surviving isn’t making it through the long, dark tunnel. It’s getting to the end and seeing what life is like in the light.
Our eyes lock and we prove once again that words are not needed when you accept that fate will lead you past a road of forgiveness on the way to the person who will become the other half of my beautifully broken soul.
Landon loops his pinky through mine, and I trace the lines of his tiny bluebird tattoo on his wrist that matches the storm cloud on mine. A bluebird flies through the air in front of us and a smile spreads across both of ours faces as the sun shines high in the sky.
Resting my head on his shoulder, I let the words that I know will get me through the darkest and lightest days with this beautiful man replay over and over in my head.
Day by Day.
Wave by Wave.