Epilogue
Stella
S tepping on stage has become one of my favorite moments in the world. It’s when I feel like I’m hugging my younger self and reassuring her that we made our dreams come true. It’s when I feel alive. It’s when I feel like myself the most.
But my favorite moment is always when I find the people closest to my heart in the crowd. Hazel and Isabella are impossible to miss with their wide grins and loud cheers. Layla is always dancing on her own with a smile.
And of course, Adrian. He’s always at the very front, singing right along with me with perfect accuracy because he knows all of my songs by heart.
He listens to me when I practice them all the time and he always is the first to read what I write.
He cares about everything I do—maybe a little too much—and goes above and beyond to make me feel supported.
My heart warms as the show starts and I find his green eyes in the crown. He grins and it feels like sunlight is lighting up my heart. Adrian Westwood and his grins . . .
The crowd sings along with me as butterflies light up the temple. My magic spreads to life and gives the entire space an ethereal glow.
Adrian’s eyes catch mine again and I don’t look away. The world fades. It’s only him and me, singing my songs together like we have for the last few months in the quiet living room of his house as we slow-danced together.
My heart beats wildly in my chest under his gaze and I grin. I love this man with everything in me.
It’s crazy how much my life changed in barely two years. I found new parts of myself and I gave them the chance to shine. I chose to put my dreams first and I found people who love all of me, even the messy parts I try to hide.
My life turned into a kaleidoscope of colors when I learned to put myself first and live the life that sets my heart on fire. Although, I never would have gotten where I am today if it wasn’t for the people who found me when I was lost on the way.
I find Adrian in the crowd again and a giddy smile spreads across my face.
He’s healed a lot too. Since he joined Nate’s construction company, he seems so much happier, so much more alive.
He’s learned to use his magic to control storms into being a tool to build and fix, instead of a symbol carrying memories of loss and destruction.
He healed many, many parts of himself, but he also helped his sisters and his entire town heal.
He showed everyone the power of bravery and facing your fears when it matters.
He helped cut a toxic cycle around storms and the loss they all went through.
I am so proud of him. I look back at the entire crowd, dancing and singing along with me. Maybe that’s what I’m doing with music too. I’m helping people heal through my words, helping them get their emotions out and sneaking hope in.
After we came back from that vacation, I started therapy. It’s helped me a lot to manage my anxiety and to stop expecting the world of myself. I still struggle with those feelings, but now I have tools to work through those emotions. And people who don’t let me go through those alone.
The road to the life we have today was rocky, but we made it through.
A shiver runs down my spine as I hear thunder booming into the sky. The last time a storm occurred during one of my concerts, it ended horribly. My heart stops beating, but I push through and keep singing.
My eyes immediately search for Adrian. He’s always had a gift for soothing away the worries and making everyone feel safe again.
When I find him again, he has a peaceful smile on his face. I smile back, my heart loosening. The glowing green butterflies are everywhere in the room, lighting up every corner like stars in a midnight sky.
Thunder booms again and rain starts pouring, the raindrops crashing against the walls intensely. Adrian closes his eyes. I can feel the magic coming to life from the stage and I can’t look away from him.
I keep singing, reassuring myself through my own words, my own lyrics.
Suddenly, the hundreds of butterflies flying into the room aren’t the only magic lighting up the temple.
Lightning bolts are flying gently across the air, defying the laws of gravity as they float around, glowing brighter than my own magic.
Everyone cheers.
Adrian looks at me, grinning. My eyes tear up as I realize the storm that had been brewing outside is here now, in the shape of magic, to make my concert even more memorable and unique.
I stare at his handsome face again, infinitely proud to see that there are no signs of worry or fear or grief lurking in his eyes. He’s at peace . He’s proud of himself and me. He’s healing.
When I find the girls farther away, I can read just as easily across their faces that there’s only joy and peace.
I can’t wait to keep going through life with these people by my side, the ones who make my life colorful, who make happiness effortless and who bring peace into my heart without even trying.
I barely manage to get away from the stage before Hazel and Layla are tackling me to the ground with a hug.
I laugh. “We saw each other just a few hours ago!!”
Hazel giggles and lessens her hold. “Still too long. You know I get clingy.”
Layla hugs me tighter. “You were too amazing back there for us not to be impatient.”
They pull away with bright smiles on their faces. Adrian, his sisters and I pack everything to return home as we talk and laugh about the entire night.
When we walk outside to return to Westwood Spring, Adrian’s hand grabs my wrist from behind, effectively pulling me back as his sisters head towards the car.
I grin as I look into his eyes. “Hi.”
He grins back as he pulls me into a warm hug. “Hi, Stella. We haven’t had the time to talk since my sisters bombarded you with questions, so I figured they could wait a minute or two.”
I laugh softly, the comfort of his embrace settling in all the way into my bones. “They can definitely wait.”
“You were incredible tonight. I’m proud of you.”
I smile and snuggle in closer. “I’m the one who’s proud of you. What you did tonight with your magic it just . . . it was beautiful.”
He smiles and pulls away, twirling me around slowly as we head back to join his sisters. “You’re the reason I am where I am now, Stella.”
I grin. “And you’re the reason my life feels so much brighter than ever before.”
He chuckles. “Come on, let’s go home now.”
Home. The sudden jolt of joy nearly makes me trip. The stability I always craved as a child—I finally found it. Adrian has been my safe space to turn to when everything feels like a mess since I met him. If home is a feeling and not a place, I feel it when I see his smile and in his warm hugs.
I’m pulled out of my thoughts when I realize there’s someone else from town who came all the way here to drive us home. Sam.
Isabella and Hazel are sitting in the car, waiting for us to come join them, but my curiosity is piqued. Sam and Layla are still talking and laughing next to the car and Sam is smiling at her.
I think it’s the first time I ever saw Sam Milford smile. Adrian grabs my hand and opens the door for me to step inside, but I sneak one last peak.
There’s something between the two of them. A spark.
A story to be written.