Epilogue
(Three months later)
“You were supposed to go long!”
I sign to Pillar from across the backyard, after he failed to catch the football. We are trying to find his hobby. Something that pulls at his heartstrings and it’s near impossible and certainly isn’t football, or any other sport we’ve tried for that matter.
I’ve been learning sign language. Har says I’m getting better every day, and I love the way Pillars face lights up when I give it my best shot.
With Kai’s disappearance we’ve had no time to look into cochlear implants like I promised, but he understands.
We still have no idea where he is. Harlyn checked traffic cameras the night my father freaked out and declared Kai missing. We witnessed a struggle, but we saw no faces and the van the kidnappers drove away in had no plates.
If my father isn’t searching for Kai at every waking moment, he’s drowning himself at the bottom of a bottle, completely lost. Despite their differences, even Ressyn has taken to comforting him and taking over my father’s side of things as he kills himself in misery.
“I just can’t do it, I’m not good at nothing.”
Pillar says, pulling me out of my head.
“That’s alright. I have an idea. How about we wait until something speaks to you, yes?”
Showing Pillar what he isn’t good at is doing more harm than good, so it’s got to stop.
“Dinner’s ready.”
I hear Harlyn call, and I turn a smile at him.
He’s perfect. Everything I could have asked for and more. I see the ring glinting off his finger in the sunlight and I have to bite my lip to stop myself from attacking him.
I wasn’t kidding when I said I wanted to marry him. I couldn’t go another second without. We obtained necessary documents a month ago that officially made him a legal citizen. He took my last name since he was never given one and that was just the cherry on top.
Given the circumstance, we are unable to have a real wedding at the moment, but that didn’t stop me from having the marriage officiated and making it official for now. I promised him when the time is right, we will do something that is worthy.
“What are you looking at?”
He asks licking his pretty lips.
“My husband looks so sexy in my sweatpants.” I grin.
He scoffs, a blush to his cheeks. “These are not your sweatpants.”
“Baby, they’re hanging off your ass.”
Not that I’m complaining. I love him in my clothes.
Harlyn looks appalled at that, and I laugh.
“What’s funny?”
Pillar cuts in.
“Nothing.”
Har responds before I can. “He was just telling me how marvelous I am. Take notes Pillar, never settle for less.”
He claps his hands.
Pillar nods slowly, looking unconvinced. “Well yeah, but whose pants are you wearing?”
He asks, nose scrunching.
I can’t help but double over in a fit of uncontrollable laughter.
“Shut up.”
Har shoves me and tries walking away, but I catch him around the waist and lift him until his legs wrap around me.
Grabbing his chin, I speak over his lips. “You are marvelous baby.”
He tries kissing me, but he’s too busy smiling. I don’t mind either way. I’ll forever take him in whichever way he’ll have me.
Creek and Harlyn Hue. I fucking love it. I’ll never regret the day that he blew into my life like a windstorm and raged all over it.