Epilogue
One year later.
The California sun was different from Florida's. Softer. Less like it was trying to kill you and more like it was just... there because it had to be.
I stood at the end of the porch of Mary's new house, watching Killian unbuckle the baby from the car seat.
He was good at it now. He had retired so he had no more wars to fight.
Cartier had took over the company. Killian stayed home with Celeste while I went to school.
I was determinded to one day be able to help with my family's company.
And stop feeling like everybody was doing things for me.
"You ready?" he asked, the baby on his hip.
"Yes."
He smiled. "Good. Let's go."
Mary opened the door before we even knocked.
Her face lit up; she looked younger. Standing right behind her was Marcus.
He wore a linen shirt and a relaxed smile.
He and Mary had been living together for six months.
It turned out that in the process of helping me, they had found something in each other. I was happy for them.
Our eyes met for a brief, heavy second. I didn’t know if Arthur, Ava, Caspian and Olivia were at the bottom of the ocean or simply erased from existence.
I just knew they were gone. The warrants were still active, and no cops had come knocking.
I was at peace. One day I planned to tell Killian what I'd done, but in the very distance future.
"Hand me the baby," Mary ordered.
I handed over my daughter—Celeste. Grandpa Silas had suggested the name. He got to see her born and spoil her for a month before he passed.
"She looks just like you," Mary said, her voice thick with emotion. "Same eyes. Same mouth."
"Let's hope she’s luckier than me," I said.
Mary looked up at me. "She's got you, baby. That's better than luck."
Killian stepped up and squeezed my shoulder, anchoring me.
I still have days where the silence of a room gets too loud. I still have nights where I wake up screaming, thinking I’m back in that attic. But I also have so many more good days. Because I found family.
Found family isn't a fairy tale, though. It’s a reconstruction project. It’s helping someone pick up the jagged pieces someone else broke and deciding they’re beautiful enough to make something new out of. I appreciated the people in my life who’d done that for me.
I’m still not ready for everything.
Marriage.
Forgiveness.
All of it.
But I am ready to be happy. And I was so close.
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