Zoe’s Epilogue
“C ome on, we need to go!” I called to Vodyan, checking if I had my mask. My suit was already on, tight over my big belly, and I was ready to go.
He came out a moment later, holding a large, waterproof bag. He gave me an uncertain smile and called me closer, opening it to let me look.
“Do you think they’ll like these?” he asked, watching me seriously as I took in a bag full of brand new toys, including action figures of soldiers of various species, and a new inclusive line of dolls that included an anatomically correct vodnik doll with pretty pins in her hair and a ghoul doll, her skin gray, hair silver.
I’d complained to him about the dearth of representation among the toys children had to play with in the children’s home. Some species just weren’t as often represented as others, or the toys were more expensive, and so Adda, a new ghoul girl who came to live in the home a month ago, didn’t have a doll to play with she could relate to.
Until now.
I had tears in my eyes, my chest squeezing with so much love, I couldn’t contain it.
“Oh my God,” I said, my voice shaking from emotion. “Yes! Yes, of course. These are amazing! I didn’t even… Oh my God, baby! I love you so much!”
I launched myself at him, hugging him and crying, and Vodyan embraced me back, careful not to press on my pregnant belly. He swallowed, tensing slightly, and then exhaled with force.
“I love you, too, Zoe.”
I stilled, even my sobs stopping, my eyes wide open. We stood together in that perfect, gorgeous moment, and then I was full-on bawling my eyes out, because my vodnik husband just told me he loved me for the first time.
“I love you, too!” I said, sobbing. “God, how much I love you!”
And I did. My life was so much brighter and fuller thanks to him. He made all things better.
We both volunteered in the children’s home, and in our free time, we built a community of more volunteers and organized awareness campaigns, making information about the vetting process more accessible.
We were aware we couldn’t help all children on our own, and once our baby was born, we’d be confined to the lake. But we’d done well preparing for the transition. The community was robust and thriving, including many generous, wonderful people who were ready to help.
With Vodyan by my side, my lone efforts that had never seemed enough transformed into something so much bigger.
My happiness was overflowing.
“I love you so much,” I said again, unable to stop telling him.
“And I love you, too.”