Epilogue
S y l v i a S w a n
A year later
The cemetery is quiet, desolate. A place where grief hangs tight and suffocates you the more you walk.
I hold the bouquet of lavender and white roses, Vincent gave me, close to my chest. He had remembered me, knew my story without me telling him. He once again included the rose at no charge but I'd left a nice tip in his jar.
The gravel crunches beneath our boots as we walk. Amos walks by my side with a bowed head like he can feel the grief too. My heart pounds so loud I’m sure it carries through the headstone. Kian stays quiet beside me, close but not touching.
“If you need to stop, we stop, no one will shame you. Not even your mother,” he whispers, his head dipping to my neck.
I nod but I won’t stop, even if it breaks me.
Her large stone appears before I'm ready and my breath breaks in my chest. The world narrows until all I see is her name engraved into the stone as well as a date that feels like a lie. It's been a year and I finally have the courage to say hello.
I kneel and Kian follows, our knees brushing.
“I brought flowers,” I whisper stupidly, not knowing where to start. My hands tremble as I lay the bouquet on her grave.
I smile through the tears. I feel stronger than I ever have because I’m finally here and I have someone to walk it with me.
I pull Kian's hand into mine and look up to the sky. I know her soul resides in heaven.
“This is Kian, mama,” I say with a shaky voice, the wind stirring the trees softly.
“He helped me find you, in more ways than one,” I continue. “He came into my life through death, through all the places I thought love couldn’t survive and he avenged you.”
His arm wraps around me like a protective shield as he kisses the tears streaming down my face. Amos cuddles into the side of us, licking my hand with reassurance. His rough tongue against my skin grounds me and reminds me I’m not alone.
“I think love and death embrace,” I whisper. “I’m glad you brought him to me, I’m not alone anymore.”
His hold tightens and he whispers I love you into my neck. His breath fans my skin and makes goosebumps break down my spine.
We sit like that for a while, catching up with my mother. I can tell Kian is nervous but he embraces it for me and for the first time, I don't feel like I’m breaking.