Epilogue
ELARA
Five Years Later
I’ve got one hand resting on my pregnant belly and I’m using the other to gesture at the photo of me holding our first child, Lionel. For lion, for mine and Mom’s and… yep, his eyes.
“The colors here are very interesting,” the patron says, voice full of enthusiasm. “Is it edited at all?”
“Believe it or not, no,” I beam. “I noticed the colors were a little funky in the hospital room, so I asked my husband to get the camera. Technically, this is his piece.”
The lady laughs, then nudges me playfully. “Don’t tell him that.”
Our second child kicks in my belly as if laughing at the lady’s joke. I smile, then let her move on. The gallery is bathed in bright yellow light, bouncing off the sleek surfaces, glimmering in people’s glasses.
And across the room, through all the people who are here to see my work, I see the three of them. Mira, my man, and our little lion. Mira is taller now, thinner, a lanky teenager who somehow seems at ease with life.
Rhett is older, more rugged, letting his beard grow out and become an even more confident shade of silver. I love that the light bounces off his wedding ring too, which he always wears proudly.
Standing between them, holding a hand each, is Lionel. He’s got my eyes. Mom’s eyes. He’s got Mira’s smile, and he’s got my husband’s dark hair… well, until it turns silver anyway.
They see me looking and walk over as a group. Rhett smiles at me with pure pride beaming on his handsome features.
We’ve moved on as a couple. I’m working full-time as a gallery owner, and he’s back with the force, but heading up a special division where he can choose his own cases.
And choose who sees the cage and who sees the coffin, he said once, his voice determined.
But that’s the thing with us.
No matter how dark things get, we always find the light.
“Mommy!” Lionel says, skipping over and hugging my hip, careful of my bump.
“This is incredible, Sis,” Mira says, shaking her head in awe. “Like, seriously incredible. You should be proud.”
“I am,” I say, smiling, running my hand through Lionel’s hair. “I’m so proud. And so grateful. I wouldn’t be here without you three.”
“Duh,” Lionel says, giggling. “I’m in half the pictures!”
We all laugh. Rhett leans over and plants a gentle kiss on my cheek. “I love you, girlfriend.”
I laugh even harder. “Love you too, boyfriend.”
Lionel says to Mira, “I just don’t know why they say boyfriend and girlfriend when they’re married.”
Mira smiles knowingly, ruffling her little brother’s black hair. “One day, my crazy nephew, we’ll tell you all about it.”
THE END
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