39. Epilogue
Hope
19 years later
M y brother Roman and I walk through the beautiful campus at Rock Falls University in Catahoula Parish, with our moms and dads on our heels telling us how much better it would be if we went to Tulane or Florida State instead.
“We are going to come back and visit every break, we promise. Plus, look at this place! We are only a mile from Big Creek Nature Trail. It’s peaceful here.” I say, shaking my head again at our parents, trying to make them understand why we need this.
“Hope is right, we are going to visit, along with the rest of the gang. We all want a fresh start where no one knows who we are unless we want them to. Plus, it will let our helicopter parents have a life for once.” Roman backs me up like he always does.
We aren’t siblings by blood, but we are as close as twins, only being twenty-four hours apart. Our moms had invitro fertilization to have us so that they could do their duty and still be together. He is my brother in every way that matters, just like Morgan and Elijah are our family too.
We have all been raised very closely together with our families being the heads of the Saints. We just want to escape being under constant pressure and surveillance. Morgan and Elijah love it here and have talked to us about it all year, not that it took much convincing.
We all have a part to play when it comes to the Saints and the witches. Is it a bad thing for us to want to be able to live our lives out from under our parent’s thumbs for a while and stand on our own for once?
“Liam, Noah, give the poor kids some space. They deserve to get to live their lives. Plus, we have like six more months before they even graduate high school. We have plenty of time to change their minds.” Auntie Cami chastises our dads, walking up with Morgan, Elijah, and the rest of the parentals, who gave us all the idea to come to Rock Falls after graduation.
“Alright, we are going to head to the pavilion for a parents’ social, you kids stay out of trouble for once please. I mean it Morgan Rose, no bullshit today.” Auntie Cami acts like the hard ass of the bunch, but her and Auntie Savvy are the fun ones.